Superior WCT6940 EPA-Certified Catalytic Wood Burning Fireplace
A catalytic wood-burning fireplace with a 4.0 cubic foot firebox that takes 30" logs — up to 80,000 BTU/hr in accelerated combustion, 1.3 g/hr EPA-certified on crib wood, 70% efficiency per the manual's specifications table. The Superior WCT6940 is the largest of the Signature Series wood fireplaces: a 31" by 15" glass view behind steel double doors, a bypass-controlled catalytic combustor, a factory-installed 350 cfm heat-activated blower, and the mandatory outside air kit in the box. from $7,469.
Choose the WCT6940 if you want serious wood heat — up to 2,500 square feet of supplemental coverage and 6-8 hour overnight burns — with the catalyst doing the clean-up: it reburns the smoke for less pollution, reduced creosote and higher efficiency. It is the one for a big room, a long burn, and Washington State's stricter catalytic limits.
It is not right for a manufactured or mobile home — the manual does not approve it there, while the smaller WCT4920 and WCT6920 on this site are mobile-home approved. And with no route for a full-height 7" chimney it is not right either: a direct-vent gas fireplace such as Superior's DRT series vents out a side wall instead.
Specifications
Frame a front opening 46-1/4" wide — 47" before the fireplace is pushed into the framing — at a total depth of 28-1/4" including the back standoff, less 1/2" for drywall. The fireplace must sit on a non-combustible surface, with floor protection in front sized per Figure 13 on page 14 of the installation manual. Keep side walls 24" clear at the front, read the combustible-mantel height and depth off Figure 13 on page 14 of the installation manual, and run a listed 7" wood-burning chimney at least 12 feet tall with 2" clearance and a rain cap; a masonry chimney works with a 2100°F-rated stainless liner.
How the WCT6940 compares to the other Superior wood fireplaces
The WCT4920 at from $5,099 and the WCT6920 at from $5,249 share a smaller non-catalytic platform: 2.0 cubic feet, 19" logs, 15,277–55,597 BTU/hr on a 6" chimney, and both are mobile-home approved. This WCT6940 at from $7,469 doubles the firebox to 4.0 cubic feet, takes 30" logs, reaches 80,000 BTU/hr through a catalytic combustor on a 7" chimney — but sits only in site-built homes on a non-combustible surface.
Features
- Catalytic combustor with bypass control and gauge — EPA-certified at 1.3 g/hr on crib wood (2020 standard) and Washington State approved
- Up to 80,000 BTU/hr in accelerated combustion and 6-8 hour overnight burns at the slow setting
- 4.0 cubic foot insulated firebox takes logs up to 30" behind a 31" by 15" glass view
- White stacked textured refractories with cast iron log retainers behind steel double doors
- Factory-installed heat-activated 350 cfm variable-speed blower with its wall speed control in the box
- The mandatory outside air kit is included, so combustion air comes from outside the house
Answers to common questions
What’s included, what’s required, and what’s optional?
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Included in the box: White stacked textured refractory interior panels with integrated ash lip and cast iron log retainers; Catalytic combustor with bypass gauge; Factory-installed heat-activated UZY5 blower with VRUW variable speed control; Insulated outside air kit (mandatory for every installation, in the box); EPA certified (catalytic); UL 127 / CAN/ULC S610 listed; 20-year limited warranty.
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Required to complete the installation, purchased separately: Front - a decorative facade; ships separately and is required to complete installation (the black smooth-steel arched facade is the WCT6940's own catalytic-model-specific part); Doors - the double-door set; the fireplace cannot be operated without both doors, and the WCT6940 set is catalytic-model-specific; Venting - a 7" listed wood-burning chimney run, minimum 12 feet with a rain cap; see the manual's approved-systems list; Electrical - a 120 V connection, wired by a qualified electrician before the fireplace is installed; Floor Protection - a non-combustible surface under the fireplace and non-combustible hearth-extension floor protection in front, built on site and sized per Figure 13 on page 14 of the installation manual.
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Optional: The thermostatic forced air kit ducts heat to further rooms — the fireplace heats fully without it (the book notes the kit was not part of the EPA emissions testing).
What does the catalytic combustor actually do?
It reburns the smoke: unburned by-products pass through the catalyst and combust at lower temperatures, which means less pollution, less creosote in the chimney and higher efficiency — this is how the WCT6940 certifies at 1.3 g/hr. You start and reload with the bypass open, then close it once the gauge shows the operating range (about 15-30 minutes). The combustor is rated for a minimum of 10,000 hours, wants a yearly cleaning, and carries its own 3-year warranty.
What chimney does it need?
A listed 7" diameter wood-burning chimney on every configuration, minimum 12 feet not counting the fireplace (15 feet with offsets), 2" clearance to combustibles, rain cap on top. The manual's approved systems include Secure Temp GX (US), Secure Temp S-2100+/Nova Temp HT6000+ and DuraVent DuraTech Premium, and its parts-required text also names 7" IHP Snap-Pak — send us your roof height and we will spec the exact run with you. A masonry chimney works with a 2100°F-rated stainless liner.
Will it heat if the power goes out?
Yes — every configuration burns wood with no electricity at all, and the catalytic combustor works on heat, not power. Electricity runs only the 350 cfm circulating blower, which is on a 120 V connection and will not spin in an outage; the fireplace still radiates heat through the ceramic glass while the power is off.
Can I install it in a mobile or manufactured home?
No — the manual states these appliances are not approved for manufactured home installations, in any configuration. If the fireplace is going into a manufactured home, the WCT4920 and WCT6920 are the mobile-home-approved wood fireplaces in this family.
What wood should I burn, and how long does a load last?
Dry, seasoned natural cordwood only, at 15-20% moisture — untreated wood matters even more here because preservatives, foils, coal, plastic or oil can damage the catalyst. Loaded and set to the recommended medium combustion it reloads about every 3-4 hours at roughly 35,000 BTU/hr; run slow overnight it goes 6-8 hours. It is a supplemental heater, so keep another heat source for the house.
How does the warranty work if something goes wrong?
Superior warrants the fireplace — 20 years limited on the body, firebox and ceramic glass, with the catalytic combustor on its own 3-year warranty — 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.
