If you have vented gas logs then you must keep the flue open when the logs are burning. Most vented sets have a built in "stop" for the flue to prevent someone from closing it completely. If the log set gives off a nice yellow flame then its likely vented.
Should you have your flue open on your gas fireplace?
But all the smoke and ash needs to go somewhere, and this is where the flue comes in. But should you have your flue open on your gas fireplace? The flue of your gas fireplace should be open during and slightly after lighting your pilot light. An open flue ensures proper ventilation, which takes away many safety risks.
Should you close the chimney flue when lighting a fire?
Closing the flue while lighting a fire will push all the smoke and fumes inside your home, so always keep it open, especially if you often light a fire. The only exception to this is if you have ventless gas logs, which are specifically designed to burn gas cleanly with minimal exhaust.
Do gas fireplace chimneys have flue liners?
Whether a chimney used as part of a natural gas fireplace insert for a masonry fireplace will have a flue liner or not may depend on the situation and local building codes and regulations. Our own gas fireplace is the natural vent type.
What is a fireplace flue?
The flue is where the smoke escapes while a fire is burning, and inside the flue is the damper for your fireplace. In turn, the damper is the vent that controls the air movement in and out of your chimney. A flue is an important part, and usually, every fireplace/appliance has its own flue.
Do I need to open the flue on a gas fireplace?
Because gas-log fires produce copious amounts of carbon monoxide, they have to vent outside in a fail-safe manner. That's why there is, or should be, a keep-open device attached to the damper in gas-log fireplaces.
Do you have to open the damper with gas logs?
"Fully Vented" gas logs must be burned in a fireplace that is capable of burning real wood and must be burned with the damper open. The reason for this is that they do not burn the gas cleanly and create exhaust that is very similar to burning a real wood fire. This exhaust needs to be able to go up the chimney.
Should the flue be open on a ventless gas fireplace?
Ventless gas logs are designed to be burned with the damper closed, so they must be designed to burn the gas completely (cleanly) so that carbon monoxide does not enter the room.
Should you leave fireplace flue open?
The smoke from burning wood contains carbon monoxide, so in order to prevent this toxic byproduct from entering your home, it is important to leave the flue open overnight. This enables a draft to carry the compound out into the atmosphere, instead of sinking down the chimney and saturating the room.
Can I keep flue closed with gas fireplace?
Our research shows that the flue on a gas fireplace should remain open during use or when the pilot light is lit. If the flue is closed in either instance, you risk a greater chance of carbon monoxide poisoning or a spark induced structure fire due to a buildup of toxins emitted by propane or natural gas burners.
When should you open the flue?
The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. Close it when it's not it use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home.
When should I close my flue gas fireplace?
If you're burning wood, keep it fully open until all the burning embers are completely burned out. If it's a gas log set, turn off the flames before the closing the damper as far as possible. If there is no fire, always keep the damper closed to prevent air infiltration and heat from being lost up the chimney.
Do ventless gas logs produce carbon monoxide?
Ventless fireplaces produce small amounts of nitrous dioxide and carbon monoxide which can be deadly in large doses. The CDC warns against exposure of any level of carbon monoxide, stating that up to 500 people die per year due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
Do Vented gas logs give off carbon monoxide?
Just like real burning logs, both types of gas logs produce carbon monoxide — a toxic gas that can be lethal — when they burn. Venting and proper use of a gas fireplace can help keep CO at a safe level.
What does closing the flue do?
Close Fireplace Damper In Warm Weather. During the seasons you will not be burning wood in your fireplace, close the damper. An open damper is much like an open window or open door – interior air you are paying to air condition will be wasted and escape out any opening.
How do you use a gas log fireplace?
0:253:03How to Operate a Gas Fireplace - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipControl. Whether you're using the remote control over the wall switch it's important to simply turnMoreControl. Whether you're using the remote control over the wall switch it's important to simply turn it on and then wait of the while for the fireplace to respond.
Should the flue be open in summer?
The chimney damper is the last line of defense to keep water and critters out of your home. Even if you have a chimney cap, it is a good idea to keep the damper closed in the summer. Chimney caps can become damaged creating a pathway for rainwater or pests to get into your chimney.
Should You Open The Flue On A Gas Fireplace?
Flues should always be kept open since they’re responsible for ventilating your fireplace. Closing the flue while lighting a fire will push all the smoke and fumes inside your home, so always keep it open, especially if you often light a fire.
What Is A Flue?
The flue is where the smoke escapes while a fire is burning, and inside the flue is the damper for your fireplace. In turn, the damper is the vent that controls the air movement in and out of your chimney.
How Do You Open The Flue On A Gas Fireplace
Now that you know your flue needs to be open, you’re probably wondering how to even open it. But before we get into that, you should check whether or not your flue is already open or not. Here’s how to do that:
Do All Gas Fireplaces Have A Flue?
