Facts About Vented Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces are an ideal choice for anyone who wants to enjoy the warmth of a fire without the chores of hauling wood and cleaning ashes. Because gas fireplace options are growing in popularity every year, manufacturers have geared-up to offer us a wide selection of appliances. You'll find gas logs, freestanding gas stoves, and contained fireplace units that are mounted to a wall.
Some gas log fixtures are vented so that dangerous gases produced during the burn travel outside, just as they move up and out of a chimney in a traditional woodburning fireplace. There's more than one way to vent an appliance, so you can probably install vented gas logs in your home even if you do not have a usable chimney.
Top Vented Gas Logs in a Traditional Hearth
Vented gas logs can take the place of wood in a traditional hearth and chimney.
You can choose a unit that burns either natural or propane gas, but both types are always burned with the damper open.
Gas fireplaces are not a solution for a problem chimney. If the chimney is damaged, dirty, or doesn't draw air well enough to burn wood, it is not suitable for gas logs.
Chimneys previously used to burn wood should be professionally cleaned to remove creosote before gas logs are used.
Other Venting Options
If you do not have a chimney for top-venting, a special pipe can be installed to vent the appliance. Ask your installation expert about options for a top-venting pipe.
If a top-vent isn't practical, consider direct venting, which uses a 2-layer pipe running through a hole in the wall behind the unit, or positioned slightly above it. The outer pipe draws air in from the outside to create combustion for burning the gas. The inner pipe takes waste to the outside.
Direct venting is considered a safe system, since no air from inside is used in combustion, and all wastes flow to the outside. Both actions reduce the risks of carbon monoxide buildup within the house.
Flames that Resemble Wood Fires
Some vented gas fireplaces burn with a yellow flame that closely resembles a wood fire. That type of flame produces soot, so you might not want to use a blower with the logs. Other vented gas units burn with a blue flame, which is (usually) hotter, with more complete combustion and less soot.
Gas Log Building Codes
Building codes may require the damper in your chimney to be permanently blocked open if you install gas logs. You can reduce drafts and heat loss by installing glass doors in front of the gas fireplace, but the doors must remain open while the fire is burning.
Carbon Monoxide Risks
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, potentially lethal gas produced as a byproduct when fuels such as natural or propane gas, kerosene, and wood are burned. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly when using any type of fuel-burning appliance.
