| First, let's get an understanding of the venting | | | | exits through a side wall in your room. The |
| used for each type of fireplace. The word | | | | positives for this type of fireplace? No chimney is |
| "venting" refers to the means the fireplace uses | | | | required, so less expensive to install than a Fully |
| to vent its exhaust safely from the room. In the | | | | Vented fireplace. They are highly efficient and |
| case of Vent Free, exhaust is vented directly into | | | | may be used as a gas wall furnace. If you like a |
| the room. In a Vent Free system, the | | | | fireplace with a sealed fire box (because of |
| consumption of gas is limited to a maximum of | | | | children, cats, etc.) this style may work well for |
| 40,000 BTU per hour to help prevent the room | | | | you. The cons? You can't burn wood in it. They |
| from being "starved" of oxygen. In a Direct Vent | | | | require specific types of burners and logs so you |
| system, a double vent pipe is used (pipe within a | | | | cannot use specialty vented products in them. |
| pipe). The outer pipe draws fresh air from outside | | | | You are not supposed to burn them without the |
| to feed the combustion process while the inner | | | | glass cover attached, as this disrupts the air flow |
| pipe vents out the exhaust from the combustion. | | | | in the balanced vent system. 3. Fully Vented - A |
| A Fully Vented system, including a B-Vent | | | | Fully Vented system is what most of us think of |
| system, uses either a masonry chimney or a | | | | when we think of a traditional fireplace. Most of |
| B-Vent (double wall metallic pipe). Now that we | | | | us think of a fireplace having a full chimney (like |
| touched on the three primary methods of | | | | the kind Santa Claus comes down). Usually we |
| venting, we can take a closer look at the pros | | | | think of a brick and mortar chimney, but a Fully |
| and cons of each. | | | | Vented fireplace can also incorporate a B-Vent flu |
| 1. Vent Free - As mentioned, a Vent Free | | | | (a double wall metallic pipe that rises up from the |
| system vents its exhaust directly into the room. | | | | fireplace and out through the roof). Air for |
| In other words, it does not use a chimney at all. | | | | combustion comes from the room. The upsides |
| As you can imagine, this can cause a carbon | | | | of this type of fireplace? You can burn wood it in. |
| monoxide concern as this system continuously | | | | You can purchase a model that helps to make it |
| uses oxygen from the room it's being used in. For | | | | more heat efficient by having a fire box "float" |
| this reason, Vent Free systems are equipped with | | | | inside a second box so that air can circulate |
| an oxygen detection safety pilot which detects | | | | around the fire box and back into the room. You |
| when the oxygen level falls below 18%. If this | | | | can burn many kinds of vented fire logs and |
| occurs, the gas will automatically be shut off. The | | | | specialty vented fireplace products in this style of |
| pros for this type of fireplace? You can install | | | | fireplace. Now the cons. For a new fireplace |
| them almost anywhere in your home. They are | | | | installation, you may spend more money having a |
| very efficient, meaning you get almost 100% of | | | | chimney built than you would with the other |
| the heat benefit from the fuel you are burning | | | | styles. This style is less heat efficient than the |
| (the heat is not escaping outdoors). The | | | | other two styles. |
| downsides of this type of burning system? You | | | | Hopefully, you have a much clearer understanding |
| need to buy specific types of burners/log sets | | | | of the three types of fireplaces that were |
| specially made for Vent Free systems. You | | | | discussed. After reading the various points on |
| cannot burn wood in them nor regular vented log | | | | each, you may have very valid reasons for |
| sets nor other specialty vented products. If you | | | | choosing one over the other to suite your needs. |
| have respiratory-related health conditions, you | | | | I'm glad this article helped you make this decision. |
| may want to think twice before installing this type | | | | Personally, I choose Fully Vented because I like |
| of system. 2. Direct Vent - A Direct Vent system | | | | the versatility of being able to use this type of |
| pulls fresh air in and sends its exhaust out through | | | | fireplace for a number of different products. New |
| a combined flu system. The flu pipe vents either | | | | products are coming out all the time and I don't |
| out of the top or out of the back of the | | | | want to be restricted from using them. |
| fireplace, for versatility. The flu pipe generally | | | | |