How does a ventless fireplace work? A ventless fireplace is an inexpensive alternative to wood and gas fireplaces that can be installed in small spaces. Understanding how a ventless fireplace works can help you decide if one is right for you.
How Does A Ventless Fireplace Work To Heat A Room?
Fuel for the fire. Ventless fireplaces typically use natural or propane gas to create their flame, although some smaller units use flammable gel canisters for an atmospheric open flame look. A small gas supply line will need to be run to the location where the ventless fireplace will be installed.
Maximizing output. To create a realistic looking flame, traditional gas fireplaces have burners that rest under a bed of silica sand. The sand distributes the gas, creating a flame that spreads over a wider area and flickers realistically. This realism comes at a price, however, and that price is combustion efficiency. An inefficient flame produces combustion gases that must be carried to the outside by a flue or vent pipes. A ventless fireplace, on the other hand, is designed to produce a very efficient flame that leaves very little combustion material behind. The lower emissions nature of a ventless fireplace allows it to be installed without a chimney or vent duct.
Flexible footprint. Since a ventless fireplace doesn't need access to the outside, it can be installed in just about any room in your house. Even interior walls are acceptable for installation of a ventless fireplace. The one restriction on ventless fireplace installation is that it must pre properly sized to the volume of the room it is being installed in. Proper sizing is required to maintain the air quality of the room.
Other considerations. Ventless fireplaces still produce some combustion byproducts. As such, most manufacturers will only recommend their products as secondary heat sources that should only be run for a maximum of four hours at a time. Excessive use of a ventless fireplace can lead to respiratory problems and a build up of moisture in the home that can lead to water damage and mold and mildew issues.
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