Vented Gas Logs: The Advantages and Disadvantages

If you want gas logs for your fireplace, you will have to choose between vented or vent-free designs. Vented gas logs have a few advantages and disadvantages when compared to their ventless cousins. This article will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of vented gas logs. Advantages: One of the first advantages of vented gas logs deals with the flame. These logs have a more realistic flame that look like a real wood fire. The flame will move around the logs just like real burning logs. The flame produced by vented gas logs is also much taller than that produced by vent-free logs. Another advantage of vented gas logs deals with the smell. These logs are burned with the damper open, so the smell will escape through the chimney. Unlike vented gas logs, the vent-free variety are operated with the damper closed, so the smell will stay inside. Some people say that the smell is similar to that generated by burning kerosene. One of the next advantages of vented gas logs deals with moisture. Vent-free logs burn gas cleanly which will produce water as a byproduct. This excess moisture can lead to problems with mildew or mold. You won't have this problem with vented gas logs. One of the final advantages of vented gas logs deals with carbon monoxide. The vent-free variety can't be used for extended periods of time without providing adequate ventilation. Since there is the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, these logs have to come with an oxygen depletion system and a carbon monoxide detector. Vented gas logs don't need to have these safety features. Disadvantages: One of the first disadvantages of vented gas logs is their heat output. Vent-free designs produce more heat than the vented variety. Therefore, vented gas logs may not produce enough heat to heat up your room completely. Another disadvantage of vented gas logs is their efficiency. Vent-free logs are 99.9% efficient. They consume slightly less gas than the other design. Vented gas logs also produce more pollution. These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of vented gas logs. They produce a more realistic flame that will move around like the flame on a real wood burning fire. These logs also don't produce the smell that vent-free designs do. However, vented gas logs produce less heat, so they may not heat up your entire room. Vented designs also are slightly less efficient as they consume more gas.