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As you shop around for a heater and fireplace for your home, you will hear two terms used, one being a vented fireplace and the other, ventless gas fireplaces. With ventless gas fireplaces, the heat is released into the home for better heat efficiency than being directed outside through a vented or chimney. The nice thing about ventless gas fireplaces is that they are available in a huge selection of styles.
Most ventless gas fireplaces are very affordable, easy to install, and will save you money on your monthly heating bill. You will find logs that look amazingly real. These ventless logs can be placed inside the fireplace and then used with the damper closed instead of open. Because ventless gas fireplaces push the heat directly into the home, there is tremendous increase in heat efficiency, compared to wood fireplaces that lose up to 90% of the heat up the chimney. One of the drawbacks associated with ventless gas fireplaces is that the byproducts can reduce the indoor air quality and increase problems with moisture. Now keep in mind that gas is a clean-burning type of fuel but because it is gas, there is a small degree of pollution produced. The amount of pollution would be dependant on the size of the fireplace and the way in which it is operated. While most builders and manufacturers approve ventless gas fireplaces, some still believe there are better options. If you are thinking about shopping around for ventless gas fireplaces for your home or office, the recommendation for safety is never to run the unit for more than two hours at a time. Additionally, once the logs are placed in the fireplace, you cannot mess with them. In other words, wherever the logs are installed, they need to be left alone since there will be a gas line attached. Keep in mind that ventless gas fireplaces have undergone intensive testing under a wide range of circumstances to ensure their safety for operation and air quality. Another consideration with ventless gas fireplaces has to do with insufficient oxygen supply, which causes carbon monoxide poisoning. The good thing is that every unit built since the early 1980s has an oxygen depletion sensor, also called an ODS. If at any time the oxygen level should fall below a specified level considered safe, an electric current goes to a fuel cutoff switch, cooling the flame, and then shutting off the gas. Just remember that there have been studies show that other factors can cause performance problems with the gas burners of ventless gas fireplaces. For instance, they can become clogged over time from pet hair or dust, causing the fire to burn inefficiently and producing higher levels of carbon monoxide. Additionally, air can leak through the damper causing problems with the flame, again increasing carbon monoxide output, and even when the ceramic logs are placed incorrectly, problems can occur that lead to higher levels of carbon monoxide. Even so, if you are interested in ventless gas fireplaces, just make sure you follow code to purchase the right size unit with the right type of features for your specific needs. By following safety guidelines with ventilation, maintenance, and a quality unit, you will enjoy benefits of ventless gas fireplaces, enjoying a cozy and warm room on those cold winter nights. |
