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Natural Vent gas fireplaces (B-Vent) use air from within the home for combustion and release emissions outside the home. Ventless fireplaces use air from within the home and release emissions within the home – resulting in poor air quality and potential health risks.
Is vented or ventless fireplace better?
Ventless fireplaces are more energy efficient than vented fireplaces because no heat escapes up the flue, so you’ll save money on gas utility bills. A vented gas fireplace uses more gas to create the same level of warmth because some of its heat escapes through the flue.
How does a ventless fireplace work?
The ventless fireplace works in a U-shaped path. Oxygen is taken in from the room and typically enters through the bottom of the fireplace. The regulator mixes the air with gas to produce the fire. There’s usually a vent at the top that releases air back into the room.
Do ventless fireplaces require electricity?
Electrical components within modern day gas furnaces are important for safe operation, though they also hinder use of your unit in the event of a power outage. However, ventless gas fireplaces can operate without the use of electricity during an outage by simply lighting their pilot light.
How do you vent a ventless fireplace?
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.
Are ventless fireplaces Safe 2021?
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.
Can a ventless fireplace make you sick?
One of the greatest risks of using a ventless fireplace is that of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly inside your home. Specifically, carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that, in high enough concentrations, can lead to serious health problems such as: nausea.
How do you keep a ventless fireplace from smelling?
Preventing Gas Fireplace Smells The best way to prevent smells in a gas fireplace is to improve the quality of air in your home. If you smoke, take it outside. If you have pets, vacuum regularly and consider investing in a room air purifier. Avoid the use of harsh cleaning chemicals and plug-in deodorizers.
Can you put a TV above a ventless gas fireplace?
The short answer is – yes. However, to ensure your television isn’t damaged from the heat, care must be taken to ensure heat generated by the fireplace is redirected away from television.
Do ventless fireplaces have glass fronts?
The direct vent fireplace needs a glass panel in front of the unit for operating efficiency and to keep the combustion system protected. Meanwhile, vent-free eliminates the need for venting. This type of unit draws air from inside the home and burns efficiently.
Do ventless fireplaces smell?
Ventless logs do in fact produce an unmistakable odor, some more so than others depending on the quality of the brand. There is no way of preventing this, it is simply the nature of burning gas in your home without exhausting the fumes up a chimney.
What states are ventless fireplaces illegal?
Massachusetts, California, and a number of other states in the U.S., as well as Canada and other countries, have outlawed ventless gas fireplaces due to the aforementioned safety concerns.
Do you need a hearth for a ventless fireplace?
However, natural vent gas fireplaces often require a hearth while direct vent and ventless versions may not, depending on the manufacturer requirements and local building codes and regulations.
Do you have to open the chimney for 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.
Can you have a wood burning fireplace without a chimney?
Yes, it is possible to add a wood burning stove or a fireplace without an existing chimney, but you do need to install a chimney in the process. All wood burning fireplaces have to have a way to allow smoke and dangerous gases to exit your home. But you also don’t have to build a large brick or rock fireplace.
Do ventless gas logs produce heat?
Ventless Gas Logs release heat (and moisture) into the same room where the vent-free fireplace is installed and recirculate the same air back into the room. Vented Gas Logs burn similar to real wood and need a chimney vent pipe that allows air to escape outside the home rather than back into the room.
Do ventless fireplaces cause headaches?
#3 The smell of burning gas The smell of burning gas can cause sensitivity, headaches, and other issues in some people. This can especially be the case with vent-free gas logs. These types of logs don’t have a chimney or vent to remove the fumes produced by the fire, so the smell is typically stronger.
How long can you run a vented gas fireplace?
In general, you should not run an unvented fireplace for more than three hours at a time. If you are using natural gas, you can usually run your fireplace for up to four hours before needing to refuel. If you are using propane, the limit is typically two hours.
Can you put a ventless fireplace in a bedroom?
Do not install a vent free product in a bedroom or a bathroom. This rule applies to the majority of vent free products. You may use 6,000 BTU in a bathroom and 10,000 BTU in a bedroom.
