Napoleon
Napoleon Oakville X4 Direct Vent Insert, Natural Gas | GDIX4N-1
Napoleon Oakville X4 Direct Vent Insert, Natural Gas | GDIX4N-1
A direct vent natural gas insert that turns an existing wood-burning fireplace into a gas fire with a remote. The Oakville X4 GDIX4N-1 slides into a vented, non-combustible fireplace, factory-built or masonry, and shows the flame through a 27 3/4 inch by 18 11/16 inch glass front. Two 3 inch liners run up your chimney, one bringing air in from outside and one sending exhaust out, so the flame does not use your room air. Napoleon classes it as a decorative appliance, built for the look of the fire rather than as a source of heat.
What you get
| Model | Napoleon GDIX4N-1, Oakville X4, direct vent gas insert, natural gas |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Natural gas. The appliance is only for the gas on its rating plate, and Napoleon says it can be converted only with a certified kit. |
| Maximum input | Up to 40,000 BTU/hr on natural gas at 0 to 4,500 ft. Above 4,500 ft, Napoleon reduces the certified input by 4% for each additional 1,000 ft, unless your local authority says otherwise. This is a gas input rating, not a heat rating. |
| Gas supply pressure | 4.5 to 7 in. w.c. on natural gas, with a manifold pressure of 3.5 in. w.c. |
| Overall size | 33 3/4″ W × 24 9/16″ H × 17 3/4″ D |
| Viewing area | 27 3/4″ × 18 11/16″, as printed on Napoleon’s specification sheet |
| Minimum opening | 34 5/16″ W × 24 3/4″ H × 18 1/4″ D in the existing fireplace |
| Existing fireplace | Must be recessed into a vented non-combustible wood-burning fireplace, factory-built or masonry, with a flue of at least 6″ round. Napoleon says the damper must be removed or locked open. |
| Venting | Direct vent through the chimney with two 3″ liners, one for air intake and one for exhaust. Napoleon allows 10 ft minimum and 45 ft maximum. The liner kit and the chimney terminal are sold separately. |
| Ignition | Electronic ignition with Napoleon’s on demand pilot (IPI). A continuous pilot mode (CPI) with a seven day timer is also built in. |
| Controls | Remote control with an LCD display. It sets six flame levels, shows the room temperature, controls the Night Light and switches the second burner on and off (split flow). It also has a child lock. |
| Battery back-up | The receiver takes four AA batteries, and the transmitter takes three AAA batteries. With the receiver batteries in, the remote can still run the flame during a power failure. |
| Mantel | Napoleon requires at least 12″ from the top of the appliance to the bottom of a combustible mantel that projects 3″ or less. The chart on the specification sheet covers deeper mantels. |
| Panels | Not included. Napoleon says panels are required and sold separately. |
| Included | Insert with glass door and safety barrier, and the log set with embers shown in Napoleon’s installation manual |
| Not included | Decorative panels (required), chimney liner kit, chimney terminal, face plates and backer plates |
| Where it can go | Approved for bathroom, bedroom and bed-sitting room installations. Certified for mobile home installation. |
| Warranty | Napoleon Gas Appliance President’s Lifetime Limited Warranty. Terms are in the owner’s manual. |
Add to your order
The Oakville X4 needs panels and a chimney liner kit, so start with those. Everything below is listed in Napoleon’s Oakville X4 manuals as a fit. Tick what you want and add it to your cart with the insert in one step.
Questions people ask us
What is a gas insert, and will the X4 fit my fireplace?
A gas insert is a sealed gas appliance that slides into an existing wood-burning fireplace, so you keep the fireplace opening and swap the wood fire for a gas flame. Napoleon says the X4 goes only into a vented, non-combustible wood-burning fireplace, factory-built or masonry. The opening must be at least 34 5/16″ wide, 24 3/4″ high and 18 1/4″ deep, and the flue at least 6″ round.
Send us your opening size and a photo and we will confirm the fit before you order.
How is it vented?
