In recent decades the popularity of open wood fires has been declining, due partly to the recognition that they are not very heat efficient (up to 90% of heat being lost up the chimney), and perhaps more importantly due to the lack of desire by work-weary people to set and tend an open fire. Since 2000 the sales of gas and other fireplace appliances has risen by over 500% as people look for an easier and more efficient means of heating and once the benefits of converting conventional fireplaces to gas become apparent, consumers look for appliances to heat rooms that have no fireplace or chimney. Consequently there has been a surge in demand for ventless fireplaces to give this flexibility.
So now if you wished to enjoy a working fireplace in your home, but don't think you can afford it or didn't want to go through the mess of remodelling to add a chimney or vent, then a ventless fireplace such as a gas ventless fireplace is readily available. Like more traditional fireplaces these ventless fireplaces come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and are designed to fit almost any size and budget. Similarly they are available for most fuels such as ventless propane fireplaces, natural gas ventless fireplaces and gel fuel ventless fireplaces. This flexibility allows someone living in a tenth floor apartment the opportunity of enjoying a working fireplace and of homeowners cutting damp-inducing holes in walls to accommodate new vents.
A simple ventless gas fireplace is easy to install, most coming with the necessary connectors for either natural gas or more commonly propane. These appliances usually take the form of ventless fireplace logs and come with a certified vent free firebox providing more heat for less cost because they operate with the chimney damper closed to prevent heat loss. As a result ventless gas fireplaces can produce up to 40000 BTU's and require no electricity thus providing heat during power cuts. For safety reasons both ventless propane fireplaces and ventless natural gas fireplaces include oxygen depletion sensors (ODS) that protect against oxygen depletion in the room by automatically shutting off the gas flow to the burner.
Also available are ventless fireplace inserts, available in a wide variety of styles and sizes are gel ventless fireplaces. These burn an all-natural alcohol fuel in the form of a gel that is 100% efficient and ecologically sound coming in reusable containers that last up to four hours. Their ease of installation makes them an ideal heating solution.
Freestanding ventless fireplaces are nearly 100% heat efficient providing up to 25000 BTU's and can provide adequate heat and ambience to a den, basement, sun room, glazed porch, etc. They only need a six inch clearance, can work on either natural gas or propane, need no electricity and have the all important oxygen depletion sensor (ODS).
Ventless fireplaces especially ventless gas fireplaces are approved in most states but prohibited in others e.g. California . Why is this So? Basically the description as ventless is misleading as they are in fact room-vented and this raises two distinct and significant health and safety issues. Firstly they can lead to excessive moisture condensation because when gas burns it produces water vapour which can lead to fungus and mould growth with their inherent health disadvantages. Secondly a burner not operating at its optimum will produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and so a working oxygen depletion sensor must be fitted. Ventless electric fireplaces offer a safer alternative but are susceptible to power cuts. For the best advice on installing gas ventless fireplaces or problems with ventless gas fireplaces there are many local ventless fireplace dealers. Surfing the web will show the many designs available from custom made ventless fireplace mantels to the wide range of gel ventless fireplaces.
