Different Ways of Exhausting Odors and Pollutants
If you already decided to buy a gas fireplace in Colorado, then you would have to choose how to exhaust odors and pollutants. There are four ways to route venting:
1- B-Vent
Also known as natural-vent, these type of units draw combustion air from inside the home and takes advantage of a factory-built metal chimney or an existing masonry chimney. Room air discharges combustion by-products to the outside through a single pipe or a flexible liner installed within the chimney.
2- Direct-Vent
Direct-vent gas-burning manufactured fireplaces are considered to be the safest option for supplemental heating, the gas fireplace as it draws in outdoor air for combustion, and then takes spent air outside through a dual venting system. In other words, they are vented outside the home without a flue and pipes can be installed through the wall. This means that odors and pollutants will be vented outside of your home and not in the air they breathe.
3- Ventless
This venting option uses catalytic converter technology which cleans the hot air as it leaves the combustion chamber. Because of this technology does not require a chimney, you can install a vent-free gas fireplace almost anywhere. Keep in mind that ventless units exhaust a low level of their combustion byproducts into the room in which they are installed.
If your main concern is aesthetics energy efficiency and supplemental space heating this ventilation alternative is for you.
4- Power Vent
Power-vented units have a fan-powered accessory located along the vent to boost the air exchange. This allows for longer vent runs.
Use this venting option whenever direct venting is impractical for structural reasons.
Regardless of the venting option you choose, contact Hi-Tech Appliance to install your fireplace in Colorado. We carry the best fireplace brands in the market, including Napoleon, Majestic, and DutchWest.