It is direct vent, so it is sealed from your room. Two 3″ flexible liners run up the chimney, one bringing combustion air down and one carrying exhaust out. Napoleon allows 10 ft to 45 ft of liner and recommends kits in four lengths: 20, 25, 35 and 45 ft. The liners connect to an air terminal at the top of the chimney.
Napoleon also says exhaust liners that pass through unheated spaces, such as a tall outside chimney, should be wrapped in a protective sleeve to cut down on condensation.
What do I need to buy with the insert?
Napoleon’s installation manual says the X4 does not include decorative panels, but panels are required. You also need a liner kit for the chimney, and most chimneys also need a terminal at the top. The face plate and backer plate that finish the opening are sold separately too. Choose the panels and liner kit in the add-ons below and send us your opening size for the plates.
Is it a heater?
No. Napoleon’s installation manual describes the Oakville X4 as a decorative product that is not a source of heat. The 40,000 BTU/hr figure is the most gas the burner can use, not a heating rating. Choose this insert for the flame and plan your room heating separately.
How do the ignition and remote work?
The X4 has an on demand pilot (IPI). When you turn it on with the remote, the pilot lights and then the burner. When you turn it off, both shut down. Napoleon also built in a continuous pilot mode with a seven day timer, which keeps the system warm for colder starts and shuts the pilot off by itself if the insert sits unused for about a week.
The remote has six flame levels, a room temperature display in °F or °C, Night Light control, a child lock and a split flow key that switches the second burner on and off. Napoleon says the remote is the master control and can always turn the insert off.
What happens in a power outage?
With four AA batteries in the receiver, the remote can still turn the insert on and off and set the flame height. If the receiver or transmitter batteries run low, Napoleon says the slider switch on the receiver can be set to ON to run the insert by hand.
What gas pressure does it need?
On natural gas, Napoleon lists an inlet pressure of 4.5 to 7 in. w.c. and a manifold pressure of 3.5 in. w.c. A licensed gas professional should make the connection. Above 4,500 ft, Napoleon reduces the certified input by 4% for each additional 1,000 ft, unless your local authority says otherwise.
Can I put a mantel above it?
Yes, with a minimum height. Napoleon requires at least 12″ from the top of the appliance to the bottom of a combustible mantel that projects 3″ or less. Deeper mantels need more room, and Napoleon’s chart on the specification sheet gives the height for each depth.
Can I mount a TV above it?
Napoleon warns that the area above the opening, including the safety barrier and the wall surface, gets very hot. Planning a TV above the Oakville X4? Send us your plan before you place anything above it.
What are my options for the firebox?
Napoleon lists MIRRO-FLAME™ reflective porcelain panels and three brick panel finishes, Old Town Red, Westminster and Newport, plus driftwood and birch log kits. Pick what you want in the add-ons below and it goes into your cart with the insert.
Where can I install it?
Napoleon approves the Oakville X4 for bathroom, bedroom and bed-sitting room installations and certifies it for mobile home installation. It must be installed by a qualified installer in line with Napoleon’s installation manual and your local codes.
Goes with this
Manuals and warranty
Napoleon’s terms cover the first 10 years at no charge for warranted parts, and from year 10 to life Napoleon supplies replacement parts at 50% of the current retail price. Electrical parts such as remote controls, gas valves, ignitors and wiring are covered with free replacement parts and labor during the first year. After the first year, Napoleon may choose to refund the wholesale price of a defective part, and installation and labor are not covered. The insert must be installed by a licensed professional in line with Napoleon’s instructions, and parts from other makers void the warranty. Registering is not required to make a claim, but keep your proof of purchase, model and serial number. Read the warranty section of the owner’s manual for the full terms.
Read the warranty terms · Our warranty library · Register your fireplaceEvery document is kept on our site, so the link works when you need it. More are in our Napoleon manuals and documents.
A note on the photos. Napoleon's photography often shows optional media and trim, and its flame colors are shown by the lighting. What ships with the fireplace is listed in the What you get table, and anything else is sold separately.
Ask us about your install