We are seeing more ventless fireplaces, also known as “duct-free” fireplaces, in Gainesville homes over the last few years. They have several advantages over a regular fireplace:
-
•Nearly 100% energy efficiency. A traditional, ducted fireplace, sends much of the heat up the flue/chimney, while a ventless fireplace retains the heat in the home.
-
•Releases less harmful gases than some other heating alternatives.
-
•Builders like them because they don’t have the design limitations or additional cost of configuring a flue to the exterior. A ventless fireplace can be located almost anywhere in the home.
However, there is a downside to the convenience and ease of installation. Here’s an excerpt from an article about the controversy regarding the safety of ventless fireplaces by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI):
Despite their name, they vent unburned combustion byproducts directly into the living space. Traditional fireplaces, by contrast, are equipped with a flue that vents to the outdoors, saving humans and their pets from exposure to the bulk of the carbon monoxide (CO) and airborne particulates created by the fire. As a less serious yet still important side note, ventless fireplaces create high levels of water vapor, which can lead to mold growth and a variety of other moisture-related building problems. Mold can be a serious health hazard for at-risk individuals, and it can damage fabric, photographs, books and building materials.
