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A direct vent fireplace uses outside air for combustion instead of the air from within your home. 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.
Do direct vent gas fireplaces need a chimney?
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. It remains a popular choice because of its efficiency, safety, flexibility and the fact that it does not require an existing chimney.
What is the difference between direct vent and vented fireplace?
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.
How do I know if my fireplace is direct vent?
Turn on the fireplace. If the flames reach above the gas logs and the look like a wood burning fireplace, then the logs must be vented. If the flames are small, an have a blue cast, the fireplace is vent-free.
Can a direct vent fireplace burn wood?
Direct Vent Fireplaces can be vented horizontally through an outside wall or vertically through the roof and will minimize heat loss through the chimney. Direct Vent Fireplaces simulate a true wood burning fire with realistic ceramic or refractory logs, a glowing ember bed, and vibrant dancing flames.
How long can you run a direct vent gas fireplace?
In short, you really shouldn’t let a gas fireplace on for too long—specifically more than three hours at a time.
Are direct vent fireplaces worth it?
Direct vent gas inserts are also beneficial for those who want a more realistic-looking flame. Direct vent gas inserts don’t need to burn so hot because the temperature is controlled. Ultimately, both direct vent and vent-free gas fireplaces have benefits that make them worth the investment.
Is direct vent better?
Direct vent gas inserts generally have a more realistic looking flame than a vent-free gas insert. For vent-free gas inserts to reduce the risk of emissions being transmitted into the home, the burn temperature of the fire needs to be higher. So, this higher temperature produces a less realistic, sometimes blue flame.
Which is better vented or ventless gas fireplace?
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.
Are direct vent gas fireplaces safe?
The result is a highly efficient fireplace that is able to minimize heat loss through the flue and put more of that heat back into your home keeping your home full of warm, clean air. Direct Vent gas fireplaces can be operated safely without the use of electricity.
Can a direct vent fireplace be installed on an interior wall?
Power Venting makes it possible to install a gas fireplace almost anywhere in the home. Direct Vent gas fireplaces require outside air for combustion and exhaust – that’s why they are so often installed on outside walls of homes. But what if that perfect spot for a fireplace is on an interior wall? No problem!.
Do all direct vent fireplaces have glass fronts?
Not if your fireplace was shipped with a glass panel on the front. Direct vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems and need the glass on to function properly. The other type of gas fireplaces we sell, called B-vent fireplaces, come with fixed, not sealed, glass fronts.
Does a direct vent gas fireplace 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.
How efficient is a direct vent gas fireplace?
A direct vent gas fireplace would typically have an efficiency of around 70%, which would be similar to our forms of wood burning stove. A ventless gas fireplace can provide a similar efficiency rating as an electric fireplace of up to 100%.
How much does it cost to install a direct vent gas fireplace?
It typically costs between $3,500 to $7,500 to install a direct vent gas fireplace.
Do I need to open vent for 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.
Do direct vent fireplaces require a hearth?
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.
How hot does a direct vent fireplace vent get?
The area surrounding the fireplace can get hot as well when a fire is burning—in some cases, it can get as hot as 190 degrees.
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas fireplace?
Yes, gas fireplaces are one potential cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. An improperly maintained or ventilated gas fireplace can create incomplete combustion, creating carbon monoxide, and causing this toxic gas to linger—putting those inside at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Can gas fireplaces explode?
Although convenient, these home gas fireplaces pose significant risk of explosions and house fires if they are improperly installed or maintained. Gas Fireplace leaks can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, but can also result in explosions that can level an entire neighborhood block.
