Empire Direct Vent Gas Firebox Inserts

Empire Direct Vent Gas Fireplace Inserts

Empire direct vent gas fireplace inserts convert a fireplace you already have, masonry or prefabricated, into a sealed gas appliance. The chimney becomes a route for the coaxial vent rather than an open flue.

What the conversion actually changes

An open masonry fireplace sends most of its heat up the chimney and draws warm room air along with it, which is why a wood fire can leave a room cooler overall. A sealed insert takes combustion air from outside, exhausts outside, and directs the heat forward into the room. The masonry stays exactly as it is.

Innsbrook or Rushmore clean-face

The clean-face Rushmore removes the visible louvers and trim, leaving an uninterrupted glass opening. The Innsbrook keeps the more traditional presentation. Both are sealed direct vent appliances, so this is an appearance decision.

It heats the room it is in

An insert is zone heating: steady output into the room it faces, which is what lets people turn the central heat down and warm the space they are actually sitting in. That is a different proposition from a decorative fireplace, and it is the reason a conversion pays back.

Measure before you choose

Width, height and depth of the existing firebox opening, plus the usable flue. Depth is the one people skip and the one that most often rules a model out. Installation itself is licensed work: a gas line and a vent liner through the chimney.

See gas fireplace inserts for every brand, direct vent gas fireplaces for built-in models, or empire for the full range.