Superior DRT4040 40" Traditional Direct Vent Gas Fireplace
A 40" traditional direct-vent gas fireplace with a 34-1/4" by 24-1/2" view of the fire. The Superior DRT4040 is sealed combustion — it draws its air from outside and vents from the top flue, through the roof or an outside wall, so it needs no chimney. Natural gas runs 28,000 BTU/hr high and turns down to 20,000, at 57.1% P4 efficiency, and the electronic ignition keeps running on four AA backup batteries when the power goes out. from $3,659.
Choose the DRT4040 if you want the Custom Series firebox in a 40" opening and would rather pick the front yourself — the Vista Frame, Reflection and Craftsman facades are a choice on this page, not a fixed look, and the painted-black interior can stay as it comes or take a stacked ceramic or porcelain liner.
It is not right if you need a rear-vent run or cannot give the wall 43-3/4" of framing height — this firebox vents from the top only, so a low knee-wall or under-window installation is better served by the Superior DRT3000 series, which vents top or rear. And if there is no route to the roof or an outside wall at all, a vent-free or an electric model is the one to look at instead.
Specifications
Frame an opening 40-7/8" wide and 23" deep with 1/2" drywall, allowing 43-3/4" of height for the top-vent installation. It sits directly on the floor — over carpet or vinyl tile, set it on a metal or wood panel the full width and depth of the appliance. Combustible mantel and side-wall clearances are read off drawings — see Figure 6 and Figure 5 on page 16 of the installation manual. Venting is 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex or Z-FLEX Model GA — 6 to 60 feet of vertical run, up to three 90° elbows, and an elbow may sit directly on the top flue collar. Listed by PFS TECO to ANSI Z21.88, report 16-120, for bedrooms and manufactured homes, to 4,500 ft elevation on the standard orifices.
How the DRT4040 compares to the DRT4045 and DRT4240
The two DRT4000 sizes share the firebox design, facade range and liner options; they differ in width and output. This 40" runs 28,000 BTU/hr high on natural gas at from $3,659, against the 45" at 31,000 BTU/hr and from $4,389. Want more fire in the same framed opening? The DRT4240 steps this 40" footprint up to 36,000 BTU/hr high, at from $4,999.
Features
- A 34-1/4" by 24-1/2" view of the fire in a 40" cabinet
- Sealed direct vent — it draws combustion air from outside and vents from the top flue, through the roof or an outside wall
- Electronic ignition with battery backup — four AA batteries keep the fireplace running through a power outage
- High definition ceramic fiber log set on a heavy duty grate, with volcanic stone and glowing embers in the carton
- Zero clearance to combustibles — 0" at the floor and to the side and top spacers
- Listed for bedrooms and manufactured homes
Answers to common questions
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: 28,000 BTU/hr high (natural gas) / 25,000 BTU/hr high (propane); Electronic intermittent pilot ignition; Battery backup — four AA batteries; Tempered glass; 34-1/4" x 24-1/2" glass viewing area; High definition ceramic fiber log set with heavy duty grate; Volcanic stone and glowing ember media; Black painted interior liner; ANSI Z21.88 certified (PFS TECO listed); 20-year limited warranty.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Front - a decorative facade with a protective mesh barrier screen; it ships separately and must be installed before operation. The Vista Frame, Reflection and Craftsman facades are the options; Control - an ON/OFF wall switch, wall thermostat, or remote control; Superior's wiring instructions require one and none ships in the box; 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 120 VAC circuit - run to the fireplace junction box by a qualified installer; this is electronic ignition, so house power is required.
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Optional: A stacked ceramic or reflective porcelain liner upgrade over the painted interior — the fireplace operates fully without it; A decorative face surround, a blower kit, and wall or remote control kits beyond the one control you choose.
Will it work if the power goes out?
Yes — every DRT4040 uses electronic intermittent pilot ignition with battery backup: external power runs it day to day, and in an outage four AA batteries in the battery holder keep the fireplace operating. The blower is the exception — it needs mains power and will not run on the batteries.
How do I vent it?
From the top flue, on 4.5"/7.5" Secure Vent rigid, Secure Flex, or Z-FLEX Model GA components — the manual approves no other manufacturer's vent. Run vertically through the roof (6 to 60 feet of vertical venting, up to three 90° elbows) or horizontally through an outside wall with the SV4.5HT-2 termination, and on this model an elbow can connect directly to the top flue collar. There is no rear-vent option. Send us your wall build-up and we will size the run with you.
How close can a mantel or a TV shelf sit above it?
Combustible mantel clearance depends on how deep the mantel is — see Figure 6 on page 16 of the installation manual, and Figure 5 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 kind the manual describes for locating television sets — the shelf must sit at least 52" above the base of the fireplace with Secure Vent rigid elbow venting, or 54" with Secure Flex.
Do I need a wall switch or remote to run it?
Yes — one control is required and none ships in the box. Superior's wiring instructions call for an ON/OFF wall switch, a wall thermostat, or a remote control on the DRT4000-E, so plan on adding one from the controls range when you order.
Can I convert it between natural gas and propane later?
Only with Superior's certified conversion kit, installed by a qualified technician — the fireplace is built for the gas type on its rating plate and is not convertible without one. That is also why this page sells dedicated natural-gas and propane models at the same price: pick the right fuel up front and no kit is needed.
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.
