Is Ventless Gas Right For Me?

Ventless is a "Buzz Word" in Southern Illinois these days. Although Dogwood Fireplace and Lawn has been selling Ventless for almost 20 years, we have seen a fantastic rise in their popularity during the last five years. They produce lots of heat, are cheap to operate, and easy to install. There are no short-term safety concerns (assuming proper installation, operation, and maintenance.)

There are, however, several issues that you need to consider:

1. Odor - People with sensitive noses will complain they "smell gas." What they are actually smelling is not gas, but the residue from burning dust, lint, pet hair, perfume, etc...... All of which are drawn to the flame and burnt.
2. Long Term HEalth - Consumer Reports Magazine and certain public health organizations are quite concerned about neagative health consequences of long-term exposure to small amounts of CO, NO2, and fine particles. All of these are exhausted back into the air you breathe by a Ventless unit.
3. Too much heat - The only way to get all the looks is with the heat all the way up. With a large ventless unit , you may have to settle for watching the pilot light half the time.

Our Recommendations:

1. Ventless should NOT be used if there are children under 10, adults over 70, anyone with asthma, respiratory problems, dust allergies, winter sinus problems, or a highly sensitive sense of smell.
2. The only brand of Ventless fireplace we recommend for new construction is Empire, with the exclusive fresh air intake. Even then a Direct Vent fireplace is a better idea.

Additional Ventless Facts:

The latest scientific studies from the American Gas Association (The U.L. of Gas) state that by the time you subtract the energy required to boil off the water in gas, the efficiency of ventless products drops to 90.4%. For example, a 30,000 BTU ventless product will put 4.8 gallons of water into the heated space in a 24-hour period. In addition, if you must crack open a window to provide ventilation (consult your owner's manual) you must subtract an additional 5 to 10%, leaving ventless with a net efficiency of 80.4% to 85.4%.

Our trained staff will be happy to assist you in selecting the right gas fireplace for you!