I've been handling Empire Comfort Systems parts and gas fireplace orders for seven years. I've personally made—and documented—11 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $9,400 in wasted budget. Now I maintain the checklist that keeps our installers from repeating my errors.
Most homeowners I talk to are deciding between two very different comfort upgrades: a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace. It is the same kind of choice as planning an outdoor shower for the backyard or a butcher block countertop in the kitchen. The right answer depends on context, not on some universal 'best.' One customer even asked me 'what is a duvet cover?' while we waited on a propane delivery. Context matters.
Here's the framework I use. It is not about which fireplace brand is 'best.' It is about whether a gas fireplace with a wall thermostat fits the way you live, or whether the ritual of wood is worth the extra work.
Why This Comparison Needs a Framework
The mistake I see most often is focusing on flame appearance and sticker price. People completely miss venting requirements, control compatibility, fuel access, and maintenance. That is the blind spot. The question everyone asks is 'which one puts out more heat?' The question they should ask is 'which one will I actually maintain?'
When I started in 2017, I didn't ask those questions. I once ordered a standard wall switch for an Empire Comfort Systems gas fireplace that required a thermostatic remote. It looked right on the spec sheet. It wasn't. The correct remote arrived a week later, and I still wince when I see that part number. (Mental note: read the manual before ordering controls.)
If you are a contractor, use this same framework when a homeowner asks for your 'honest opinion.' You will get a better project, and you will avoid a callback.
Five Dimensions I Compare
I compare five things on every job:
- Installation complexity and venting
- Heat output and efficiency
- Operating cost and fuel access
- Control and everyday convenience
- Maintenance and safety
Notice what I'm not comparing: brand slogans or aesthetic photos. A fireplace is an appliance. If it doesn't fit the venting and the fuel, the pretty photo doesn't matter.
1. Installation: Chimney vs. Direct Vent
A wood-burning fireplace needs a properly sized chimney, a sound hearth, and usually a masonry structure that can handle high temperatures. That is a major project. If the home already has a solid masonry chimney, the cost can be manageable. If not, you are looking at a serious build.
An Empire Comfort Systems gas fireplace, by contrast, can often be installed with a direct vent (meaning the fireplace draws combustion air from outside and exhausts through a side-wall pipe). No full chimney chase, no tuckpointing, no spark arrestor. You do need a gas supply, a vent termination location, and clearance from windows and doors.
In September 2022, I approved a gas fireplace project where the vent termination ended up too close to a window. The inspector failed it. We rerouted the vent, and the job took three extra days plus $890. (Note to self: measure clearances before promising anything.)
Comparison conclusion: if there is no existing chimney, gas is usually the less invasive installation. If the masonry chimney is already there and in good shape, wood becomes a realistic option. Just don't assume an old chimney is automatically safe.
2. Heat Output and Efficiency
Here is the part that surprises most people: an open wood-burning fireplace can be a net heat loser. It radiates warmth in front of the fire, but it also pulls heated room air up the chimney. The U.S. Department of Energy's fireplace guidance says as much. Many building science sources put traditional masonry fireplaces in the 10–30% efficiency range. An EPA-certified wood insert is different, but an open wood fireplace is not a primary heat source.
A gas fireplace like the Empire Comfort Systems line is more predictable. The spec sheet lists the BTU input and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). You can size the unit to the room and turn it on only when you need it. Zone heat also matters: a gas fireplace with a remote thermostat can take the chill off one large room without running the whole furnace. In my experience, homeowners who want steady, whole-room warmth are better served by gas.
Comparison conclusion: gas wins for usable, controllable heat. Wood wins for the radiating, 'I'm sitting in front of a fire' experience. If you are buying a fireplace to heat a space, choose gas. If you are buying it for the ritual, choose wood with clear eyes.
3. Operating Cost and Fuel Access
I do not publish a price chart for gas versus firewood because local rates change too much. As of January 2025, natural gas prices vary by region, and firewood varies even more by season and moisture content. What I ask instead is: what fuel is already available?
If there is a natural gas line in the house, an Empire Comfort Systems gas fireplace has a head start. You don't need an underground tank or a wood stack. Propane is an option, but depending on your area, propane costs can swing. I would rather help someone calculate their own per-BTU cost than guess a national average.
Firewood also isn't free unless you cut it yourself. A cord of seasoned hardwood runs $300 to $400 in my region, and a winter habit can use several cords. The right choice depends on what fuel you can actually source locally. (In other words, don't build a lifestyle around a fuel you can't get.)
Comparison conclusion: there is no universal winner on cost. There is only the fuel that is easiest to access and most predictable for the next ten years.
4. Control and Everyday Convenience
Here's the thing: this dimension is not close. A wood-burning fireplace has essentially one control—the damper—and one fuel—your arms and your patience. You have to load wood, build a fire, wait for it to catch, and tend it all evening. Some people genuinely love that. I get it. But it is not convenient.
An Empire Comfort Systems remote, when specified correctly, can adjust the flame height and the temperature from the couch. That's why 'empire comfort systems remote' matters as a search term. Not every fireplace model takes the same remote. I learned that the hard way after ordering the wrong control for a unit that needed a thermostat-style remote. Everyone told me to read the manual first. I finally listened after spending $140 on a part we didn't use.
If you have ever looked up 'what is a duvet cover' because you wanted a simpler bed setup, you understand the appeal of a remote-controlled gas fireplace. You want the warmth without the extra work. That is a valid preference.
Comparison conclusion: gas with a remote wins on convenience, clearly. Wood is not competitive here, and it doesn't need to be. It is a deliberate choice, not a convenience.
5. Maintenance and Safety
Let's be honest: no fireplace is zero-maintenance. Gas fireplaces need annual inspections, clean burner ports, clear vents, and replacement parts when they wear out. Wood fireplaces need annual chimney inspections and regular creosote cleaning. Ash disposal is not fun, and neither is thinking about a chimney fire.
I once skipped an annual inspection on a gas fireplace because the homeowner said it 'looked fine.' A spider nest in the vent had changed the draft. The fireplace still lit, but the carbon monoxide risk was real. The repair cost more than the inspection would have. Since then, I follow the checklist. (I really should put that spider photo in our training deck.) Install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor—that goes for gas and wood.
For wood units, the EPA's 2020 New Source Performance Standards for wood heaters are important. If you are installing a wood insert or stove, look for an EPA-certified model and check current requirements at epa.gov. For gas units, the clearance rules in the manual are not suggestions. Both need respect.
Comparison conclusion: gas has a lower maintenance burden than wood, but not zero. Wood is a commitment. If the homeowner isn't ready for that commitment, gas is the safer, saner choice.
Making the Call
If you ask me, the decision comes down to three questions:
- Do you already have a working chimney, or would you be building one from scratch?
- Do you want thermostat-style heat control, or do you enjoy tending a fire?
- Are you ready for annual maintenance either way?
Choose an Empire Comfort Systems gas fireplace if you want controllable heat, minimal venting work, and a remote that actually adjusts the temperature. Choose a wood-burning fireplace if you already have a sound chimney and you value the fire ritual more than convenience.
The industry has evolved a lot since I started in 2017. Gas fireplaces are more efficient, controls are smarter, and homeowners are more informed. But some fundamentals haven't changed: venting has to be right, fuel has to be available, and maintenance can't be skipped. Those fundamentals don't care about trends.
If you're searching for 'empire-comfort-systems gas fireplaces' to compare model numbers, go ahead. Just don't stop at the photos. Check the spec sheet for BTUs, venting type, and remote compatibility. And if you're also planning an outdoor shower or a butcher block countertop, welcome to the club. The best upgrade is the one you'll actually use.
