Expert: Steve Tavares - 9/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: i have a direct vent gas fireplace, taken out from a basement of my friendly where it was already installed. flexible pipe was used for both,  the intake and outward exhausts. 4 inch and 8 inch diameter. is this pipe safe or right to install with this gas direct vent fireplace.

ANSWER: Flex pipe is allowed on almost all fireplaces as long as the venting is approved with the unit (I would check with your local dealer who carries this particular type of fireplace). What they will typically ask is the make and the model of the fireplace and the venting. There is a small metal plate or sticker in the bottom of the fireplace that will tell you this. The venting will also be labeled.

When installing the fireplace one big thing to remember here is that the flex venting should have no rips in it (inner sleeve or outer sleeve).

If you need anymore info on this please let me know.

Thanks.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: there is no plate underneath this fireplace to find out the venting. i have requested lennox to send me mannual, then i can follow the instructions for venting.  i am installing this fireplace in the basement, where on the wall there is drywall sheets. should i keep the drywall away from the outer flex pipe so that it should not get heat.


ANSWER: The plate or sticker in the bottom of the fireplace should give the Model # and Make of the fireplace Manufacturer.

If you have the venting already for the fireplace there should be some sort of sticker (Hopefully) on the venting to show who made it and the model of this venting.

Now when venting in a basement up and out the wall there will be a "Termination Kit" that is supposed to be used with the fireplace. The Termination kit will come with the wall thimble, Which should consist of the part that is mounted on the outside wall and the part that is mounted inside the home on the wall.

You should also make sure that you have a copy of the fireplace Manual. The manual will go into specifics showing how this all comes together as well as the clearances.

The venting should be Minimum of 1" clearance on the sides and bottom of the pipe when it is horizontally run, and 3" on the top (Heat rises and therefore the top of the venting is hotter than the sides and bottom which is why 3" top clearance and 1" on the sides and bottom) when running the venting vertically then the clearance is 1" all around the venting.

Can you please do me a favor and if there is another question you have let me know the model of this fireplace and Make (which I believe you said was Lennox), and then I can try to find out some more information for you on this unit.

I hope this helps out. :D

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: model no. is GFP1-1, lennox, serial no. 6394f04573,

thanks very much for very useful and detailed information, i appreciate that.
it means if the outer diameter of the vent pipe is 7-1/2 inches. the hole in the wall should be 11-1/2 inches from top to bottom and 9-1/2 inches from right to left. and the vent pipe should not touch the wall surface. is this correct.


Answer
Ok, So i now have a .PDF of the manual I can e-mail you. If you want you can e-mail me at fireplaceandstoveman@gmail.com and I will email you the manual. In the manual it is more detailed than I can express and it will have all the pictures with it as well.

Talk to you soon.