Should I get vented or ventless gas logs

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.

What is better a direct vent or ventless gas fireplace?

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.

Should gas logs be vented?

Vented gas logs must be vented through a functional chimney in order to move all burning by-products outside the home. Vented gas logs produce the most realistic flames but put off less heat than their vent-free counterparts due mostly to the fact the chimney flue must be open when the fireplace is in use.

How do I know if I need vented or vent-free gas logs?

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.

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.

Are gas fireplaces bad for your health?

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 you put ventless logs in a vented fireplace?

You can use ventless logs in a vented fireplace. If you do use a vent-free logs, you won’t have to open the damper since these logs don’t require venting. Even though the chimney can remain closed, you will still lose some of the efficiency and heat from using this type of set in a vented fireplace.

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.

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.

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.

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Do vent free gas logs produce heat?

Ventless gas logs are extremely efficient and will provide an exceptional amount of heat for your room. They don’t require a chimney or venting, allowing all of the heat produced to circulate back into the room, rather than escaping up the chimney. Ventless gas logs are designed to achieve a clean, smokeless flame.

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.

Do you need a chimney for a gas fireplace?

Ventless fireplaces fueled by gas or propane rely on indoor air for combustion, and they exhaust a low level of their combustion gases into the room in which they’re located. A chimney or flue isn’t necessary. … In fact, ventless fireplaces generally are just for aesthetics and supplemental space heating.

How long do ventless gas logs last?

Q: How long do gas logs last? A: In the average home, a well-maintained vented log set with ceramic logs will last 10 or more years. A well-maintained vent-free log set with ceramic logs can also last a long time, but, if heavily used, will begin to wear in 3-5 years.

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.

Do vented gas fireplaces provide heat?

A popular way to provide supplemental heat to your home, gas logs are a clean and convenient alternative to a wood-burning fireplace. … Vented gas logs are perfectly safe and provide a beautiful, natural-looking fire, but they do not give out as much heat as vent-free gas logs.

How many hours can you run a gas fireplace?

In short, you really shouldn’t let a gas fireplace on for too long—specifically more than three hours at a time.

How long is it safe to run vented gas fireplace?

Most manufacturers don’t advise running a vent free gas fireplace for more than a few hours a day. Usually, that’s not much of an issue, because you’ll get hot in 20 minutes, and you’ll probably be ready to turn it off.

Does a natural gas fireplace need to be vented?

Traditional gas fireplaces, like their wood-burning cousins, require an exhaust flue (vent) to remove harmful fumes from the home. When possible, an existing chimney is used to run a new flue, but in a home without a chimney, the high cost to install venting can sideline the project permanently.

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.

How much does it cost to add a blower to a gas fireplace?

How much does it cost to put a blower in a gas fireplace? It costs about $100 to install a blower and fan in a gas fireplace. That’s in addition to the regular cost of installation.

Can you put a fan in front of a 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.

What is the difference between ventless and vented fireplaces?

Vented gas logs burn like a real wood fire with a yellow flame that produces smoke. … Ventless (vent-free) gas logs burn cleanly with a lower flame that does not smoke. You can burn them with the damper closed to heat your room.

Can gas logs catch on 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.

Is it cheaper to run gas fireplace or central heat?

Is it cheaper to run a gas fireplace or a furnace? … A modern furnace is more efficient in turning gas into heat than a gas fireplace. This means that although a furnace costs more to run per hour than a gas fireplace, it turns more of that energy into heat and can warm a whole house rather than a single room.

Does the pilot light stay on in a gas fireplace?

Most gas fireplaces rely on a “continuous pilot light,” a type of pilot that remains lit so long as gas is flowing to the unit. Some newer, more energy-efficient models rely on an electronic ignition that only lights the pilot when the fireplace itself is turned on.

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.

Where are ventless fireplaces banned?

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 gas fireplaces use a lot of gas?

In short: Gas fireplaces are quite inexpensive to run. This is primarily due to the low cost of natural gas and propane. On average, 100,000 BTU worth of heat costs $1.09 if you use natural gas and $3.87 if you use electricity.

Can I install gas logs myself?

Gas log installation should only be done by a certified professional. Homeowners should never install their own gas logs unless they have the tools and training to do so.

How can I make my gas logs more realistic?

Use vermiculite instead. You can find rock wool, silica sand, vermiculite and crackling ash granules at a fireplace supply store or order online. You may need to turn the fireplace off and shift the rock wool around until it resembles a realistic pile of embers.