Most gas fireplaces have a flue, as in most states, it’s a required fail-safe mechanism. Flues ventilate the fireplace, ensuring none of the smoke and fumes enter your home. Many models nowadays also contain a keep-open device that makes it so the flue never fully closes and always functions correctly.
Why should the damper be open in a gas fireplace?
The glass between the firebox and your home prevents cold or heat from coming down the chimney and by leaving the damper open at all times , you eliminate the risk of having gas build up or backdraft into your home.
Can you open a damper on a chimney?
Open and Closed Case People often forget to open their chimney dampers when they build a nice warm fire. Unfortunately this can cause serious problems, as it blocks the use of the chimney. Your room will soon fill up with smoke, and even worse, you can start a chimney fire.
Do you have to open the damper on a gas fireplace?
That hole is the fireplace flue pipe. One caution, though: Fireplaces with installed gas logs are required to have the damper open at all times. That's either because a pilot light is constantly burning under the logs or because the homeowner might forget to open the damper when he or she turns on the fire.
Do you need to leave a chimney damper open?
Vented gas logs You need to leave your chimney's damper partially open to vent the carbon monoxide that the gas fire produces, so much of the heat generated by a vented gas log set goes up the chimney.
Why do you open the flue before lighting a fire?
Opening the flue prior to lighting the fire is mostly for safety, as you risk burning yourself on the metal handle if you try to adjust the damper once the logs ignite. The flue damper handle or lever should be clearly marked to indicate whether it’s “open” or “closed.”.
How to tell if a fireplace is vent free?
A good way to tell if you have a vented or vent-free fireplace is to examine the flames. Turn on the fireplace and if the flames reach above the logs and appear like a traditional wood-burning fireplace, it’s likely vented. Whereas, if the flames are smaller and have a blue cast to them, the fireplace is vent-free.
What is a B vent fireplace?
Natural vent gas fireplaces, also called B-vent, sit inside of masonry fireplaces and use the accompanying chimney to remove waste air from your living spaces. Whether this chimney will have a flue liner or not typically depends on the situation and local requirements.
What is a direct vent gas fireplace?
Direct vent gas fireplaces are sealed systems that involve both the air used for combustion and waste air being vented directly to and from the outdoors. The air in a direct vent gas fireplace is entirely separate from the air in a home, meaning they need a flue in order to function.
What is the handle on a flue damper?
A long, thin piece of metal is attached to it, known as the lever. On the other side of the lever is a handle that can be used for closing or opening the flue damper. The handle is metal, appears like a long thin bar, has a hole drilled on the end, and no protective coating. There are zigzag-shaped notches cut out along the top ...
What is the purpose of a chimney damper?
Ultimately, the main purpose of the damper is to control how much smoke escapes out of the chimney and the amount of heat that remains in the room.
Do all gas fireplaces have a flue?
Since not all gas fireplaces are the same, not all gas fireplaces have a flue. Though, some will require a flue in order for the appliance to operate safely. There are two main types of gas fireplaces: vented and ventless, or vent-free. In order for a vented gas fireplace to be safely installed in a home, they will need a form of flue.
Which form of flue setup is chosen for a direct vent gas fireplace?
Which form of flue setup is chosen for a direct vent gas fireplace will differ between each situation but can be commonly be seen as a dual vent arrangement where both the intake and exhaust vents sit next to each other through an external wall of a home.
What does it mean when a gas fireplace is vented?
If a gas fireplace is vented it means that waste air produced by the fireplace is allowed to leave a home. If a gas fireplace is ventless then there’s no external form of ventilation and all waste air from a ventless gas fireplace is released back into a home.
What is a natural vent fireplace?
Natural vent gas fireplaces, also known as B-vent, traditionally sit within masonry fireplaces and utilize the associated chimney for removing waste air from a home. A natural vent gas fireplace will: Use air within a home to feed the combustion inside the gas fireplace. Exhaust waste air indirectly out of a home using a natural draft movement ...
What is the gas used in a ventless fireplace?
Ventless gas fireplaces use the oxygen within the air of a home to feed the fire and the by-products consist mainly of Carbon Dioxide and water vapor. Ventless gas fireplaces release waste air back into the air within a home and so no form of flue to the vent waste air outside is typically required.
What is a ventless gas fireplace?
A ventless gas fireplace, also known as vent-free or flueless, is designed to burn the fuel so cleanly that they’re rated for indoor use without any form of direct external ventilation such as a flue . Ventless gas fireplaces use the oxygen within the air of a home to feed the fire and the by-products consist mainly of Carbon Dioxide and water vapor.
Where does the air intake vent go in a fireplace?
The air intake vent for a direct vent gas fireplace typically extends horizontally out the back of the fireplace and through an external wall of a home to the outside . This allows a direct vent gas fireplace to take air directly from outside.
What is the purpose of air in a gas fireplace?
Use air within a home to feed the combustion inside the gas fireplace.
