Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 31, 1999 09:32am | #1

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   Ventless fireplaces have been pretty thoroughly criticized here and elsewhere; some jurisdictions will not even permit them. Besides competing with you for oxygen, they release pollutants and a great deal of moisture. The manufacturers generally recommend cracking a window when one is in use, and not installing them in a sleeping area. So you may wish to research this further.

   They never look real, either... Be sure to consider the substantial gas line that needs to be run to supply multiple fireplaces and a furnace. Good luck.

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 01, 1999 07:33am | #2

   *Tobomatic:Look into direct vent gas fireplaces. They get the input air for combustion from outside and, of course, exhaust to the exterior too. They have some real pluses in the efficiency and safety areas.Wouldn't work for your "odd location" unit, but worth consideration for standard type installations.Not sure how they would fit into your "look as real as possible" requirement, but that's more personal preference.

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 01, 1999 08:29am | #3

   *I'd be a little leery of going to bed with a gas fireplece exhaleing where I'm inhaleing . Chuck

2. 
   Jim's | Sep 02, 1999 10:49pm | #4

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   In response to your question of venting gas fireplaces, the first thing to remember is that any product of combustion produces the by product of Carbon Monoxide. This is a colorless and odorless gas that combines with hemoglobin in your blood stream 200 times more readily than oxygen. Most homes contain a residual amount of this product, between 2-5 PPM depending on conditions. The safe or permissible level by OSHA for a 8 hour day is 35 PPM. That does not mean you want to be exposed to this at that level, other factors such as age, health, body weight all come into play. If it were me I would make sure to vent all appliances outdoors, and that they draw in combustion air from the outside. With modern weatherization of homes they are sealed very well and do not permit the cycling of fresh air from the outside.

   As mentioned earlier they do produce other emissions such as moisture, and fine soot. Remember a "clean" burning gas flame is generally a bright blue. The manufacturers attempt to produce a orange flame similiar to that when wood is burning. This is generally accomplished by facilitating a richer burn of the gas due to the style of venturi.

   I don't mean to make you nervous about gas fireplaces, they are convienent and do a good job of reproducing the effects of a wood burning fireplace.

   Make sure to invest in several Carbon Monoxide detectors, especially near the sleeping areas.

   Good luck, Jim.

3. 
   Tobomatic | Sep 02, 1999 10:49pm | #5

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   We're in the process of building a new house, with several gas fireplaces indicated. We'd like them to look as real as possible. A couple can be vented (either to an exterior wall or up the chimney in which one will sit; one cannot, due to its odd location. We'd appreciate any suggestions anyone has regarding brands, problems, etc.