Do I have a vented or ventless gas fireplace

Vented gas logs produce carbon monoxide emissions so your fireplace must have a chimney or flue. Ventless logs do not put off these emissions so no chimney or flue is needed, and the heat is more likely to stay in your space. Each type of fireplace requires its own type of gas logs to function safely and correctly.

How do I know what kind of gas fireplace I have?

Each fireplace and insert has a rating plate which contains your model number and serial number. Gas and wood burning fireplaces have a rating plate in the control compartment area, under the smoke shield or on the firebox side column.

Are ventless gas logs safe?

Ventless gas fireplaces emit dangerous and noxious gasses into the room they are operating. … Ventless fireplaces produce small amounts of nitrous dioxide and carbon monoxide which can be deadly in large doses.

What are non Vented gas logs?

Ventless gas logs (often referred to as “Vent Free” gas logs) have specially designed burners that burn the gas cleanly and produce almost no exhaust… somewhat like the way a gas range in a kitchen works. Since there is little or no exhaust, they can be burned with the damper closed.

Can you use a gas fireplace without logs?

You can use a gas fireplace without logs because the heat source is the burner connected to your gas line. Don’t use wood in your gas fireplace, as they weren’t built for wood to be their fuel source. Instead, use a ceramic log in your fireplace for additional reflective heat.

Can you convert Vented gas logs to ventless?

Answer: Without contacting the manufacturer of your fireplace it wouldn’t be recommended to convert a vented gas fireplace to a ventless gas fireplace. … The BTU’S of the ventless gas logs start at 28,000 and there may be too much heat for the BTU rating of your fireplace.

Does my gas fireplace 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.

Can you put a blower on Vented gas logs?

A fireplace blower can be added to most existing gas or wood-burning vented and non-vented fireplaces. When shopping for blowers, you need to make sure to get the model that is designed for your fuel-type and will fit inside your fireplace.

Does an outdoor gas fireplace need to be vented?

Natural vent gas fireplaces need to be vented using a traditional masonry chimney with flue liner, direct vent gas fireplaces need to be vented directly from the outside and ventless gas fireplaces don’t need to be directly vented.

Do gas fireplaces give off carbon monoxide?

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.

Article first time published on

Why do my ventless gas logs smell?

In a gas ventless fireplace, oxygen is provided by the air in your home. If that air contains impurities, those impurities are drawn in with the oxygen and can produce odors which are amplified by the flame.

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.

What are the fake logs in a gas fireplace made of?

A: Most gas logs are made from a ceramic fiber or refractory cement mixture designed to withstand high temperatures. Sometimes steel reinforcement bars are added to the inside of the logs to increase their strength and to prevent them from bending or cracking under extreme heat.

Can gas fireplace logs catch fire?

Ventless gas logs are safe, so long as you use them properly. After no more than an hour of burning a ventless gas log system, you need to crack a window or two to replenish the oxygen in your home. … For this reason, ventless gas logs are not permitted in some states, including California, and certain cities.

Why are my gas fireplace logs turning black?

Soot buildup is commonly caused by clogged burner ports and improperly positioned fire-logs. A fire-log that’s out of position can obstruct the flame path that ensures the clean-burning of gas. This contributes to soot formation on the fireplace. Another primary cause of soot is clogged gas burner ports.

Where is the blower located on a fireplace?

A fireplace blower is a fan mounted on the exterior of the fireplace or inside the unit but outside the firebox itself.

How do I circulate the heat in my gas 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.

How do you tell if the flue is open on a gas fireplace?

Before lighting a fire, you can tell if the damper is open by placing your hand into the fireplace. If you feel a draft coming down the chimney, it is a good indicator that the damper is open. If you don’t feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed.

How is a gas fireplace vented?

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. Most direct vent gas fireplaces are vented to the outdoors horizontally (through the wall), but they can also be routed vertically (through the roof).

Where is the flue on my gas fireplace?

In many homes there is such a hole, but it’s hidden inside the fireplace. That hole is the fireplace flue pipe. Wood-burning fireplaces usually have a damper installed in the upper part of the firebox.

Will Vented gas logs heat a room?

A vented gas log must be used in a regular fireplace, designed to burn a wood fire. … Some vented gas logs will give up to 25,000 BTU’s of heat but most don’t give hardly any heat.

Are vented gas fireplaces safe?

A vented gas fireplace is so safe because of the sealed combustion behind its glass. You cannot remove the glass or get access to the flames for the vented gas fireplace to function properly. This might be an advantage to those with small children or pets, but it could also be considered a negative by other people.

What is the vent on the outside of my fireplace for?

Keeping a fire lit takes different factors including air and fuel for burning. The products of combustion include water vapor and carbon monoxide. … An outside air source is a vent that provides fresh air to feed the fire.

How efficient are vented gas logs?

Gas logs are only about 10%-20% efficient, with the majority of heat produced escaping through the chimney. (The same is true with a traditional wood burning fireplace.) Gas logs must be installed in an existing, working fireplace opening – meaning the fireplace masonry and chimney need to be in good working order.

What kind of gas logs do I need?

When shopping for gas logs, you’ll need to choose vented or vent-free logs. This decision comes down to many factors, including looks versus efficiency, local building codes and fireplace placement. With vented logs, you’ll enjoy a large, realistic-looking flame that operates with an open chimney flue or damper.

Do gas fireplace inserts have blowers?

All gas fireplace inserts supply radiant heat, but a blower provides an instant, powerful heat boost. Turn your blower on, or turn it off, it’s your choice! You can’t use a fireplace blower if you don’t have one. All inserts deliver radiant heat, but blowers provide an instant, powerful heat boost.

Are gas fireplace logs toxic?

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.

Should I smell gas from my fireplace?

Although it is normal for a fireplace to omit a slight odor, it is important to take proper precautions if you think you may smell a potential gas leak. … If you smell a rotten egg smell around your natural gas fireplace, is important to leave your home immediately and contact your local utility service.

Are fumes from gas fireplace harmful?

Gas fireplaces are generally considered cleaner than traditional wood-burning fireplaces, but they can also pollute indoor air quality if not properly vented. Toxic gasses emitted include deadly carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide — a gas particularly harmful to those with asthma.

Do vent free gas logs 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.

How long do ventless gas logs last?

If you have a vented fireplace with ceramic logs, that’s well-maintained, your log set can last a very long time, maybe even ten years or more. However, if you have a ventless fireplace with ceramic logs, and it’s well maintained, those will generally have a 3-5 year lifespan.

You Might Also Like