How To Repair A Cracked Log In A Direct Vent Gas Fireplace

John enjoys dwelling house comeback projects that improve the quality of dwelling living.

Considering a vent-free gas log fireplace? Know the pros and cons. — Considering a vent-complimentary gas log fireplace? Know the pros and cons.

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Fireplaces are Magic

There is something magical about sitting in front of the fireplace feeling the warmth of the fire'southward radiant heat and watching the dancing flames and glowing embers. It's cozy, and it'due south a welcome contrast to the biting common cold outside. It reminds us of happy memories and good times with family and friends.

To ensure this magical pastime remains magical, it's important to know the facts about your fireplace. This article volition comprehend the following points about vent-free propane gas fireplaces:

Advantages of vent-free fireplaces
Advances in vent-costless unit design
Disadvantages of vent-free fireplaces
Safety of vent-gratis propane gas combustion
Bad experiences with vent-free fireplaces

Vent-Free Propane Gas Fireplace vs. Wood-Burning Fireplace

Vent-free, propane-gas fireplace sets tin can be an bonny culling to burning wood. Consider the advantages:

Convenience: No more firewood to collect and store. No messy ashes left in the fireplace to remove. No fire-starting frustration.
Health: Burning wood produces gases, smoke, and pocket-sized particulates. Hopefully, if the fireplace and chimney are working well, all this goes upward the chimney. Unfortunately, some of these pollutants may observe their way into your living space. This can exacerbate asthmatic weather in some people, and possibly lead to respiratory ailments in others.
Cleanliness: Soot from these pollutants can settle on carpets and furniture.
Rubber: A spark screen should exist placed in front of the burn to forbid sparks from flight out onto floors and carpets. The burn down must have the proper typhoon to depict pollutants up the chimney. The chimney needs periodic cleaning to remove creosote.
Environment: Gasses and pollutants from your woods fire leave the chimney and contribute to air pollution.

Advances in Propane Gas Log Fireplace Blueprint

Co-ordinate to their manufacturers, advances in precision-engineered gas burners have allowed the blueprint of vent-costless firelog designs. They require no vent and no chimney. They are highly efficient: all the heat produced is released into the room to warm the air. No heat is lost up the chimney. In fact, a chimney is not required. You can seal upward your chimney and save fifty-fifty more than heat loss from your house.

Safety advances have been made in airplane pilot lite/thermocouple designs and oxygen sensors. If the thermocouple senses that a pilot calorie-free has gone out, it shuts off the gas. If the oxygen sensor senses that the room oxygen has dropped to a pre-fix safe level, the gas is shut off.

The firelog design and materials are chosen so that the flames burn down as cleanly as possible.

Other options bachelor today are thermostatic and remote controls.

Propane gas is a clean-burning fuel. As long there is enough of oxygen in the room with a propane gas firelog, the burning propane produces carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O) and heat. The corporeality of water produced is most eight pounds (1 gallon) per 100,000 BTU's. A gas log fireplace burning at 25,000 BTU's per hr would add together about a quart of h2o per 60 minutes to room air.

The added water vapor can be an advantage in cold winters when room humidity is extremely low. However, if the room humidity is high enough (near 70% relative humidity), the added water vapor from the burning propane will contribute to mold. Based on contained estimator modeling studies the industry claims that only in Florida and along the Gulf Declension is this condition a possibility. For the rest of the U.S, the added h2o vapor is usually insufficient to cause mold, according to that study.

Vent-free gas heaters at present come in a wide variety of designs that are attractive for whatever decor.

Just, are they actually rubber?

Disadvantages of Vent-Gratis Propane Gas Firelogs

The room with the vent-costless propane gas firelogs must have adequate oxygen and a source of fresh air to furnish the oxygen lost in combustion. That is why the size of the room must be taken into business relationship when selecting the size of the firelog. That is also why it is usually recommended that a window be opened to allow fresh air.

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Is Vent-free Propane Gas Combustion Completely Rubber?

