Direct Vent Fireplace Concerns

Function

• A direct-vent fireplace uses coaxial piping to transfer emissions to the outside of the house. This type of fireplace venting system works well in newer, airtight homes. Because the unit requires "zero clearance," it is popular for areas with limited space for a fireplace installation. For safety reasons, most product manufacturers and municipal building codes requires professional technicians to install the unit, gas line and electrical hookups.

Venting

• The vent pipe consists of a smaller pipe inside of a larger pipe. The large pipe pulls in outside air to aid with the combustion process. The smaller pipe exhausts byproducts from the unit to the outside. The vent pipes on these units get extremely hot. When running pipe in walls or ceilings, most building code regulations and manufacturer specifications require passing the pipe through a wall thimble or ceiling collar. These galvanized-steel devices ensure the proper clearance between pipes and combustible material, such as wall studs and ceiling joists. Make sure the pipes are properly sealed to prevent toxins from leaking into the home.

Extreme Heat

• These types of fireplace have very high surface temperatures, especially the tempered glass, which keeps byproducts from the combustion process from leaking into the house. Place the unit away from drapery and furnishings to avoid igniting. Households with children or pets must exercise extreme care with direct-vent fireplaces. Do not leave children unsupervised in the room with the unit in operation. Many homeowners purchase direct-vent fireplaces with protective mesh screens. The position of the screen provides an added measure of protection between the glass and possible contact with humans or pets.

Pilot

• The pilot on direct fireplaces should ignite immediately. The flame should not "lift" off the burner. Sometimes the mechanism may go out or fail to light properly. As a result, gas may accumulate inside the firebox. If any of these problems exist, shut off the unit, open a window, and call a technician to service the unit. The burners and other compartments require regular cleaning because of lint, carpeting, bedding material and pet hairs that may accumulate.