Superior DRL4048 48" See-Through Linear Direct Vent Gas Fireplace
One 48" linear firebox, open to two rooms — this is the Superior DRL4048 in its factory See-Thru configuration, with the Indoor See-Thru Conversion Kit included in every variant. It runs 35,000 BTU/hr high / 23,500 low on natural gas at 62.5% P4 efficiency over the standard Reflective Black crushed glass, vents vertically through the roof or horizontally through an outside wall on 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent components, and starts at from $8,102, with a 20-year limited warranty on the body, firebox and barrier.
Choose this build if the fireplace sits in a wall between two rooms and you want the Custom-series price for it — both sides get the full 48" flame view over the same media bed, the See-Thru kit arrives with the firebox instead of being chased down later, and the black painted interior with Reflective Black crushed glass is the standard look with nothing more to buy.
It is not right if you want fan-forced heat: Superior's Blower Kit is not compatible with the See-Thru kit, so a wall that needs a blower should hold the one-sided Superior DRL4048 instead, where the FBK-LIN48 kit stays available. And if the second side will face a patio or any outdoor space, this indoor-only kit is the wrong conversion — the DRL4048 with the Indoor/Outdoor See-Thru kit (OSTK-LIN48) is the build for that wall.
Specifications
Frame a 55-5/8" wide opening in the dividing wall (See-Thru framing), with 84" minimum from the appliance base to the ceiling, and do not insulate the space between the fireplace and the area above it. Keep the back 3/4" from the wrapper and the sides 1/2" (0" to the spacers), and keep furniture and other combustibles 36" from the front of the viewing area(s) — on this see-through build, that applies on both sides. A combustible mantel follows the manual's depth chart (4" to 12" of depth), and combustible side walls may close to 8-1/4" if they project no more than 12". Listed by PFS TECO to ANSI Z21.88, report F22-797, and rated for standard orifices to 4,500 ft.
How the DRL4048 see-through compares to the other DRL4000 sizes — and the one-sided build
The DRL4000 see-through builds share the Custom Series standard kit — Reflective Black media, black painted interior and battery-backed electronic ignition; they differ in width and output. This 48" runs 35,000 BTU/hr high on natural gas at from $8,102, against the 60" at from $11,084, the 72" at from $13,247 and the 84" at from $16,939. The same firebox in its factory one-sided form — the Superior DRL4048 at from $5,519 — skips the kit cost and keeps the blower option; and if you want a hand-held remote, floor lighting, porcelain liner and Platinum media standard, that is the Signature-series DRL6048 see-through at from $9,762.
Features
- The see-through build — the DRL4048 firebox and Superior's Indoor See-Thru Conversion Kit together, one fireplace open to two rooms
- Two 5 lb bags of Reflective Black crushed glass ship in the carton — the standard firebox floor, visible from both sides
- 35,000 BTU/hr high / 23,500 low on natural gas at 62.5% P4 efficiency
- Sealed direct vent on 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex or Z-FLEX GA components — vertical through the roof or horizontal through an outside wall
- SIT Proflame 1 electronic ignition with an IPI/CPI cold-climate switch; four AA batteries keep it lighting through a power outage
- Black painted interior and ceramic glass, standard
Answers to common questions
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: The 48" Indoor See-Thru Conversion Kit (STK-DVLIN48), with the two-sided application's fireboard and See-Thru hardware; Two 5 lb bags of Reflective Black glass media, installed over the burner and media tray; 35,000 BTU/hr high / 23,500 low (natural gas); 31,000 / 25,500 (propane, conversion kit); Electronic intermittent pilot ignition (SIT Proflame I); Battery backup — four AA batteries included; Ceramic glass; Painted black interior; PFS TECO listed to ANSI Z21.88 (report F22-797); 20-year limited warranty.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Control - Superior's OTRK-LIN Remote Kit, or a field-supplied ON/OFF wall switch or thermostat; the fireplace does not operate without one and none is in the carton; Venting - Secure Vent, Secure Flex or Z-FLEX Model GA 4.5"/7.5" pipe and a termination sized for your run; Gas Line and Electrical - a gas supply line and an unswitched 120 VAC, 60 Hz circuit, run by a qualified installer; this is electronic ignition only, so power is required at all times.
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Optional: A colored or textured floor media upgrade — two bags of crushed glass in Platinum or Reflective Blue, a 25-piece rock kit, a driftwood-and-rock kit, or a driftwood log set — over the standard Reflective Black crushed glass; A black Linear Trim Kit and a HeatFlo heat-management kit — the fireplace operates fully without them.
Is a remote control included, and how do I turn it on?
No control ships in the carton on any variant of this build — Superior requires one of three: an ON/OFF wall switch, a thermostat, or a remote control, wired to the fireplace (12 feet of two-conductor wire is included for a wall-mounted control). Superior's own option is the OTRK-LIN Remote Kit with on/off and thermostat control, sold below the cart; a standard wall switch from your electrician also satisfies the requirement.
Will it work if the power goes out?
Yes — every variant of this build has battery backup built in. Four AA batteries in the battery holder take over during a line-power interruption: the unit sparks at the pilot, lights, and operates normally. Superior recommends installing fresh batteries before each burn season so the switchover is automatic.
How do I vent it, and is the vent in the box?
The vent is sold separately, and the run is 4.5" inner / 7.5" outer pipe on the manual's approved systems only — Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex, or Z-FLEX Model GA — with no other manufacturer's components permitted. The flue collar is on top: run it vertically through the roof or elbow it horizontally through an outside wall. Send us your wall build-up and we will size the run with you.
Can I mount a TV above it?
Yes, on either side, with the manual's clearances — its TV framing tables cover the One Sided and See-Thru applications alike. Keep the TV at least 12" above the fireplace opening on a flush wall, or 18" above it in a recessed wall pocket, and note the recessed pocket itself is only available with the HeatFlo kit (maximum pocket depth 3-1/2"). Superior gives these TV clearances as guidance only, so check your TV maker's own temperature limits too.
Do I have to buy a media upgrade, and what about the glass liner?
No purchase needed — the firebox is complete as it ships, with the Reflective Black crushed glass over the burner and the black painted interior. The media upgrades only change the look: two bags of Platinum or Reflective Blue crushed glass, the 25-piece River Rock kit, the Driftwood Pieces and Rock kit, or the Driftwood Log Set. The Black Reflective Glass liner sold for the one-sided DRL4048 is not offered here at all — Superior states the glass panel kits are not compatible with the See-Thru kit, so the painted interior is the interior.
Does the see-through configuration have a blower?
No, on every variant — the DRL4048 has no factory blower, and Superior states its optional Blower Kit is not compatible with the See-Thru kit. The fireplace heats both rooms by radiant heat and natural convection instead, and the HeatFlo convection kit is the manual's accessory for redirecting warm air higher on the wall. If fan-forced heat is a requirement, the one-sided DRL4048 keeps the blower kit available.
How does the warranty work if something goes wrong?
Superior warrants the DRL4048 — 20 years limited on the body, firebox and barrier, one year on the burner and gas components — 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.
