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Chimney & Fireplaces/Mismatched Fireplace and Gas Logs

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Expert: - 1/11/2008


Question
I recently bought a house with a woodburning fireplace box(vented) that has a ventless gas logs installed in it. One propane company would not service me because of the mismatched systems (vented box and ventless logs). They said the vented box is not made for ventless gas logs, it's a structural hazard and that they would have to lock the flue completely open in order for me to use it properly. Other propane companies are telling me it doesn't matter. Who's telling the truth?

Answer
Tiffany,

It sounds like you have a factory built fireplace intended for venting gas or wood. Naturally if you had a field constructed masonry system, it wouldn't matter. In this case you will need the blessing of the manufacture of the factory built fireplace. You may be able to find a listing label and not the manufacture and model number that way, or you can have your system inspected to the NFPA-211 level II standard and find out that way. I recommend the later as there may be other concerns with the system as well. May newer FBF's don't allow ventless systems as they produce more concentrated heat that the system was not tested for. As a side note, I don't care for the ventless product as a safety concern. Good luck.

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Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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