Superior DRC2033 33" Contemporary Direct Vent Gas Fireplace
A 33" contemporary direct-vent gas fireplace that frames into just 14-1/2" of depth. The Superior DRC2033 is sealed combustion — it takes its air from outside and vents directly to the outside — and comes as a dedicated top-flue or dedicated rear-flue model, so pick the one that matches your vent route. The clean-faced, louverless firebox burns over a crushed-glass media floor with Reflective Black glass shipped standard, runs 12,000 BTU/hr on natural gas at 64.8% P4 efficiency, and lights on an electronic intermittent pilot with four AA batteries backing up fireplace operation through an outage. from $2,209.
Choose the DRC2033 if you want a contemporary glass-media fireplace in a shallow wall — the 14-1/2" framing depth and 34-1/8" opening fit where deeper fireboxes will not — and you know which way your vent will run, because the flue direction is built into the model you order.
It is not right if there is no route to an outside wall or roof, or if you need primary heat for the room. This is a sealed direct-vent firebox that must vent directly to the outside, and Superior designs it as a supplemental heater, with an alternate primary heat source advised. For an interior room with no venting path, a vent-free or an electric model is the one to look at instead.
Specifications
Frame a minimum opening 34-1/8" wide and 14-1/2" deep, allowing 36-7/8" of height for a top-vent installation or 19-5/8" for a rear-vent one. Combustible mantel and side-wall clearances are read off drawings — see Figure 7 and Figure 6 on page 15 of the installation manual; the ceiling must be at least 64" above the bottom of the unit. It vents on 4-1/2"/7-1/2" Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex or Z-Flex Model GA components, with compact horizontal termination kits offered, and vent runs chart to 25 ft horizontal and 60 ft vertical. Tested and listed by PFS TECO to ANSI Z21.88-2019, report F13-094.
Features
- A compact 14-1/2" framing depth — a 33" contemporary firebox for tight walls and small spaces
- A clean-faced, louverless design with a crushed-glass media floor — Reflective Black glass ships standard
- Dedicated top-flue and rear-flue models on 4-1/2"/7-1/2" Secure Vent rigid or Secure Flex components
- Electronic intermittent pilot ignition, with four AA batteries backing up fireplace operation during an outage
- 12,000 BTU/hr on natural gas at 64.8% P4 efficiency
- Listed for installation in bedrooms and manufactured homes
Answers to common questions
What is the difference between the Top Vent and Rear Vent models?
The Top Vent and Rear Vent choices are two dedicated-flue models — DRC2033TEN with the flue on top of the firebox and DRC2033REN with it on the back — and the direction is built in, not field-convertible. Rear vent gives the lowest possible shelf height above the fireplace (34" versus 44"-46" top-vented) and the shortest framing height (19-5/8" versus 36-7/8"); top vent suits vertical runs. Pick by your vent route, and send us the wall build-up if you want us to check it.
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 12,000 BTU/hr on natural gas / 10,000 BTU/hr on propane; Electronic Ignition System with battery backup (four AA); Reflective Black crushed glass media and the contemporary burner panel; Mesh safety-barrier screen (fitted before operation); U-shaped vent restrictor, hood and hookup wire; ANSI Z21.88 certified (PFS TECO listed); 20-year limited warranty (body, firebox and barrier).
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Venting - Secure Vent or Secure Flex pipe and a termination sized for your run; compact horizontal termination kits are offered for both; Gas line and electrical - a gas line run by a qualified installer, and 120 VAC to the junction box for the electronic ignition.
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Optional: A blower kit and a remote or wall control — the fireplace operates fully without them.
Will it work if the power goes out?
Yes. The electronic ignition uses external power, but four AA batteries in the battery holder provide backup power and keep the fireplace operating through an outage. The optional blower is the exception — it needs mains power and will not run without it.
Can it run on propane?
Yes. The fireplace is factory-built for natural gas, and choosing Propane on this page adds the natural-to-propane conversion kit for 33" electronic models to your order. The kit contains all the necessary components needed to complete the task, including the labeling, and shall be installed by a qualified service agency. On propane it runs 10,000 BTU/hr.
How close can a mantel or shelf sit above it?
Combustible mantel clearance depends on how deep the mantel is — see Figure 7 on page 15 of the installation manual, and Figure 6 on the same page for combustible side walls. You can also send us your mantel depth. We're here to help! For a utility shelf above the fireplace (the manual notes shelves like these are commonly used for locating television sets), the minimum height from the base of the fireplace to the underside of a combustible shelf is 44" top-vented with a rigid elbow, 46" with a flex elbow, or 34" rear-vented — and the space between the fireplace and the area above it must not be insulated.
Can it go in a bedroom or a manufactured home?
Yes — it is listed for installation in bedrooms and manufactured homes, and may be installed in an aftermarket, permanently located, manufactured home (USA only) or mobile home where not prohibited by local codes. In a manufactured home the appliance must be grounded to the chassis per local codes or the National Electrical Code.
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.
