
To vent the fireplace, a pair of rigid flues nestled inside one another—called a coaxial unit, since they both share an axis—is installed in sections ranging from 4" to 48" in length, with 90°- and 45° angled elbows that allow for flexibility with placement. A 4" inner flue is surrounded by an outer flue that is either 6 5/8" or 8" in diameter.
How do you open the vent on a fireplace?
- Check your damper handle to see which position it is in.
- Visually inspect the flue damper during the daytime to see if it is in the open or closed position.
- Climb the roof and check whether your flue damper is opened or closed.
- Watch for heat backing up into the house from your fireplace opening when a fire is burning.
How to choose the right venting for your fireplace?
- During initial use, check that the pilot light ignites and remains stable prior to igniting the main burner.
- Monitor the main burner ignition. ...
- Watch the flame pattern. ...
- If equipped with a fan, test the fan to ensure it cycles as it should.
- Gas appliances release an odor that smells like burning paint when they are first used. ...
Do you need the vent open with a gas fireplace?
Not all gas fireplaces need venting. Both natural vent and direct vent gas fireplaces need venting, which exhaust air up a chimney and through the wall to the outside respectively. Ventless gas fireplaces don’t need venting.
Do you have to vent a propane fireplace?
Propane Fireplace Safety A traditional propane fireplace should always be vented outside. Failure to properly vent a fireplace causes the carbon monoxide to enter the home instead of outside and can result in carbon monoxide poisoning and death in a matter of minutes. Do most gas fireplaces run on propane?

Can you vent a fireplace without a chimney?
Vent-free fireplaces can be installed without the need for a chimney, piping system, or any external venting that spews the fumes outside of the home. With this ability, you can essentially install a vent-free fireplace anywhere in your home.
Does a wood burning fireplace need a vent?
Wood Fireplaces and Stoves – venting must be terminated to the outdoors vertically. Pellet Stoves – most are vented horizontally, directly through the wall to the outdoors. Fireplace Inserts – most are vented vertically through the roof, via the existing chimney. Electric Fireplaces – no venting is required.
How do you install a fireplace vent?
1:274:23How to Install a Direct Vent Fireplace (2020) - eFireplaceStore - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure that the dimples on each pipe align with the channels on the flue collar. And firmly twistMoreMake sure that the dimples on each pipe align with the channels on the flue collar. And firmly twist the pipe clockwise until it stops. Moving double check the connection by pulling up on the pipe.
How do you vent a fireplace through a wall?
1:389:53Direct Vent Fireplace Installation - eFireplaceStore.com - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the ceiling joists going to be also you want the fireplace typically to be the centerpiece ofMoreAnd the ceiling joists going to be also you want the fireplace typically to be the centerpiece of the room so it's located there other than that direct vent fireplace is can go just about anywhere.
How do I know if my fireplace is vented?
A vented fireplace has attractive yellow and orange flames that lick upward around the sides of the ceramic logs. An unvented fireplace, by contrast, has much less striking flames. These flames tend to be smaller and bluer. As a result, an unvented gas fireplace won't create quite the same illusion as a vented one.
How are wood fireplace inserts vented?
If you'd prefer to keep heating with wood, or make a change to pellets, a wood or pellet insert will transform your drafty, old fireplace into a heating powerhouse. Each type of insert uses the existing chimney to ventilate vertically, terminating at the roof.
What are the side vents on a fireplace for?
A fire crackling in the fireplace adds to the ambiance while the heat it generates helps to warm the area. A closed vent can cause smoke to billow into the room, but using the fireplace vents properly ensures enough air feeds the fire and the smoke escapes up the chimney.
How does a ventless fireplace work?
Ventless fireplaces use interior air for combustion, which includes anything present in the air and on the burner and release all emissions inside the room they operate – dramatically decreasing the air quality you breathe.
Are ventless fireplaces safe?
And with built-in carbon monoxide and oxygen detectors, modern ventless gas fireplaces ensure that the minimal toxic fumes that are released are not at dangerous levels. These safety measures, combined with the relative simplicity of installation, make ventless gas fireplaces an attractive option for many consumers.
What is the other type of chimney venting?
The other type of venting is called a solid pack or fully insulated chimney system . This type of system features a layer of solid insulation between the inner and outer chimney walls. Typically, this insulation consists of a ceramic blanket, mineral wool, or fiberglass.
How tall is a stove vent collar?
The size of vent collars varies by brand. Because of this, manufacturers offer stove pipe adapters to start the run of pipes. This section is usually 3 to 4 inches in height with a tapered end that fits into the stove collar. The other end is smooth and mates with the first section of stove pipe.
How deep should a chase pan be?
The top of almost every chimney is enclosed with a chase pan or chase flashing. These are usually an 18 to 22-gauge piece of galvanized steel cut to size for the outer dimensions of the chase. An adequate fabricated chase pan should have a 90-degree drip edge. It should be at least 2 inches deep and fit over the edge of the chase.
How many square feet should a chimney chase be?
Doing this leaves room to encircle the chimney pipe. Smaller dimensions for a rough frame of a chimney chase are about two square feet. This is before adding external cladding or veneer.
What is an air cooled chimney?
The first is known as an air-cooled chimney system. As the name implies, air-cooled systems use air for cooling. Space between the chimney walls allows for outside air to flow freely. Many systems use two walls, but there are also three-walled systems.
