Ventless Gas Fireplaces

[verizonbear]

Anybody experienced with ventless fireplaces? Thinking of getting a more modern style to replace the one in my house.

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[wayupnorth]

Ventless

I have one in my basement rec room that is a zero clearence with a "lovely" mantle. I only use it in case of a power outage or should the boiler should unexpectidly stop. In a tight home they will go out due to the oxygen sensor. So a window should be cracked open when using, which defeats the purpose. They may promote 100% efficiency, but they do give off way too much Carbon Monoxide. You will see it when the windows all cloud over from moisture and film. Best to get a vented one if you can.

 

[firedome]

The new ones burn

very efficiently, something like 98% clean so very little CO, it's mostly h2o vapor you see on the windows. Any combustion using inside air WILL suck out the 02, hence the alarm, but it takes quite some time. We had one in our first house in VT that had a big open (look thru) stone fireplace between the open LR and DR and we'd run it for a couple of hours every dinner time so we could eat by firelight... it helped on the heating bills as all of the heat stays inside, and you don't need to open windows if you use it in that way, but you don't want to run it all day or as primary heat. We loved ours, it was great for it's intended purpose.

 

[westie2]

Put one in my mothers hose as it was built only for ventless.  It is good for when needed heat and during blackouts due to winter weather.  Bought it from our gas company.  Thes is a little discoloration on her white mantle.

 

[toggleswitch]

UNVENTED= health problems and fast. DON'T, PLEASE!

They give off the same poisons your body gets rid of; C02.

Why would anyone purposely pollute their air and live in it?

 

[kenmore71]

I really can't see that there would be any problems as long as they are used in moderation. If one is baking in a gas oven there is a 18,000 to 22,000 BTU gas burner operating about 50 percent of the time (more if you're doing something like cookies) the whole time you're baking. Theoretically you're supposed to operate your VENTED range-hood fan whenever you use anything on your gas stove, but seriously, how many people do that even IF they have one?

Also, any newer home (read "very tight" air-wise) is required by code to have an air-exchanger. I would certainly opperate the air exchanger while using an unvented heater both to exhaust waste gases and also keep humidity levels from getting too high.

I don't doubt that some people have experienced health problems from the waste gases produced from a gas stove or a ventless gas heater. That said, people have been "cooking with gas" for over a hundred years in this country and there are millions of gas stoves being operated every day. It's my opinion that there is more health risk involved in walking to the mailbox than in operating a ventless gas heater for a few hours occasionally.

 

[kimball455]

When I remodeled a few years ago I had a ventless gas fire place installed. One major reason was/is to supply heat during a power failure. Two winters ago the power was off for four days. The fireplace kept the areas I needed in the house comfortable. I don't use it a lot and I have no problems with any smells etc. I have an old house that does leak a lot of air so air exchange is not a problem. They are a fraction of the price of a vented fireplace. Of course, check local code to see of unvented is permitted.

 

[hunter]

Check your state laws before you install.

They were illegal in Massachusetts, IIRC.

If anything happened with it, and it was illegal in your state you might be liable for a criminal charge, and your insurance may not pay for repairs.

I don't know what MD laws are on this.

 

[verizonbear]

They are code in MD, the burner currently in place is about 30 years old, no oxygen sensor etc, I tried it out, there was a smell but I think that was due to the dust on the fake ceramic logs, the "fire " is less than realistic, just a blue fame like a stove burner think that may due to the age of the burner. I am the logs replaced with a modern burner that will have the safety devices etc. I am thinking of the fire glass since that will burn clean

 

[firedome]

Ours was modern

circa 2002 so had the o2 sensor, never activated it. We didn't check VT code on it and frankly didn't care. We did have 18' high cathederal ceilings and the place was built in '68 so with tons of glass so it certainly wasn't up to current standards of air-tightness. When we moved the buyer didn't want it, so we took it out and it'll go into our retirement home, along with a heat excahnger and all of our wonderful vintage appliances. I guess the pilots on the vintage Chambers will pollute us a bit, but who cares!

 

[firedome]

Ours was modern

circa 2002 so had the o2 sensor, never activated it. We didn't check VT code on it and frankly didn't care. We did have 18' high cathederal ceilings and the place was built in '68 so with tons of glass so it certainly wasn't up to current standards of air-tightness. When we moved the buyer didn't want it, so we took it out and it'll go into our retirement home, along with a heat excahnger and all of our wonderful vintage appliances. I guess the pilots on the vintage Chambers will pollute us a bit, but who cares!