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Vented - vs - Vent Free Gas Logs
Find out which is best for your home...vented or ventless!

Basic Overview

Vented Gas Logs Require a Fully Functional Wood Burning Fireplace, Ventless (or Vent Free) Gas Logs can be installed in either a wood burning fireplace, or a ventless fireplace that is rated for aftermarket ventless logs. Ventless gas logs will produce more heat, while vented gas logs will look much more realistic. Read the Pros and Cons of each below:

Vented Gas Logs:

However, In most cases, you can offset this heat loss by slightly closing the damper...but you must be careful that the exhaust from your logs is not coming into the room because, just like burning real wood, it contains Carbon Monoxide. A good way to test this is to turn on your gas logs with the damper slightly closed. Hold a lighter or candle in front of the fireplace opening near the top. If the flame from the lighter (candle) is being drawn in toward the fireplace, then you are OK. If the flame is standing still or pushed out toward the room, then your fireplace is not drafting enough and you must open the damper more.

Positive Features of Vented Gas Logs:

1. Extremely realistic flame pattern that looks like a wood fire.
2. Flame is much taller than ventless logs
3. Flame dances and wraps around logs like real wood.
4. Does not require a CO2 detector
5. Since the damper is open, most of the smell will go up the chimney

Negative Features of Vented Gas Logs:

Do's and Dont's for Vented Gas Logs
(Additional information you should read before buying Ventless Gas Logs)

1. Less heat than ventless logs (probably won't heat your room)
2. Uses slightly more gas than ventless logs

Check out some Vented Gas Log Installation Manuals Here before you purchase.

Ventless Gas Logs:

The beauty of this type of system is that 99.9% of the heat produced by the gas logs goes into the room, so they produce substantially more heat than their vented counter-parts. However, there are many negative features commonly associated with ventless logs that you must be aware of before you decide to purchase them:

Positive Features of Ventless Gas Logs:

1. Much better heat output than vented gas logs
2. Less pollution
3. Slightly less gas consumption

Negative Features of Ventless Gas Logs:

Do's and Dont's for Ventless Gas Logs
(Additional information you should read before buying Ventless Gas Logs)

1. The main byproducts of burning gas cleanly are Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor. Because of this, ventless gas logs will introduce excess moisture into your home which can result in mold or mildew.
2. You must be careful not to burn your ventless logs for extended periods of time with windows closed, otherwise they can potentially deplete the oxygen in your home.
3. If you burn your ventless logs for more than an hour or so, you must crack open a window to allow air into your home to replace the oxygen burned by the ventless logs. This will introduce cold air into the room and offset some of the heating benefits that ventless logs claim to have.
4. Ventless logs produce an odor that many people equate to the smell of burning kerosene. So if you have a sensitive nose, you may not be able to handle the smell and will be greatly dissatisfied with ventless logs. On the other hand, we've heard some people who like the smell because it reminds them of their childhood days at Grandma's house. (Read Why Ventless Gas Logs Smell)
5. Ventless logs can cause eye irritation and coughing spells to those who are sensitive.
6. Ventless logs are not legal in California as well as some cities and municipalities. However, you can still purchase ventless logs from us if you live in California...you will just have to burn them with the damper open (which really defeats the purpose).
7. Ventless logs are required to have an ODS (oxygen depletion system) as well as a CO2 detector...which might tell you that there are some risks involved in operating them if these systems fail.
8. The flame pattern with ventless logs is not nearly as realistic in comparison to vented logs. Because the gas must burn cleanly, the flame height is very low, it is more blue than yellow and appears to be more nerveous and less lofty.
9. Also, you will find that the flame does not dance around like a real wood fire and very little of the flame actually touches the logs. The reason for this is that when the flame touches the logs, it gets cooled off and does not burn cleanly and starts to produce soot and exhaust gases.
10. Installing vent-free gas logs is not a DIY job. Installation must be performed by a professional who can do the proper tests on your gas pressure and make sure that the installation meets building codes and follows the specifications required.
11. Clearances to combustables is different than that of wood buring fires or vented gas logs. If there is a mantel above the fireplace, you may need to install a hood to divert heat away from it. You should check the Installation Manual for the Ventless Logs for clearance requirements before you order them.
12. There are also BTU limitations based on the cubic feet of air available to your room. The maximum BTUs allowed is calculated using this formula: Room Width x Room Length x Ceiling Height x 20.
13. Ventless gas logs may not be legal in a bedroom or confined space (differs with local building codes).
14. Other restrictions apply with each of the various burner systems available, so again, you should read the installation manual pertaining to the ventless logs you are considering "Before You Purchase".

Bottom Line: We highly recommend that you purchase vented gas logs. You will be much happier with flame that they produce and less likely to experience discomfort from odors or irritation. We only recommend ventless logs when maximizing the heat output outweighs all of the other negative aspects.

• - All about gas logs (FAQ)
• - Where can Gas Logs be installed?
• - Installation manuals (pdf downloads)
• - Remote Gas Logs
• - How to Measure for Gas Logs
• - About R. H. Peterson
• - Vented -vs- Ventless
• - What states allow Ventless Logs?
• - Who makes the best logs?
• - Gas logs forum
• - Gaslog control options
• - Can I buy just logs?
• - Which burner is best?
• - All about safety pilots!
• - Ventless BTU calculator
• - Why ventless logs smell!
• - Gas logs are Green!
• - Who Installs Gas Logs?
• - Cost to burn gas logs
• - About Electronic Ignition Gas Logs

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