Keeping a fire lit takes different factors including air and fuel for burning. The products of combustion include water vapor and carbon monoxide. … An outside air source is a vent that provides fresh air to feed the fire.
Fire requires oxygen, so any fireplace with real fire from a source such as wood or gas requires a renewable supply of incoming air. This is often referred to as “fresh air,” though the IRC also calls it “combustion air.”
Beside this, What are the vents around my fireplace?
Bottom Air Vent – The bottom air vent on Old-Style Heatilator Fireplaces are where cool room air is drawn into the fireplace. The air is then routed around the firebox and exits through the top air vent where it returns to the room as heated air.
Likewise, What does the outside air control do on a fireplace?
An outside air kit provides additional combustion air to the fireplace that feeds the fire with oxygen from outside your home. This will help the performance on any fireplace installed in tightly-constructed or well-insulated home.
Also, What are the vents above and below my fireplace?
Smoke Chamber – The area above the fireplace and below the flue, used to allow smoke to mix and rise into the flue. … Top Air Vent – The top air vent on an Old Style Heatilator Fireplace returns heated air into the room. The cool air enters a vent at the bottom of the Heatilator.
Can I cover the vents on my fireplace?
Fans can be disconnected or removed, of course, but the vents are not intended to be covered or plugged.
19 Related Question Answers Found
Do gas fireplaces need to vent outside?
They can be vented up through the roof or out to the side or back of a house; a perfect solution for homes without an existing chimney. Direct-vent units must, however, have a sealed glass door to maintain proper combustion and ensure efficiency and indoor air quality.
When should I close my fireplace vents?
When you aren’t using your fireplace, it should be closed to prevent heated and cooled air in your home from escaping. A closed damper also stops cold drafts from coming down the chimney. When you are using your fireplace, it needs to be open so that smoke can vent outside.
Should I close my chimney flue in the summer?
In the summer, a closed damper helps to keep cool, air-conditioned air inside the home where it belongs. 2. In the winter, when you’re not using the fireplace, a closed damper helps to keep cold air from swirling down into the house. … Closing the fireplace damper keeps these odors out of the house.
Is a fresh air intake necessary?
While not absolutely necessary, a properly insulated fresh-air intake duct attached to the return-air ducting for the heating system is a good idea to maintain healthy indoor air quality in your home.
What is the fan under the fireplace?
A fireplace fan blower uses a space behind the fireplace to heat up air before it’s blown out into the room. This conductive heat transfer uses new air pulled in through vents, not air from your fire. This means the draft of your fireplace unit is not affected at all.
Do fireplaces have vents?
But all other fireplaces, stoves and inserts—whether their fuel source is gas, wood or pellets—rely on some type of venting to circulate fresh air inside, and to ensure that harmful combustion byproducts are removed from a home’s indoor air.
What is the little lever on the side of my fireplace?
The second handle you may find in your fireplace (usually located on the left inside panel) is a control lever for the outside air kit. When burning your fireplace, the outside air kit lever should always be in the open (or up) position. The outside air kit is designed to provide additional air for combustion.
What are the vents on my fireplace for?
A fully open vent allows the smoke to travel up the chimney. It also allows fresh air to feed the fire and keep it burning.
Can you put a gas fireplace outside?
And outdoor gas fireplace can be a great addition to any outdoor living space, creating a natural gathering place that can be used for cooking or just enjoyed by friends and family in cozy comfort. Outdoor gas fireplaces have become an increasingly common sight in backyards, or on decks or patios.
Is a blower necessary for a gas fireplace?
Your fireplace or stove, whether it’s wood or gas, can be operated with or without a fan. Without a fan, you will get the radiant heat from the glass and the front of your fireplace. Without a fan, you will get radiant heat from the front, both sides, the top and even the back of your stove.
How do fireplace vents work?
Direct-vent fireplaces work by employing outside air rather than air inside the home for combustion. The air comes in through a double vent pipe’s outer chamber, while the inside chamber is used to send exhaust fumes outside the home. A loop is created as warm air leaves the pipe and dense, cooler air is brought in.
Does a house need a fresh air intake?
Fresh air intakes are necessary for any home that has a furnace. Whether you have a conventional furnace or a high-efficiency option installed, there are downsides to not having a functional, fresh air intake.
Last Updated: 8 days ago – Co-authors : 14 – Users : 4