In my house - which I've owned for about 18 months now, there's a
fireplace with a natural gas burning log set... wifey and I were
looking at it last night, trying to figure out if it actually threw
any heat - or was it purely for the nice-fire-burning-atmosphere...
anyways, I turned the gas off months ago when we bombed the house for
bugs. And I couldn't get it lit and didn't want to spend all night on
it. That's not my question.

In the course of looking at the fireplace, I noticed that something
was placed in the damper to keep it from closing fully. But oddly
enough no cold air was blowing down the chimney...

The question - since the damper is open, I am now questioning whether
or not the log set is vented or vent free. Is there a way to tell?

wrote:
In my house - which I've owned for about 18 months now, there's a
fireplace with a natural gas burning log set... wifey and I were
looking at it last night, trying to figure out if it actually threw
any heat - or was it purely for the nice-fire-burning-atmosphere...
anyways, I turned the gas off months ago when we bombed the house for
bugs. And I couldn't get it lit and didn't want to spend all night on
it. That's not my question.

In the course of looking at the fireplace, I noticed that something
was placed in the damper to keep it from closing fully. But oddly
enough no cold air was blowing down the chimney...

Because your warmer room air was moving up the chimney?
Burn a cig or some paper dear the damper and watch where
the smoke goes.

The question - since the damper is open, I am now questioning whether
or not the log set is vented or vent free. Is there a way to tell?

Well with the current 'slightly open' damper, it IS vented. Burning
gas needs to be vented.

Oh pshaw, on Tue 11 Dec 2007 08:16:34p, meant to say...

In my house - which I've owned for about 18 months now, there's a
fireplace with a natural gas burning log set... wifey and I were
looking at it last night, trying to figure out if it actually threw
any heat - or was it purely for the nice-fire-burning-atmosphere...
anyways, I turned the gas off months ago when we bombed the house for
bugs. And I couldn't get it lit and didn't want to spend all night on
it. That's not my question.

In the course of looking at the fireplace, I noticed that something
was placed in the damper to keep it from closing fully. But oddly
enough no cold air was blowing down the chimney...

The question - since the damper is open, I am now questioning whether
or not the log set is vented or vent free. Is there a way to tell?


I can't speak to your damper or chimney, but I know of no open fired log
set that does not need venting. There are plenty of sealed log
fireplaces/inserts that do not require chiney vented They are usually
vented through the rear wall, but that doesn't sound like what you have.
Make sure you have a working vent to avoid cabon monoxide buildup. It culd
kill you.

--
Wayne Boatwright

Date: Tuesday, December(XII) 11th(XI),2007(MMVII)

*******************************************
Countdown 'til Christmas
1wks 4dys 13hrs 20mins 56secs
*******************************************
If you don't get everything you want,
think of the things you *don't* get
that you don't want.

On Dec 11, 9:44 pm, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
Oh pshaw, on Tue 11 Dec 2007 08:16:34p, meant to say...

In my house - which I've owned for about 18 months now, there's a
fireplace with a natural gas burning log set... wifey and I were
looking at it last night, trying to figure out if it actually threw
any heat - or was it purely for the nice-fire-burning-atmosphere...
anyways, I turned the gas off months ago when we bombed the house for
bugs. And I couldn't get it lit and didn't want to spend all night on
it. That's not my question.

In the course of looking at the fireplace, I noticed that something
was placed in the damper to keep it from closing fully. But oddly
enough no cold air was blowing down the chimney...

The question - since the damper is open, I am now questioning whether
or not the log set is vented or vent free. Is there a way to tell?

I can't speak to your damper or chimney, but I know of no open fired log
set that does not need venting. There are plenty of sealed log
fireplaces/inserts that do not require chiney vented They are usually
vented through the rear wall, but that doesn't sound like what you have.
Make sure you have a working vent to avoid cabon monoxide buildup. It culd
kill you.

--
Wayne Boatwright

Date: Tuesday, December(XII) 11th(XI),2007(MMVII)

*******************************************
Countdown 'til Christmas
1wks 4dys 13hrs 20mins 56secs
*******************************************
If you don't get everything you want,
think of the things you *don't* get
that you don't want.

Alot of money is going up an unsealed chimney , its like an open
window.

On Dec 12, 6:44 am, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
Oh pshaw, on Tue 11 Dec 2007 08:16:34p, meant to say...

