You need to leave your chimney’s damper partially open to vent the carbon monoxide that the gas fire produces, so much of the heat generated by a vented gas log set goes up the chimney.
Does a gas fireplace need a flue?
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.
Does the flue need to be open on a gas fireplace?
One caution, though: Fireplaces with installed gas logs are required to have the damper open at all times . ... That’s why there is, or should be, a keep-open device attached to the damper in gas-log fireplaces. Unfortunately, that open damper means house air is running up the flue or cold air might be traveling down.
What happens if you don’t open the flue?
Close it when it’s not it use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home.
Does flue need to be open for pilot light?
Our research shows that the flue on a gas fireplace should remain open during use or when the pilot light is lit . If the flue is closed in either instance, you risk a greater chance of carbon monoxide poisoning or a spark induced structure fire due to a buildup of toxins emitted by propane or natural gas burners.
How long can you run a vented gas fireplace?
Vent-free gas fireplace – these gas fireplaces work similarly to ovens and don’t exhaust their fumes outside of your home. That’s why they should never be left running for more than two or three hours at a time and the rooms they are in should always be well-vented themselves.
Which is better ventless or vented gas fireplace?
Ventless fireplaces are more energy efficient than vented fireplaces because no heat escapes up the flue, so you’ll save money on gas utility bills. A vented gas fireplace uses more gas to create the same level of warmth because some of its heat escapes through the flue.
Can I leave the flue open overnight?
The smoke from burning wood contains carbon monoxide, so in order to prevent this toxic byproduct from entering your home, it is important to leave the flue open overnight . This enables a draft to carry the compound out into the atmosphere, instead of sinking down the chimney and saturating the room.
What happens if you don’t open the flue on a gas fireplace?
Since there is little or no exhaust, they can be burned with the damper closed . The beauty of this type of system is that 99.9% of the heat produced by the gas logs goes into the room, so they produce substantially more heat than their vented counter-parts.
How do I know if flue is open?
Before lighting a fire, you can tell if the damper is open by placing your hand into the fireplace. If you feel a draft coming down the chimney , it is a good indicator that the damper is open. If you don’t feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed.
Can I get carbon monoxide poisoning from my gas fireplace?
Yes, gas fireplaces are one potential cause of carbon monoxide poisoning . While there are many potential sources of such exposure, including certain appliances and devices, motor vehicles and wood stoves, gas fireplaces are a common culprit.
How do you close a flue?
- Turn off the gas to the fireplace or wait for wood to burn out. ...
- Put on work gloves to keep your hands free of soot. ...
- Push the lever up slightly to disengage it from its support tab and then pull it away from the tab horizontally as the damper lowers into a closed position.
Should I close my chimney flue in the summer?
The chimney damper is the last line of defense to keep water and critters out of your home. Even if you have a chimney cap, it is a good idea to keep the damper closed in the summer . ... The hot, humid air that the damper lets into the chimney won’t air out chimney odors. It may actually cause your chimney to smell.
Can you run a gas fireplace when power is out?
A gas fireplace with an intermittent pilot ignition (IPI) valve system will remain operational during a power outage .
Is it cheaper to run furnace or gas fireplace?
Operating a furnace for one hour at 75,000 -100,000 Btu cost a homeowner $1.12 – $1.49 based on last month’s national average natural gas rate. By comparison, a natural gas fireplace running at 30,000 Btu per hour cost only 45 cents.
How do you tell if my gas fireplace is vented?
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.