Not anybody is totally convinced that vent-free combustion is completely safe. The American Lung Association recommends that gas firelogs be vented. ALA likewise argues against the employ of wood-burning in fireplaces. Here are their recommendations:

"Declare your home a smokefree zone. Never allow anyone fume indoors." The admonition against "smokefree" includes smokers, but could exist construed to include all sources of 'fume.'
"Proceed humidity levels under 50 percent." Notation: Co-ordinate to InspectAPedia for Edifice & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, in club to avert a mold and grit mite problem a " maximum indoor relative humidity of 55% RH may exist acceptable, l% RH better. . ."
"Avoid burning forest because information technology adds pollution indoors and out." That is their specific caution concerning wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.
"Make sure gas appliances vent completely to the exterior. Practise not use ventless stoves."
"Although both natural gas and propane stoves are much cleaner than their wood-burning alternatives, these devices must exist directly vented exterior the home to reduce exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and other emissions produced by these energy sources."

Some state and local codes in the U.S. prohibit unvented room heaters due to their inherent risks. The industry argues that these are unnecessary barriers to the use of modern, clean-burning vent-gratis gas heaters and fireplace log sets.

Finally, in the post-obit video one experienced home inspector discusses vent-free gas heaters.

Dwelling house Inspector Discusses Ventless Gas Fireplaces and Heaters

Due Diligence Earlier You Buy a Vent-Free Propane Gas Log Fireplace Set

Bad Experiences With Ventless Gas Fireplaces: Testimonials by Users

Before you make up one's mind to install a vent-free gas log fireplace in your home, consider the experience of those who have actually used ventless set-ups. These experiences range from terrible health effects on family members to harm to interior walls and household furnishings.

If you are because the purchase of a vent-free firelog unit, practise your due diligence. Consider the pros and cons, and and so:

Check with your local and/or state building code administration to run into whether (i) a vent-gratis firelog unit is allowed in your domicile, and (2) if allowed, what standards govern its employ
Consult with your dealer and be certain the unit y'all buy is fully compliant with applicable building lawmaking and ANSI standard Z21.xi.02.
Make sure that it is properly installed
Make sure you understand and follow all prophylactic precautions.
And make sure you know the risks associated with vent-free firelog units.

This commodity is authentic and true to the best of the author'south knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does non substitute for personal counsel or professional person advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

What has been Your Experience with Vent-Free Propane Gas Fireplaces?

John Levinson on December 24, 2022:

It'southward been my experience in 50+ years of using unvented

gas heaters and fireplaces that when installed and used Co-ordinate TO DIRECTIONS they are perfectly safe.

Problems come from those who fail to read the instructions, provide a acceptable menstruum of outside air menses and neglect to properly maintain them.

Also today's Make Information technology Airtight mentality in home construction is to blame for most health problems.

Indoor air is 10 times more polluted than outside air

fifty-fifty in the cleanest of homes and then sealing homes upwardly is a horrible idea.

modernethanol on March 27, 2022:

Hey Jon, dear the commodity very in depth. I hold without ventless gas can be dangerous if non installed correctly and overused. The added risk of moisture and mold is not skillful besides.

A great alternative y'all should consider would exist an ethanol fireplace insert. They utilize eco-friendly fuel and have options safety sensors for extra safety. The benefit is they are easier to install and still give you lot real flames. I'd beloved it if you checked information technology out https://modernethanolfireplaces.com/collections/ma...

I know you mentioned y'all take an electrical fireplace and those or great too. Some people just prefer the expect of real burn down.

Thank you,

Kyle

Mercedus Long from Maryland on August 17, 2022:

1 of the most important things people should call back is non to try and install these units themselves (unless qualified to do so). Installation of unit volition require inspections by the canton to ensure installation and operation.

I hold with y'all that I would not choose a vent costless unit of measurement. Primarily as they use the oxygen in the room and my boys have asthma.

Corking article. Looking forward to more than