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What makes a good gas fireplace?
Ventless gas fireplaces, in particular, are popular because they're clean and easy to use. Also known as unvented or vent-free fireplaces, a ventless gas fireplace operates with natural gas or liquid propane (LP) that flows into a gas burner mounted in the fireplace. When ignited, the flames run through gaps in artificial ceramic fiber logs ...
Do gas fireplaces need venting?
Ventless gas fireplaces do not require any form of venting. These ‘ventless’ or ‘vent-free’ types of gas fireplace burn the gas fuel so cleanly that they’re rated for internal use with no external verting or exhaust requirements. A ventless gas fireplace will use the oxygen supply within the air in your home.
What are the advantages of a gas fireplace?
The Benefits of a Gas Fireplace
- Energy Efficient. Gas fireplaces are energy efficient compared to other types of fireplaces because they dont require wood or briquettes to generate heat.
- Even and Continuous Heat. Gas fireplaces put out heat in a consistent flow, which means that it heats up the room evenly and continuously without heating up one spot faster ...
- Safer. ...
- Low Maintenance. ...
How can I vent my ventless fireplace?
Can you convert ventless fireplace to vent? Answer: Unfortunately, there is no way to convert a ventless fireplace into a vented fireplace. Ventless fireplaces are not designed to have a vent added to them. Your only alternative is to tear out the existing ventless fireplace and replace it with a vented fireplace.
How do I know if my gas 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 do you direct vent a gas fireplace?
3:1910:56Tech Video: Direct Vent Fireplace Installation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet's take a standard drywall screw one of the nice features of the direct vent is the full lengthMoreLet's take a standard drywall screw one of the nice features of the direct vent is the full length nailing flanges.
Does a gas fireplace need an exhaust vent?
While wood-burning models are the age-old standard, most of today's new fireplaces are fueled by gas, which eliminates the messy ashes and soot leftover from wood fires. Traditional gas fireplaces, like their wood-burning cousins, require an exhaust flue (vent) to remove harmful fumes from the home.
How do you vent a gas fireplace without a chimney?
If you don't have a chimney, a natural vent system can also use a pipe venting system, which is typically installed through the roof. Here, you can get around having to use a brick and mortar chimney to rid the home of fumes and use a pipe system instead.
Can a gas fireplace be vented through the wall?
Venting horizontally—through a wall—is a simple solution, ideal in cases where a gas fireplace is being installed on an exterior wall. Venting can be as easy as running pipe from the back of the fireplace out through the wall, then installing a termination cap.
Are direct vent gas fireplaces safe?
Direct Vent gas fireplaces can be operated safely without the use of electricity. A direct vent fireplace has a completely sealed combustion chamber which allows it to vent directly out a side wall or through the ceiling of your home.
What kind of venting does a gas fireplace need?
Direct vent fireplacesDirect vent fireplaces are the most popular choice for homeowners. In fact, 90% of gas fireplaces are sold direct-vent because of their increased safety, efficiency, and versatility (Source: Build with Propane). In terms of versatility, you can vent a direct-vent fireplace horizontally or through the roof.
Which is better vented or ventless gas fireplace?
Ventless Log Sets The increased amount of heat means vent-free gas logs are much more efficient than vented sets. What you gain in efficiency, you sacrifice in appearance. The flame on most ventless sets don't look as realistic or aesthetically pleasing as vented sets.
What ventilation is required for a gas fire?
All fireplaces, no matter what fuel you burn, need air. With a gas fire, especially with decorative fuel effect gas fires an air vent is required, usually if its over 7.1 kw input, if its under that it probably wont require an air vent. The manufacturers instructions will detail the requirements.
Why doesn't my gas fireplace have a chimney?
Ventless fireplaces fueled by gas or propane rely on indoor air for combustion, and they exhaust a low level of their combustion gases into the room in which they're located. A chimney or flue isn't necessary. The risk to your health is a long-standing and ongoing debate.
Do all gas fireplaces have a flue?
Do Gas Fireplaces Need A Flue? Natural vent gas fireplaces may not have a flue but will use the existing chimney flue to vent waste air from a home. Direct vent gas fireplaces will need a flue that vents air directly out of a home, and ventless gas fireplaces won't need any form of flue.
Does the chimney have to be open with a gas fireplace?
"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.
How do you direct heat a fireplace?
Place the box fan on low, facing INTO the space where your fireplace is, blowing the cool air at the unit. This will cause a convection reaction and the hot air will be forced away from the burning unit. If in a small room, the hot air will be moving out the door into larger spaces in no time.
What is the difference between direct vent and vent free gas fireplaces?
