A complete fireplace and mantel—with less surrounding remodeling

Want the warmth and familiar look of a fireplace without designing an entire feature wall? The Vail 26 Special Edition combines a vent-free gas fireplace with a coordinated mantel, creating a finished focal point against a suitable wall. It is a complete fireplace-and-mantel system—not just a burner, an empty firebox, or an insert that needs another fireplace around it.

Serving the Triangle and surrounding Central North Carolina communities.

This White Mountain Hearth product, now presented in Empire Hearth’s Vail Deluxe collection, includes the fireplace, mantel, Flint Hill logs and Contour burner, plus the coordinating hood, frame, louvers and ember material. The traditional proportions work well when you want a recognizable mantel-and-fireplace look rather than a large contemporary wall installation.

Because the mantel supplies the surrounding finish and the fireplace does not need an exterior vent, this can involve substantially less remodeling than a custom built-in fireplace. It still needs professional installation: a suitable location and floor, correct anchoring, gas piping, clearances, and adequate combustion and ventilation air. An optional blower also adds an electrical requirement. Chimneys Plus helps you understand those details before deciding whether this package is right for your room.

Choose it for occasional comfort—not continuous heating

The Vail is worth considering when your priority is a complete traditional fireplace with a smaller surrounding construction scope and short periods of supplemental warmth. Vent-free operation uses room air and releases combustion products and water vapor indoors, so the room and the way you plan to use the fireplace matter as much as its appearance. Follow the model’s required combustion-air and ventilation provisions, which may include cracking a window in specified circumstances; a cracked window does not replace those requirements.

Chimneys Plus generally recommends vent-free fireplaces for intermittent enjoyment—typically a couple of hours at a time—not as a continuous or extended-outage heating plan. If sustained heating or dependable long-duration backup warmth is your main goal, we will help you compare a suitable direct-vent fireplace instead.

Details to help you compare

• Complete package: Vail 26 Special Edition fireplace and mantel, with Flint Hill log set, Contour burner, hood, frame, louvers and ember material.
• Current complete-package millivolt models: VFD26FM30, with natural-gas or propane versions and cherry or white mantel choices.
• Maximum fuel input: 20,000 BTU/h; this is fuel input, not a promised delivered-heat or square-foot rating.
• Fireplace viewing opening: approximately 26 inches wide by 18⅛ inches high; these are not the mantel’s installed dimensions.
• Venting: vent-free; no exterior chimney or vent connection, but required room-air and ventilation provisions still apply.
• Options include approved remote controls, blower and banded-brick liner; compatibility is confirmed for the selected package.

Manufacturer product details: Empire Vail Deluxe and Vail 26 Special Edition

Installation with Chimneys Plus

We review the room’s suitability, floor support, clearance requirements and gas supply together. The mantel must be secured as instructed, and carpet, tile and other floor conditions may require a supporting panel or other preparation. The 20,000-BTU Special Edition is not a bedroom or bathroom fireplace; lower-input Vail models elsewhere in the range do not change that restriction.

Chimneys Plus handles or coordinates the gas piping, any required electrical work and permitting. An existing gas line does not automatically make the installation permit-free or confirm that the line is correctly sized.

The Chimneys Plus team includes CSIA- and NFI-certified professionals. Together with our North Carolina general contractor and fuel-piping licenses, these qualifications reflect our commitment to knowledgeable fireplace installation and service.

Contact Chimneys Plus to compare the Vail complete package with other appropriate fireplace approaches and plan an installation that fits your home and intended use.

Current specifications

• Vent-free, indoor; natural gas or propane
• Ignition: standing pilot or electronic ignition (by model)
• Controls: millivolt or modulating hydraulic thermostat

Source: manufacturer product page. Specifications can change with new model years, so we confirm them against the current documents before you buy.

Related products and services

• Valor LX2 Gas Fireplace
• Valor LX1 Pier Gas Fireplace
• Valor L1 See-Thru Gas Fireplace
• All fireplaces
• Custom fireplace design and installation
• Gas line installation
• GasCheck annual gas fireplace service
• Financing options

Frequently asked questions

Does the Vail 26 Special Edition include the mantel?

Yes. The Special Edition is the complete fireplace-and-mantel package. A separately listed Vail Deluxe firebox is not necessarily the same purchase, so we confirm the full package and selected finish rather than assume every Vail listing includes a mantel.

Can the Vail 26 Special Edition be installed against an existing wall?

Yes, in a suitable location. Its supplied mantel can avoid much of the custom framing and finish work associated with a built-in fireplace. It still requires wall anchoring, a properly supported base, prescribed clearances and an approved gas connection. We also evaluate the room’s combustion and ventilation air before recommending it.

Does the Vail 26 Special Edition need a chimney or an open window?

It needs no exterior vent or chimney. It does need the combustion and ventilation air required by its instructions and the applicable code. Those provisions may include additional air openings; the manual also calls for an open window during initial burn-in. Follow the specific installation and operating instructions, including any direction to crack a window. A cracked window is not a substitute for a properly evaluated installation.

How does the Vail 26 Special Edition affect indoor air and moisture?

Its flame uses indoor oxygen and releases combustion products and moisture into the room. That is why we consider room volume, air supply, other fuel-burning appliances and household needs before recommending vent-free equipment. Correct installation, proper operation, appropriate carbon-monoxide alarms and regular professional maintenance all matter. The oxygen-depletion safety system does not replace a carbon-monoxide alarm or proper installation.

Can the Vail 26 Special Edition operate during a power outage?

Yes! The millivolt complete-package version can operate its burner without household electricity, provided the gas supply and pilot system are functioning. An electric blower will not run without power, and an optional remote needs its specified batteries or power source. This does not change our recommendation for short, intermittent supplemental use; we do not recommend the Vail for continuous or extended-outage heating.

Does the Vail 26 Special Edition require electrical work, a gas line or a permit?

It requires the correct natural-gas or propane supply. The millivolt burner does not need household electricity to operate, but the optional blower does. We confirm the selected controls and accessories, handle or coordinate the needed gas and electrical work, and address the applicable permit requirements—including replacements with an existing gas line.

How long should I run the Vail 26 Special Edition?

Chimneys Plus generally recommends a couple of hours at a time for occasional supplemental comfort. Always follow the appliance’s instructions and any installation-specific restrictions. If you expect to heat for long periods, ask us about a suitable direct-vent alternative.

What maintenance does the Vail 26 Special Edition need?

Have it professionally inspected at least annually, with more frequent cleaning when conditions require. Service includes checking the pilot and burner, maintaining clear air passages, and confirming that logs and ember material remain in the prescribed positions. Those details support controlled combustion and help reduce soot and excess carbon-monoxide risk. Stop using a fireplace that develops soot, repeated shutdowns or unusual operation and have it checked.