Combustion products need to be vented to the outside.
First of all, let’s call it what it really is. The industry likes the term “vent-free” when talking about gas fireplaces that keep all the exhaust gases in your home. I prefer the term “ventless” or, even better, “unvented.” Some people suggest “room-vented” or “lung-vented.”
Not a huge deal, but the ventless gas industry wants you to feel that you’re being liberated of a burden by not having an exhaust vent. I think it’s important for people to know that they’re actually missing something important when they go with a ventless gas appliance.
I once did an inspection for a guy who had installed thee or four of those throughout his house and he bragged to me during the inspection about how he could heat his whole house with them for half the cost of his furnace. He did this by using his A/C air handler in the attic and the furnace blower in the basement. The basement had a dehumidifier but the problem with his theory was that the attic unit had all kinds of leakage. When I stepped through the scuttle into the attic, it felt like entering a greenhouse. I had come on the day when all the frost buildup from weeks of pumping moist combustion air into his attic was in the process of melting. It was literally raining from the nail tips and the mold was on everything. But he thought he had HVAC figured out.
I just tell my clients that in the hands of the average home owner theses units cause more headaches than they solve and finding a different heat source would be preferred.
A company called Fireplace Creations by BMC](http://www.fireplacecreationsbybmc.com/fireplaces.php), which sells gas fireplaces, writes on their website, [FONT=OpenSans]"[/FONT]After doing research, we decided we would never put a vent-free (room vented) appliance into our home. Because of this decision, we didn’t believe it would be right to sell them to our customers."
A fellow who calls himself The Gasman on Epinions.com](http://www.epinions.com/user-the_gas_man) writes, [FONT=OpenSans]“Choose a vented space heater or gas fireplace, and prove to our future generations that we have indeed learned something from our cave dwelling ancestors.” His article in the Choose a Space Heater section, is titled Is Choosing A Vent-Free Gas Fireplace Stupid or Foolish?.. You Decide.](http://www.epinions.com/content_3647578244)[/FONT]
Letters From Vent-Free Gas Fireplace Owners http://www.dukefire.com/articles/article/3941815/60120.htm
They stink, they dump unnecessary moisture in the air, most of them are a burn hazard for children, they often produce soot due to flame interference, the moisture they produce stains the walls and ceiling as it condensates and collects dust and dirt, moisture condensates on windows and doors and damages finished and grows mold… Based on 10 years of personal experience having inspected hundreds of homes with them installed.
And often they are the primary heat source for the rooms they are installed in around here.
I don’t know what you are referring to when you talk about calling your clients stupid. I don’t do that as it’s unprofessional.
I agree, everything is safer when properly maintained, operated and monitored under ideal conditions. I look forward to heaven too. I still don’t know why you are talking about treating your clients as if they are not bright, that’s not professional at all. I try to educate mine in the short time I have and treat them all with respect. YMMV
I still don’t know why you are talking about treating your clients as if they are not bright, that’s not professional at all. I try to educate mine in the short time I have and treat them all with respect. YMMV