Direct vent gas inserts use a high temperature glass panel to separate the burning area of the gas insert from the inside of your home. So, your vented gas insert will take air in from the outside and then exhaust all the gases to the outside. This contrasts with a vent-free gas insert, which vents into the home.
What is the difference between B vent and direct vent?
A B-vent must be vented vertically and uses fresh air from inside the home to provide oxygen to the fire. A direct vent has a sealed glass front and pulls all of its fresh air from outside the home. Direct vents can be vented vertically or horizontally through an exterior wall.
Do direct vent gas fireplaces have a damper?
What is this? Ventless gas fireplaces, which vent waste air back into a home, and direct vent gas fireplaces, which vent waste air directly outside of a home through a vent in an external wall, typically won't be found with dampers.
Why is a gas fireplace a natural vent?
This particular gas fireplace is a natural vent gas fireplace because: The fireplace takes air from the room/home. The fireplace exhausts waste air up the existing masonry chimney. There’s no glass front doors or sealed chamber (common with newer types of gas fireplaces) and so the gas fireplace is completely open.
What is direct vent gas fireplace?
Direct vent gas fireplaces are enclosed systems where the fire chamber is kept within a sealed environment behind closed doors, meaning that all air , both fresh and waste, used as part of the operation of a direct vent gas fireplace doesn’t interact the air inside a home.
How does a direct vent fireplace work?
A direct vent gas fireplace will require a dual vent directly through an external wall for both venting and exhausting of air. Instead of venting the air from the room like natural vent gas fireplaces, direct vent gas fireplaces take air straight from the outside using a vent pipe. A direct vent gas fireplace can also exhaust waste air through ...
How does a direct vent fireplace differ from a natural vent fireplace?
Direct vent gas fireplaces differ to natural vent gas fireplaces in that both the air used for combustion and the waste air are vented directly to and from the outside of a home.
How does a natural gas fireplace work?
Natural vent gas fireplaces take air from the room and exhaust waste gases up through an existing masonry chimney (that may have a flue liner installed) or flue. Direct vent gas fireplaces take air directly from outside a home and also exhaust waste air directly outside.
What is a natural vent fireplace?
Natural vent gas fireplaces are typically gas fireplace inserts that are commonly installed within existing masonry open fireplaces to convert the fireplace from wood burning to gas. As these types of gas fireplaces are located within masonry fireplaces that haven an existing chimney, waste air from a natural vent gas fireplace is exhausted up ...
Where does waste air go in a gas fireplace?
Waste air leaves the gas fireplace up the chimney through the hood vent. This natural gas fireplace was installed within an existing masonry fireplace located on an internal wall of the home and so isn’t directly connected to the outside of the home apart from through the chimney.
What is a built in gas fireplace?
Built in gas fireplaces - These are created from scratch by the fireplace service company for homes with no chimney.
What is a B vent fireplace?
B Vent - The B Vent is typically part of an insert setup . It not only has the traditional look of wood fireplaces it vents like them too, with the heat and fumes being directed up the chimney. So why aren’t all gas fireplaces B Vent fireplaces? For a couple of reasons. First, they can be more expensive to install than other venting methods (especially if you don’t have an opening you can install an insert into and instead use a free standing setup). Second, they are notoriously inefficient when it comes to producing useful heat. In fact some have an efficiency rating of only 20 or 25% which makes them the least efficient type of gas setup you can have. On the upside they produce the most natural looking flame and you typically have some flexibility as to where the vent pipes will run.
How does a direct vent work?
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. The “fuel” pipe draws air in from outside to fuel the flames (instead of from your living room like the B Vent). 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. Heat is generated by pulling room temperature air into a space under the stove setup. As this air heats up it rises and is then blown out of vents above the glass front to warm the room. These vents can be closed if the room is getting too hot. The Direct Vent gas stove is typically more efficient than a B Vent meaning it will return more of the heat generated back into the home. While most people use an insert setup for the Direct Vent there are some who will use it with a freestanding gas unit.
What is a power vent?
Power Vent - The Power Vent system has not yet gained widespread acceptance but that doesn’t mean it’s without merit. With the power vent a fan is installed within the vent to boost air flow which allows for much longer vent lengths and configurations than would otherwise be possible. The big plus about this type of venting system is that it allows you to place a freestanding gas unit just about anywhere and make the vents as long and winding as you need them to be. The downside is that running vents a long way through the walls can be expensive.
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.
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 ...
Is ventless heating dangerous?
Air is drawn from the room and heat is returned directly into the room. They can get away with this type of system because the stove burns gas at an incredibly high rate of efficiency and therefore does not generate any harmful fumes. Critics are fond of saying that the risk from the Ventless system is unacceptably high . But the fact remains that there are zero confirmed deaths caused by this type of setup. That’s “0”. So the argument about them being dangerous really doesn’t hold water. Still, if you are nervous about the idea of having a fireplace that vents into the living area you can have the fireplace repair company install a carbon monoxide detector and/or oxygen detector that will shut it down if CO levels climb too high or oxygen levels drop too low. The glory of the ventless system is two-fold. First you can put it just about anywhere you want and second, it will typically do an excellent job heating the living areas of the home.
