Heatilator vs Superior — how do these builder-grade fireplace brands compare?

Heatilator: the sensible gas play

Heatilator has built its name on practical, value-driven gas fireplaces, and the Novus nXt 36 we carry shows why — a 26,000 BTU natural-gas direct-vent unit with IntelliFire ignition that gets reliable fire on the wall of a new build or remodel without stretching the budget. It's what we suggest when someone wants their first gas fireplace done right and doesn't need designer extras. Sealed direct-vent combustion also makes it a clean match for today's tightly built homes.

Superior: wood value and the vent-free heavyweight

Superior's lane is different. The WRT4500 is a 36-inch EPA-certified wood-burning fireplace that delivers a real wood fire without a premium price tag — popular with families who want grid-independent heat after Helene. And the VRT4036 is the powerful vent-free option: 40,000 BTU, 99.9 percent efficient, millivolt ignition that needs no electricity, with the required oxygen-depletion sensor.

Vent-free comes with rules — room-size limits, added indoor moisture, and it's restricted in bedrooms and bathrooms — but correctly sized, installed, and maintained, it's a serious heater.

Choosing between them

Honestly, you rarely choose these two head-to-head — you choose a fuel and a job, and the brand follows. Gas fireplace for the living room: Heatilator. A real wood fire or a vent-free heater: Superior. Both carry the manufacturer's warranty plus our workmanship guarantee, and both are on our list because they've held up in WNC homes. See them at the Asheville showroom, or call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home assessment.