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Anyone planning to install a vent free appliance such: as vent-free gas logs or a vent- free fireplace, have questions due to common misconceptions; here's some information below to help understand the vent-free option a little better.
The installed vent-free appliance receives air for combustion from the room it is providing heat to. Needing no outside ventilation, it makes the vent-free appliance 99.9% efficient. The installation of a vent-free appliance is popular amongst homeowners due to low installation costs. Vent-free appliances when properly installed and serviced will work well and safely. Being that vent-free appliances are 99.9% efficient, they are used as a supplemental heat source. A question customer asks before purchasing a vent -free appliance is, will I get carbon monoxide in my home? The byproducts of efficient combustion are heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon monoxide your vent-free appliance will produce is about the equivalence of a burning candle. Every vent-free appliance is tested by the manufacturer before it is packaged to make sure that it operates safely. A cooking stove produces more carbon monoxide than any vent-free appliance. All vent-free appliances are also equipped with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor, which will shut the unit down before oxygen drops to unsafe levels. It is always recommended that you put a carbon monoxide detector in every room that has a gas appliance including vent-free appliances.
Another misconception about vent-free appliances is they give off an odor while in use. If your vent-free appliance is giving off an odor this is because of impurities in the air, such as air fresheners, cleaning odors, construction odors, etc. Make sure your appliance is cleaned seasonally to remove any dust or debris that may accumulate on the appliance. It is also noteworthy that the vent-free fireplace produces water vapor which can act as a humidifier in the winter time, providing much-needed moisture to a dry environment. Your vent-free appliance will add about 1 gallon of water vapor into the air within a 4-hour period. It is also important to size a vent-free appliance for the size of the room. A large, open space, such as a living room, can handle a vent-free appliance with a 25,000 BTU or higher output. For smaller rooms, such as a bedroom or bathroom, a vent-free appliance can be sized down to 5,000 BTUs.
Always remember to check your local codes before installing a vent-free appliance and have a Qualified installer perform your installation to assure your appliance is properly installed and will work safely.