How much efficiency does a ventless fireplace have?
Since vent-free fireplaces don’t release any air outdoors, they have an incredibly high efficiency rate of 99 percent. For some homeowners, the benefits outweigh the risks.
What is an ODS gas fireplace?
Most, if not all, vent-free gas fireplaces come with additional safety features, such as oxygen detector sensors (ODS). This sensor measures the oxygen levels in the room and immediately shuts off the fireplace if the oxygen levels drop too low.
Do gas fireplaces have a chimney?
When you think of a traditional fireplace, you typically imagine a smoking chimney, which acts as an outlet for the smoke. Although gas fireplaces are fueled by either natural gas or propane, and therefore do not produce the thick, foggy smoke of burning real wood, they do generate harmful fumes. In a vented gas fireplace, two vents run up through the chimney — one to bring in fresh outdoor air and the other one to exhaust the fumes. Fireplaces using two vent liners are often referred to as “direct vent.”
Why does vent free fireplace shut off?
Modern vent-free fireplace manufacturers are held to strict safety standards and regulations, so these fireplaces are made with oxygen sensors that will automatically shut off the vent-free fireplace if the oxygen levels alert that the levels are unsafe in the room.
How does a natural vent work?
Also called a B-vent, a natural vent takes the dangerous fumes of a fireplace and pushes them outside the home through a chimney. If you don’t have a chimney, a natural vent system can also use a pipe venting system, which is typically installed through the roof. Here, you can get around having to use a brick and mortar chimney to rid the home of fumes and use a pipe system instead.
What if there is no chimney?
In the case of a nonexistent chimney and a desire to have a gas fireplace, all is not lost. There is a solution and it’s called a vent-free or ventless fireplace.
Can ventless fireplaces be pushed outside?
Still, when it comes to ventless fireplaces, the fumes will be in your home and not pushed outside, so you’ll want to consider taking extra precautions. Installing an additional carbon monoxide monitor in your home where your fireplace is can make for a good secondary safety system—just in case.
Can you vent a gas fireplace without a chimney?
The fact of the matter is that the easiest way to vent a gas fireplace without a chimney is to avoid venting in the first place and go vent-free. 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.
Can you vent a gas fireplace?
It’s still essential to know the types of venting for a gas fireplace, even if your home cannot utilize them because it lacks a critical component. For a direct vent, that component is a chimney. A direct-vent system transfers the combustion byproducts, hazardous fumes, and pollutants produced by the fire from the fireplace and outward through the chimney. The byproducts are then dispersed outside and become a non-threat to you and your home.
Do you need to get a chimney inspected?
Before you start your chimney, you’ll want to get it inspected. Your chimney should go though proper inspection to ensure that it’s safe to use. From evaluating chimney flue liners to inspecting hidden areas, your chimney will be properly inspected so you won’t miss any maintenance requirements. Next, we clean out all the stains, mold and creosote so it will be safe to use. Contact us today!
HOW MUCH HEAT DOES A GAS FIREPLACE PUT OUT?
He also points out that “a lot of high-efficiency gas fireplaces have a large turn-down ratio—meaning, they can go from 40,000 BTU down to 12,000 BTU, enough to heat the average bedroom or dining room.” He adds that if you had a 40,000 BTU fireplace and only needed to use 50 percent of its capacity, you’d pay less than $1 an hour to operate.
What is a B vent?
There are three venting options available for gas fireplace installations: Natural vent, often called B vent, utilizes an existing masonry chimney or a factory-built metal chimney. Room air exhausts combustion by-products to the outside via a flexible liner or single pipe installed within the chimney.
Do you need a fireplace to buy a house?
Fireplaces have always been among the top amenities for homeowners looking to buy a new house. In fact, they rank just second behind outdoor patios, decks and porches, according to the National Association of Home Builders ( NAHB ). While the cost of adding a fireplace to an existing home used to be prohibitively expensive—requiring the creation of an exterior stone chimney, flue, firebox and, in many cases, floor supports to accommodate the weight of the hearth—today’s options are not only affordable, but a relatively easy home improvement.
Do vents need to be inspected annually?
In addition, the HPBA recommends that all vents for vented gas fireplaces be inspected on an annual basis by a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and also recommends the installation of a carbon monoxide detector with all hearth products. Advertisement.
Does a wood burning fireplace have a damper?