Can vents be routed through the ceiling?
If placed inside a proper enclosure within the envelope of the home, venting systems for wood-burning units can be routed through the ceiling. Another way to do this is to use a purpose-built chimney envelope or chase secured to the exterior of the home.
Do you need venting for a wood burning stove?
When you look to install a wood-burning fireplace or stove into your home, you may think you have it covered. But, many times, people overlook one essential part - venting. Proper venting is vital for a working and efficient stove. But, as you start looking into venting, you'll find there is a variety available.
What is the main feature of a fireplace?
A fireplace is often the main feature in a room. Pictures and keepsakes are displayed on the mantel, and during the holidays, the pictures are exchanged for Christmas stockings. A fire crackling in the fireplace adds to the ambiance while the heat it generates helps to warm the area.
Can a dryer vent be open to light a fire?
Ensure your clothes dryer is off and there are no exhaust fans running when attempting to light the fire. These things can disrupt the air draft up through the vent in extremely cold weather. As long as the vent is fully open, the chimney will heat, and the smoke will vent properly.
What is a power vented gas fireplace?
This allows for longer vent runs. Power vented gas fireplaces can be installed where other types of fireplaces might not work, such as a freestanding wall.
How many homes have vent free fireplaces?
Vent-Free. According to Fireplaces Now, 45 million homes worldwide and more than 8 million American homes enjoy the comfort and convenience of vent-free gas fireplaces. Vent-free hearth products can be installed without venting up a chimney or to the exterior of the house.
What is a natural vent?
Natural vent (also referred to as B-vent) hearth products take in combustion air from inside the home and vent products of combustion outside home via a brick and mortar chimney or pipe venting system installed through the roof . Some Natural vent hearth products have a sensor to extinguish the fire in case exhaust gasses ever reverse and come down the flue.
Why is vent free heating so efficient?
Since there is no venting, all of the warmth generated from the fire stays in the room where it is installed. For this reason, vent-free systems are up to 99% efficient! Without venting, the pollutants from combustion also remain in the room where the fireplace, gas log set, or stove is installed. For air quality concerns, vent-free hearth products ...
Can you vent a fireplace through the roof?
In terms of versatility, you can vent a direct-vent fireplace horizontally or through the roof. They can be installed almost anywhere! From a heating standpoint, a direct-vent fireplace will be around 70%-85% efficient. Direct-vent fireplaces are best for newer, more air tight homes.
Is direct vent heating safe?
Direct-vent hearth products are the safest option for supplemental heating. Direct-vent systems transfer the combustion fumes and pollutants outside the home via a chimney or an opening on the exterior of the home. These fireplaces will typically have a sealed pane of glass on the front of the fireplace. Most homeowners who choose direct-vent models enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that all odors and pollutants are being vented outside of their home and not in the air they breathe.
Where does the exhaust pipe run in a fireplace?
The exhaust pipe typically runs out the back of the chimney structure rather than all the way out the top. With the Direct Vent system the front of the gas fireplace is sealed off from the home so no air is pulled in from the living areas and no fumes are vented into them.
What is direct vent?
Direct Vent - The direct vent system is another that typically uses an insert. Once the insert is in place 2 pipes are set up to provide fuel and exhaust capabilities.
Why do people gather around the fireplace?
Since time immemorial people have gathered around the fire to share stories, strengthen bonds and stay warm. The practice of gathering around the indoor fireplace goes back almost as far, to the days when early humans first brought fire into the cave with them, and has continued on to the present day. While many homes in Piedmont, SD still have ...
What is the best way to vent a fireplace?
Power Venting. A technology called power venting can help make a direct vent fireplace work even more efficiently, especially in cases where a venting system’s natural airflow is not moving enough air for the fire, or in situations where a fireplace needs to be vented down.
Why are vent free fireplaces called vent free?
They are called vent-free “literally because they do not require any venting, ” explains Lara Usilton, director of brand marketing for Monessen, which specializes in vent-free gas fireplaces and other hearth products. “That means there’s no chimney, no flue, no pipe.”.
How does a direct vent work?
In a direct vent gas appliance, fresh air is drawn from the outdoors into the hearth unit, and expelled air is sent outside via a flue system that terminates outside.
What is ventless technology?
Vent-free or ventless technology: This method actually relies on a higher burn temperature—rather than physical venting like in the cases of direct vent or B-vent—to rid the air of combustion byproducts. Direct vent is by far the most common venting method and is the newest form of venting, invented by the founders of Heat & Glo in the 1980s;
What is direct vent?
Direct vent is by far the most common vent ing method and is the newest form of venting, invented by the founders of Heat & Glo in the 1980s ; it remains a popular choice because of its efficiency, safety, flexibility and the fact that it does not require an existing chimney. Direct Vent Fireplace Venting.
What is a gas fireplace insert?
Gas fireplace inserts are a way to modernize a home and transform a wood-burning fireplace into a convenient, efficient, easy-to-maintain gas fireplace that turns on with the flip of a switch —just like a direct vent gas fireplace.
How long is a coaxial fireplace?
To vent the fireplace, a pair of rigid flues nestled inside one another—called a coaxial unit, since they both share an axis—is installed in sections ranging from 4" to 48" in length, with 90°- and 45° angled elbows that allow for flexibility with placement.
