Superior VCM3026 26" Traditional Vent Free Gas Fireplace
No flue and no chimney. The Superior VCM3026 is a 26" vent-free compact fireplace that installs in a 26-7/8" by 26-7/8" rough opening only 10-1/2" deep — shallow enough for a renovation wall a vented firebox will not fit. It runs 26,000 BTU/hr maximum input, variable down to 14,000 BTU/hr, at 99.9% AFUE, and its piezo ignition lights without matches, batteries, or household power. Choose the thermostat control, which modulates the flame to hold a consistent room temperature, or the millivolt remote-ready control. from $1,489.
Choose the VCM3026 if you want real gas heat in a room with no venting path — it is an unvented room heater with an ODS safety pilot, so the wall it goes in needs no route to the outside, and the 9-3/8" deep cabinet tucks into existing construction.
It is not right if the room is a bedroom or a bathroom — vent-free fireplaces are never installed in either, and Massachusetts restricts them further — or if you need a primary heat source, which this supplemental heater is not rated to be. For those rooms, a sealed direct-vent model such as the Superior DRT2000 series or an electric fireplace is the one to look at instead.
Specifications
Frame a rough opening 26-7/8" wide by 26-7/8" high by 10-1/2" deep, a minimum 3/4" off the floor; corner rough-opening dimensions are in the manual. Keep the ceiling 36" above the fireplace, combustibles 6" from its sides, and flammable objects 36" from the front, top, or sides; combustible mantel clearance for a built-in installation depends on how deep the shelf is — see Figure 11 on page 14 of the installation manual. On carpeting or vinyl tile it sits on a metal or wood panel the full width and depth of the fireplace. Natural gas wants 5" to 10.5" WC at the inlet, propane 11" to 14" WC behind an external regulator, and operation above 4,500 feet of elevation could cause pilot outage. Listed by PFS to ANSI Z21.11.2, Report F09-123.
VCM3026 vs. the VRT2500 vent-free fireboxes
The VCM3026 is the complete vent-free fireplace — burner, ceramic fiber logs, and controls in one 26" box at from $1,489. Superior's VRT2500 fireboxes take the opposite route: a 36" or 42" open-front enclosure at from $809 and from $949 that ships without a burner, so you pick the vent-free log set yourself and get a larger opening for it.
Features
- 26,000 BTU/hr of variable heat with no flue and no chimney — it installs where a vented fireplace cannot
- Fits a 26-7/8" x 26-7/8" rough opening only 10-1/2" deep, sized for renovations of existing rooms
- ODS safety pilot shuts the fireplace off if the room runs short of fresh air
- Piezo ignition lights without matches, batteries, or household power
- Choose the self-modulating thermostat control, or the millivolt remote-ready control that takes Superior's optional remotes and wall switches
- Ceramic fiber log set, black painted interior, and the arch screen all come standard
Answers to common questions
Does it need a vent or a chimney?
No — the VCM3026 is a vent-free (unvented) fireplace and vents nothing outdoors. It uses air from the room it is installed in, so the manual's combustion-and-ventilation worksheet must be satisfied, and the ODS safety pilot shuts it off if fresh air runs short. That is also why it may never be installed in a bedroom or a bathroom.
Will it work if the power goes out?
Yes — every VCM3026 lights with a piezo igniter and heats without any electricity, so an outage does not touch it. That covers the Thermostat and the Millivolt (Standing Pilot) models alike; the manual notes that in a power outage you can use it as your primary heat source. The one exception is the optional blower, which needs a 120-volt outlet and will not run without it.
What is the difference between the Thermostat and the Millivolt models?
The Thermostat models hold the room's temperature on their own while the Millivolt (Standing Pilot) models are remote-ready — that is the whole split, and both light by piezo. The thermostat valve senses room temperature and modulates the flame between HI and LO to keep it consistent. The millivolt valve has an ON/OFF/REMOTE selector switch and accepts Superior's optional hand-held remotes and wall switches, each purchased separately.
How close can a mantel sit above it?
The height a built-in mantel shelf must sit above the top of the fireplace opening depends on how deep the shelf is — see Figure 11 on page 14 of the installation manual. The ceiling stays 36" above the fireplace and combustibles 6" from its sides. You can also send us your mantel depth. We're here to help!
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 26,000 BTU/hr maximum input, variable to 14,000 BTU/hr; Piezo ignition — no batteries or household power needed; ODS safety pilot; Ceramic fiber log set; Black painted interior; Hood, arch screen, hardware packet, and flexible gas line; ANSI Z21.11.2 listed (PFS Report F09-123); 20-year limited warranty on body, firebox, and barrier.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Gas Line - an approved supply line with equipment shutoff valve and sediment trap, run by a qualified installer; propane systems add an external regulator and a 100 lb-minimum supply tank; Combustion Air - the room must supply adequate combustion and ventilation air per the manual's NFPA 54 worksheet.
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Optional: The GA3450TA thermostat-controlled blower — the fireplace operates fully without it; Remote controls and wall switches for the millivolt models, purchased separately; Perimeter trim kit in black or platinum, cabinet and corner mantels, and outside air kits.
How does the warranty work if something goes wrong?
Superior warrants the fireplace, and The Torch Guys handles it for you — we register the appliance and, if you ever need to claim, we deal with the manufacturer on your behalf rather than handing you a phone number. Keep your invoice and the model number; we hold the rest on file.