With wood, a certain amount of time is required to light the fire, turn that energy into heat and then get that heat into a room.”. Ruppa points out that in contrast to a gas fireplace, whose warmth is thermostatically controlled, a wood-burning unit comes with only an air control—the damper. That, he says “allows you to control the amount ...
Can you install a gas fireplace in direct contact with a combustible wall?
What has made them so is the technology and installation flexibility of gas-fueled models. Since no actual combustion occurs in gas fireplaces, zero-clearance installation is possible, which, according to Monessen Hearth Systems, means that “these fireplaces can be installed in direct contact with combustible walls and floors.
Is it expensive to add a fireplace to a house?
While the cost of adding a fireplace to an existing home used to be prohibitively expensive—requiring the creation of an exterior stone chimney, flue, firebox and, in many cases, floor supports to accommodate the weight of the hearth—today’s options are not only affordable, but a relatively easy home improvement.
What is the Difference Between Vented and Ventless Fireplaces?
There are a few key differences between vented fireplaces and ventless fireplaces. The first difference has to do with functionality, the second has to do with aesthetics, and the third has to do with preference:
Are Ventless Fireplaces Safe?
Before you consider whether or not ventless fireplaces are safe, it is important to note that all gas fireplaces could potentially leak carbon monoxide into your home. Blocked chimneys, cracked glass panes, old parts or leaking gas lines can all be responsible for gas leaks from vented gas fireplaces.
Vented Vs. Ventless Fireplaces: Pros and Cons
To make the two types of gas fireplaces a little easier to compare, below is a table with some pertinent facts set side by side. Here is a quick look at a vented vs. ventless fireplace stand up against each other. You may be surprised at the benefits and drawbacks of each:
Which is Better–Direct Vent or Ventless Gas Fireplaces?
As with so many things, when answering which item is better than the other, you have to know as much about what you want as about the differences between the two items. As much is true of vented versus ventless gas fireplaces. The big question to answer is if you are comfortable with ventless.
How to Know if Your Fireplace is Vented or Ventless
You should be told at the time of purchase whether your fireplace is vented or ventless. Because ventless fireplaces are banned in some areas, the distinction should be made very clear. But maybe you have bought a home that has a gas fireplace and you do not really know for sure whether it is vented or ventless.
Can a Ventless Gas Fireplace be Converted to Vented?
If you have a ventless gas fireplace and you either regret buying it or you regret that it was in the home that you bought, you may be wondering if you can convert it to a vented fireplace. It sounds like a reasonable enough idea. It’s a fireplace, just cut a hole in the top, attach a pipe, and stick it through the roof, right?
Conclusion
If the decision is yours to make, then both vented and ventless gas fireplaces are viable options for your home. Keep the controversies surrounding the ventless fireplaces in context. They are best used when used wisely and within the precautions that the manufacturers suggest. Do so and they may be a good source of heat for your home.
What is Your Vented vs Ventless Gas Fireplace Decision?
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What is the difference between a ventless fireplace and a vented fireplace?
The first difference you may notice between ventless and vented gas log fireplaces is that ventless ones look less realistic than their vented counterparts. Since they lack the airflow an open damper and chimney provides, the flames are noticeably stagnant. On the other hand, ventless fireplaces can send more heat into your room due to the lack of a vent through which heat can escape. This makes them more efficient than vented gas fireplaces.
What Is a Gas Log Fireplace?
Gas log fireplaces differ from standard wood fireplaces in a few ways. The most obvious difference is the fuel source. Standard fireplaces burn wood while gas log fireplaces burn either propane or natural gas to produce flames. Both types of fireplaces serve the purpose of heating your home and providing a warm, radiating light. Unlike other home heating methods, fireplaces can heat your home while also being the center point of a room where friends and family gather to celebrate and relax.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Gas Fireplace?
If you're considering installing a gas fireplace, then you need to know how much money it will cost to keep it running. Several factors affect the price to run a gas fireplace, including the following:
How does a gas fireplace work?
Gas fireplaces work by combusting propane or natural gas to produce flames, generating heat. The gas fireplace will pull fresh air into the fire chamber and mix it with the heat given off by the flames, increasing the air's temperature. The fireplace then releases this air, filling your room with warmth.
What is vent free gas fireplace?
Besides burning fuel more efficiently than a vented gas fireplace, it contains a sensor that monitors oxygen levels. This gives it a higher level of efficiency. Since it's ventless, you won't need an existing chimney to install one. Installation is easy for homes of any style, with or without a chimney.
How to keep carbon monoxide levels down in ventless fireplace?
Remember to monitor the length of time you use your ventless gas fireplace. Keep carbon monoxide levels down by using it in short bursts or cracking a window. It's best to use your ventless gas fireplace as a secondary heat source.
