Direct vent fireplaces and stoves

Direct-vent fireplaces and stoves are prefabricated from metal and they do not demand a foundation or a chimney. They are typically gas-fired: they burn natural gas or propane.

Direct-vent fireplaces and stoves use a small pipe within a large pipe in order to draw combustion air from the outside (through the outer pipe), while the inner pipe vents the exhaust fumes.

They are a direct alternative to natural-vent (also called B-vent) and non-vented gas stoves and fireplaces.

Natural vent vs. Direct vent gas fireplaces and stoves

Natural-vent gas fireplaces and stoves use indoor air for combustion (instead of outside air as direct-vent fireplaces and stoves). In other words: they take air from inside the home to burn, and they exhaust gases outdoors by a vertical pipe that goes to the roof.

These features of natural-vend gas fireplaces and stoves turn them less efficient than direct-vent gas solutions. They favor heat to escape, and their design may cause back-drafting: instead of exhausting gases outdoors, the indoor air pulls those gases back into the house.

Non-vented vs. Direct vent gas fireplaces and stoves

Non-vented gas appliances are neither safe nor efficient. And, by these reasons, aren’t allowed in several states. They are cheap solutions, and that’s their only attractive.

See: Vent-free stoves and gas fireplaces.

Features of direct vent fireplaces and stoves

Direct-vent appliances can vent vertically (through the roof, without the requirement of a chimney), or horizontally (through an outside wall).

Direct-vent appliances have safe glass doors, able to prevent leaks of fume into the house, and demand finishing elements as a fireboard.

Many models come also with fans to improve air circulation.

Installation

Direct vent stoves and fireplaces are relatively easy to install. Wall-mounted vents (or roof-mounted vents), and the pipes and passageways demanded by the system, are usually easy to mount and implement.

Suitability

Direct-vent fireplaces and stoves are particularly suitable for new, well-insulated homes and, of course, homes without chimney.

Direct-vent appliances & Environment

Direct-vent fireplaces and stoves are efficient appliances. They extract most of the heat from natural gas and propane, polluting very little. They are largely preferable to traditional fireplaces and stoves, but there are excellent alternatives to them like pellet stoves and pellet fireplaces and inserts…

Disadvantages

Direct-vent stoves and fireplaces are more costly than vent-free gas appliances (or even many solutions based on existing chimneys).

Advantages

Direct-vent appliances have several advantages over traditional gas fireplaces in terms of safety, efficiency, and versatility.