In my house - which I've owned for about 18 months now, there's a
fireplace with a natural gas burning log set... wifey and I were
looking at it last night, trying to figure out if it actually threw
any heat - or was it purely for the nice-fire-burning-atmosphere...
anyways, I turned the gas off months ago when we bombed the house for
bugs. And I couldn't get it lit and didn't want to spend all night on
it. That's not my question.

In the course of looking at the fireplace, I noticed that something
was placed in the damper to keep it from closing fully. But oddly
enough no cold air was blowing down the chimney...

The question - since the damper is open, I am now questioning whether
or not the log set is vented or vent free. Is there a way to tell?

I can't speak to your damper or chimney, but I know of no open fired log
set that does not need venting. There are plenty of sealed log
fireplaces/inserts that do not require chiney vented They are usually
vented through the rear wall, but that doesn't sound like what you have.
Make sure you have a working vent to avoid cabon monoxide buildup. It culd
kill you.

--
Wayne Boatwright

Date: Tuesday, December(XII) 11th(XI),2007(MMVII)

*******************************************
Countdown 'til Christmas
1wks 4dys 13hrs 20mins 56secs
*******************************************
If you don't get everything you want,
think of the things you *don't* get
that you don't want.

Yes but as with any gas burning appliance is it not mandatrory that
you have CO detector.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:

Make sure you have a working vent to avoid cabon monoxide buildup. It culd
kill you.

Lots of gas appliances are unvented, safely.

Nick

Oh pshaw, on Wed 12 Dec 2007 04:08:30a, meant to say...

Wayne Boatwright wrote:

Make sure you have a working vent to avoid cabon monoxide buildup. It
culd kill you.

Lots of gas appliances are unvented, safely.

Nick



Most of the types of gas logs that are intended to be placed over a gas jet
in the fireplace are not designed for unvented use.

--
Wayne Boatwright

Date: Tuesday, December(XII) 11th(XI),2007(MMVII)

*******************************************
Countdown 'til Christmas
1wks 4dys 13hrs 20mins 56secs
*******************************************
If you don't get everything you want,
think of the things you *don't* get
that you don't want.

On Dec 11, 10:44 pm, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

I can't speak to your damper or chimney, but I know of no open fired log
set that does not need venting.

????? Huh ???? I've been using an unvented gas log set for almost
10 years in my basement/family room. It was purchased from a gas log
fireplace store and they sell LOTS of different unvented units. My
flue is closed and virtually all of the heat comes into the room
rather than up the chimney. I have a CO detector in the nearby
hallway and have NEVER had a problem with CO buildup, moisture, etc
etc etc. My family and pets are all still alive and kicking.

--Jeff

Oh pshaw, on Fri 14 Dec 2007 06:27:57a, Jeff B meant to say...

On Dec 11, 10:44 pm, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

I can't speak to your damper or chimney, but I know of no open fired log
set that does not need venting.

????? Huh ???? I've been using an unvented gas log set for almost
10 years in my basement/family room. It was purchased from a gas log
fireplace store and they sell LOTS of different unvented units. My
flue is closed and virtually all of the heat comes into the room
rather than up the chimney. I have a CO detector in the nearby
hallway and have NEVER had a problem with CO buildup, moisture, etc
etc etc. My family and pets are all still alive and kicking.

--Jeff


Obviously there are different designs and requirements for different log
sets. The logs we had in our home in Ohio definitely required venting. It
was indicated in the owner's manual and stated clearly by the isntaller.

--
Wayne Boatwright

Date: Dec 13,2007

*******************************************
Countdown 'til Christmas
1wks 2dys 5hrs 45mins 41secs
*******************************************
Did you really expect mere proof to
sway my opinion? HA!
*******************************************

On Dec 11, 10:16 pm, wrote:
In my house - which I've owned for about 18 months now, there's a
fireplace with a natural gas burning log set... wifey and I were
looking at it last night, trying to figure out if it actually threw
any heat - or was it purely for the nice-fire-burning-atmosphere...
anyways, I turned the gas off months ago when we bombed the house for
bugs. And I couldn't get it lit and didn't want to spend all night on
it. That's not my question.

In the course of looking at the fireplace, I noticed that something
was placed in the damper to keep it from closing fully. But oddly
enough no cold air was blowing down the chimney...

The question - since the damper is open, I am now questioning whether
or not the log set is vented or vent free. Is there a way to tell?


The only way to tell (safely) is to get the manufacturer and model#
off the unit, and check with the manufacturer.

I don't think you could tell by looking.


Dave