Napoleon Altitude X Gas Fireplace

Napoleon Altitude X Gas Fireplace Selection and Installation

Find the fire that fits your home

The Napoleon Altitude X offers a traditional fireplace shape with room to make the details your own. Its clean-faced presentation keeps attention on the logs and flame, while the surrounding finish can feel classic, tailored or more contemporary. Chimneys Plus helps you decide whether its proportions are right before narrowing the choices to a specific front or log set.

Serving the Triangle and surrounding Central North Carolina communities.

What makes this family different

Choose from oak, driftwood or birch log presentations and compatible interior panels and fronts. The family includes lighting, a circulating blower, remote control and eFIRE connectivity. Those conveniences make it worth comparing when you want more than a basic fire but prefer a traditional focal point to a long linear opening.

Selection and installation, considered together

The current AX36-2 and AX42-2 versions must be planned with their own manuals; earlier Altitude specifications are not a substitute. We review the complete enclosure and selected heat-management arrangement alongside mantels, televisions and finish materials. The manufacturer classifies these as decorative appliances, so we do not present them as a replacement for central heat or a rated backup-heating system.

This is a complete built-in gas fireplace with its own firebox, not an insert that requires a separate existing fireplace. Its direct-vent combustion system uses outside air and exhausts outdoors rather than using already conditioned room air for combustion. A suitable vent route, the complete enclosure, finish materials and service access all matter; the appliance’s body dimensions alone do not establish installation fit.

Chimneys Plus handles or coordinates gas piping, required electrical work and permitting. We check the fuel supply and the selected model’s requirements before finalizing the installation. The AX36-2/AX42-2 installation manual requires hardwiring. The circulating blower, lighting and other powered features need household electricity even though battery-backed burner control is available.

Specifications and options at a glance

Models: Altitude X 36 and 42; current AX36-2/AX42-2 platform.
Configuration: single-sided built-in direct vent.
Maximum fuel input from the current installation manual: AX36-2 natural gas 35,500, propane 34,000 BTU/hr; AX42-2 natural gas 38,000, propane 36,500 BTU/hr.
Input means fuel consumption, not room heat output.
Included blower, remote and lighting; approved log and interior-panel selections complete the appearance.
Heat-management choices and clearances must match the current model and accessory instructions.

Manufacturer product information: https://www.napoleon.com/en/us/fireplaces/products/fireplace-products/gas-fireplaces/altitude-x-series

Local expertise, from your first comparison onward

Chimneys Plus is an authorized Napoleon dealer. The Chimneys Plus team includes CSIA- and NFI-certified professionals. Together with our North Carolina general contractor and fuel-piping licenses, these qualifications reflect our commitment to knowledgeable fireplace installation and service.

Contact Chimneys Plus for help comparing fireplace options and planning the right installation for your home.

Current specifications

Viewing area: 36: 35.25 x 33.13 in; 42: 42.25 x 36.13 in
eFIRE controller and remote included
Log set and brick kit required to complete unit; optional fronts and trims
Electronic ignition; NG and propane models (AX36PTE-2, AX42PTE-2)
Compatible with DHC heat management
Warranty: President’s Limited Lifetime

Source: manufacturer product page. Specifications can change with new model years, so we confirm them against the current documents before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of room suits a Napoleon Altitude X?

It is a useful choice to compare when you want traditional hearth proportions and a log-focused view. We consider the room’s scale, wall depth and finish style before choosing between the 36 and 42.

Can the Napoleon Altitude X have a different log appearance?

Yes. Approved oak, driftwood and birch options create different visual moods. We select the proper model-specific log set and interior components rather than mixing unrelated media.

Can the Napoleon Altitude X operate during a power outage?

Yes! With gas available and the specified batteries installed, the burner can retain on/off and flame-control functions. Lighting and blower operation are unavailable on backup batteries. Any power-vent or powered accessory requirement must be reviewed separately. This is outage flame operation, not a guaranteed backup-heating solution.

Does the Napoleon Altitude X require an electrical connection?

The AX36-2/AX42-2 installation manual requires hardwiring. The circulating blower, lighting and other powered features need household electricity even though battery-backed burner control is available. We coordinate the electrical work, so you do not need to arrange that part of the project separately.

Can a Napoleon Altitude X be installed below a television?

Potentially. The exact heat-management arrangement, enclosure openings, mantel or recess and the television’s temperature limits must work together. A photograph of another installation does not establish the clearances for yours.

Can the Napoleon Altitude X use an existing gas line?

Possibly. Chimneys Plus checks fuel type, pipe capacity, pressure, shutoff access and the demand from other appliances. An existing connection does not automatically mean that the line is adequate for the new fireplace.

Does installing or replacing a Napoleon Altitude X require permits?

Yes, fireplace switch-outs require permitting even when a gas line already exists. Chimneys Plus confirms the applicable requirements and handles permits for the installation.

How should I maintain a Napoleon Altitude X?

Follow the model’s care instructions and arrange qualified inspection and service at least annually. Burner and pilot condition, approved media placement, glass, controls and venting all deserve attention. Keep required barriers installed and keep enclosure air openings unobstructed.