Is White Mountain Hearth the same company as Empire?
Yes. White Mountain Hearth is Empire Comfort Systems' premium hearth brand — same company, same Belleville, Illinois factory. Empire uses the White Mountain Hearth name on its upper-tier gas fireplaces, log sets, and decorative fronts, while 'Empire' often labels the more value-focused heaters and appliances. Different badge, one manufacturer.
One company, two labels
Manufacturers routinely run tiered brand names, and Empire is a textbook case. White Mountain Hearth is where you'll find their nicer direct-vent and vent-free fireplaces, the Tahoe and Rushmore-style models, and their more decorative log sets — all built by Empire in Illinois. Practically, that means parts and warranty for a White Mountain Hearth unit trace back to the same place as an Empire one, which is handy when you're hunting service on an older fireplace.
Why the naming trips people up
This happens all over the hearth world, and it confuses a lot of homeowners. Heat & Glo and Heatilator share a parent in Hearth & Home Technologies. Lopi and Fireplace Xtrordinair share Travis Industries. Hampton and Regency are related. A different name on the front of the firebox doesn't always mean a different company — and knowing the parent is what gets you the right parts.
If you're not sure what you actually have, the rating label inside or behind the unit settles it: brand, model, and serial number in one spot.
Owning one in WNC
We don't stock Empire or White Mountain Hearth on our showroom floor, but our techs service all major brands. Snap a photo of the rating label, bring us the model number, and we'll diagnose and repair it — quoted upfront, no mystery charges. Call (828) 545-0525.
How we can help
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