21 Sep Why Does My Fireplace Have Vents?
All fireplaces, except for certain ones such as vent-free and electric, require venting to the outdoors. This is true whether the fireplace uses gas, pellets, or wood as the fuel source. They depend on some form of venting to distribute fresh air inside the room and prevent or eliminate any harmful combustion byproducts from the indoor airspace. At Kozy Heat, we offer an array of direct vent fireplace products that bring cozy warmth to home interiors in a cost-efficient manner. These include direct vent linear gas fireplace units and other units such as gas stove models.
Venting a fireplace is essential to dispelling harmful gases to the outside and preserving healthy air inside.
There are different ways to vent a fireplace. It is important to know the difference between venting methods.
Types of Fireplace Venting
Gas fireplaces may be vented through direct venting technology or through B-vent or “natural” venting technology.
1. Direct Venting Technology
The sealed combustion system that is present with direct vent gas fireplaces keeps the indoor air quality clean by bringing in outside air for the fire and ejecting all of the combustion exhaust and other byproducts to the outside. Many direct vent linear gas fireplace and other direct vent units operate with this system.
2. B-vent or “Natural” Venting Technology
This type of gas fireplace venting system is not sealed. The system transfers air from a room into the combustion box. The exhaust is conveyed through a pipe upward and out the roof.
The newest and most common type of venting technology is direct vent. It is popular due to its safety, efficiency, flexibility, and lack of requirement for a chimney.
The Operation of Vents
A gas fireplace has a bottom vent through which the cool air in the room is drawn into and is then transferred through a chamber that encompasses the firebox. It then connects to a vent at the top.
The combustion chamber or firebox is the area of the fireplace in which the fire and heat are generated. The circulating air around the box heats up and comes out through the top vent, heating up the room.
In a direct vent gas unit, the fresh air is brought in from the outside into the hearth, and then directed outside by means of a flue system that ends outside. The majority of direct vent gas fireplaces have vents that travel to the outside in a horizontal direction right through a wall. However, some have the vents travelling vertically through the roof.
To learn about the various fireplace options we offer at Kozy Heat, including direct vent linear gas fireplace and gas stove options, call us today at 800.253.4904, complete our contact form, or find a fireplace store closest to you.
