Take a look at the example below, and click on it to get a bigger, readable version:ĭoes anyone honestly believe the installer is going to read these instructions, much less determine the correct row and column, and then calculate the net square inches? NO WAY. In my humble opinion, the installation instructions that come with these gas logs are nearly impossible to follow. To work properly, a damper clip needs to keep the damper open all the way, or at least most of the way. When the damper is mostly closed, most of the exhaust gases will still come back into the home. These damper clips usually allow the damper to close most of the way.

I’ve tested several damper clips to see just how effective they are, and most don’t do their job.

This damper clip will prevent the damper from closing all the way and is supposed to prevent the exhaust gases from coming back into the house. This will be required by the ANSI Standard that the gas log is built to, ANSI Z21.60. To make sure the damper never gets completely closed on a gas log fireplace, there must be a damper clip installed. These gases can contain high levels of carbon monoxide, making this a safety hazard.ĭamper clips are supposed to fix this issue. When the combustion gases from a gas log fireplace come back into the house, it’s not nearly as obvious in fact, it could be very easy to miss. While you have the same potential for this to happen with a wood-burning fireplace, it will be quite obvious if a wood-burning fire exhausts into the house everything is going to get very smoky, very quickly. What happens if the damper is closed? If the fireplace damper is closed when a gas log fireplace is operated, the combustion gases will come right into the house. These can also be listed as a heat source or not. It won’t have anything to do with a traditional fireplace. You might find it installed on an outside wall, an inside wall, freestanding, whatever. Gas fireplace: a standalone appliance.I’ve asked numerous fireplace experts about the difference between these two fireplaces, and their answer is always “the ANSI standard.” Very funny. You can’t tell the difference between the two without reading the listing tag inside of the unit. The other type is listed under ANSI Z21.50 as a decorative appliance only. There are two types of gas inserts one is listed under ANSI Z21.80 as a heat source. It’ll have its own enclosure, vent liner, glass front, all that jazz. Gas insert: a whole system installed in a masonry fireplace opening.I’ll admit, this is about as close as you’ll get to a wood fire without actually burning wood.

This is also known as a Decorative Appliance for Installation in a Fireplace, and you can find the installation rules under section 602 of the Minnesota Fuel Gas Code. You can roast marshmallows right over the flames.

You’re just changing the fuel type from wood to gas. Gas log: uses the existing fireplace… everything.Gas comes out of the holes, the gas burns, and the exhaust gases go up the chimney, just like when you build a fire.īefore I get too far into this discussion, however, we should dig into a few definitions. Most gas logs are pretty simple they basically consist of a pipe with a bunch of holes, and some fake logs stacked on top. These fireplaces start out as wood-burning fireplaces, but at some point, someone decides that building a wood fire is too much work and artificial firelogs are ugly, so they have a gas log installed. I’m not a fan of gas log fireplaces because they waste energy and they’re a potential safety hazard.

Gas logs for fireplace