The Risks of Non-Vented Propane Fireplaces

Operation

• Non-vented propane fireplaces require a propane-filled tank to be attached to the fireplace mechanism to be used as fuel. The propane tank may be accessed from outside the home, using a gas line into the home and attached to the fireplace; or the tank may be part of the fireplace and sit inside the home. The fireplace is not vented, meaning that it does not have a flue that sends combustion exhaust outside the home. Instead, the combustion exhaust is released into its surrounding area.

Moisture

• Water vapor is produced during the combustion of propane gas. Because the non-vented fireplace uses the home's air supply for combustion, the water vapor it produces returns into the home. Water vapor is moisture, and moisture can damage drywall and gather on and around windows, eventually rotting wood sills and sashes. The moisture also creates high humidity in the home and encourages the growth of mold, bacteria and dust mites.

Fumes

• The fumes from non-vented propane fireplaces can be harmful. Although the fireplaces are designed to emit as little pollution into the home as possible, the Environmental Protection Agency warns that indoor air quality can be compromised when outdoor venting is not used. The EPA does not support the use of a non-vented model in the home. Possible damaging fumes released into the home include carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Most models purchased after 1980 should have an oxygen depletion sensor built into the fireplace. The sensor shuts off the propane fireplace when the oxygen level in the room begins to drop past a designated point. However, for the safety of occupants, a monitoring detector for both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide should be placed in the room where the non-vented propane fireplace is used.

Soot

• Soot can also be released from a non-vented propane fireplace. Soot can damage walls and furnishings, such as carpet and upholstery. The damage shows up as a dark or black residue that covers the wall surface, or that embeds into carpet fibers or the details of upholstery around the piping and across the edges of pillows or the backs of sofas and chairs. Besides being difficult to remove, soot, like fumes, can be harmful to the lungs and eyes, causing irritation and possibly resulting in long-term damage.