Empire Loft Medium Vent-Free Gas Insert vs Monessen Solstice 33-Inch Ventless Gas Insert

Both are 28,000 BTU vent-free inserts for an existing masonry fireplace, so the choice comes down to flame look and heat distribution. The Empire Loft Medium is the contemporary pick: a wide 29¼-inch linear burner, reflective black porcelain liner and a clean firebox with no blower noise. The Monessen Solstice 33 is the practical heater: a 135 CFM blower, up to 99.9% thermal efficiency, zero clearance to combustibles and a battery backup that runs up to 48 hours in a power outage. Owners of linear-burner inserts like the Loft praise the look but note the heat stays close to the unit; blower-equipped inserts like the Solstice spread warmth further but add fan noise.

• Choose the Empire Loft Medium if you want a wide, modern linear flame in a mid-sized masonry fireplace and prefer quiet, blower-free operation that still heats when the power is out.
• Choose the Monessen Solstice 33 if you want a blower to push heat into the room, a choice of log or fireglass media and liners, and battery backup for outages.