About Ventless Fireplaces

A ventless fireplace is a heating source for a home or business. A ventless fireplace works in the same fashion as a traditional fireplace, however they are ventless; meaning they are not required to use chimney, flute or duct system to vent outside. This decreases the installation and labor costs behind a ventless fireplace. They are an excellent heating source for single rooms; they cannot be used to heat more than one room in a building. There is some health and safety concerns with ventless fireplaces and many states and cities have laws regarding ventless fireplaces. These concerns are related to carbon monoxide & oxygen depletion.

When choosing a ventless fireplace you’ll need to consider a few things, because no fire can be ventless it’s important to remember a few things. You need to pay close attention to amount of BTUs a ventless fireplace has, this helps you figure out what room size it can be installed in. You DO NOT want to install a ventless fireplace that is to large for a specific size room. This is what causes issues with carbon monoxide and oxygen deletion. You cannot use a ventless fireplace as a primary heating source, instead it should be considered as a secondary source, but can provide heat during periods when the electricity is out.

Ventless Fireplace Fuel Options

A ventless fireplace does not use wood as its fuel, this is the reason it’s not required to use an emissions system. Gas and the other fuels used have a much lower emission rate and can successfully be vented into the enclosed area safely; however it’s important to follow all safety rules with ventless fireplaces to prevent oxygen depletion. Below is formation about the 2 different types of fuel that can be used in a ventless fireplace system.

Gas – Natural gas, propane and other gas sources can be used to fuel your ventless fireplace. The most common two are natural gas and propane. Using a natural gas source will require a connection to the gas line and ventless fireplace. Propane fueled ventless fireplaces can access the fuel via a line connected to a propane container; always follow all safety rules and producers with propane ventless fireplaces. Natural gas fueled ventless fireplaces require a little more installation due to the connection required to the gas line and\or propane source.

Gel Fuel – A gel fuel can also be used in specific ventless fireplaces. Instead of a connection to a natural gas or propane line you buy cans that are placed inside the ventless fireplace. Gel fireplaces are generally cheaper than gas fueled ventless fireplaces, but tends to produce less heat. Specific brands of ventless fireplace fuel can even produce the crackling noise and smells of a traditional fireplace.

Ventless Fireplace Designs

Since ventless fireplaces don’t require an emissions system they can in much more elaborate designs and styles. You’ll find they have ventless fireplaces that can be place along the wall, fitted into the corner, suited for outside use and even ventless fireplaces that you can hang on the wall. Some manufactures of ventless fireplaces also accept custom orders to match your home decor exactly; however this does raise the cost of the unit.

Ventless Fireplace Summary

When used properly and according to manufactures safety rules a ventless fireplace can be a nice alternate source of heating and add much desired aesthetics to any room in your household. If your planning on getting a natural gas powered ventless fireplace it’s a good idea to pre-plan where it’s going to be located and how you’ll access the gas line in your house; remember you don’t want to get your ventless fireplace home and realize you need to tear up half your house to accept the line. Worst case scenario if the worked required is too much you can go with a gel based ventless fireplace, they look the same if not with better aesthetics results. They do tend to produce less heat than the gas fueled units, but remember ventless fireplaces are alternate sources of heat.