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We moved into a house that has a gas fireplace. I never used one before so I was wondering if the flue for the chimney is supposed to be open or closed when the fire is lit? The fireplace uses fake logs, not actual wood. Should the glass doors be left open or closed?
I think if it is vented, you would see a little box on the outside of your house where the fireplace is. That is how the fumes are vented to the outdoors.
If there is no box, then I think that means it is ventless design fireplace.
If you have vented gas logs then you must keep the flue open when the logs are burning. Most vented sets have a built in "stop" for the flue to prevent someone from closing it completely.
If the log set gives off a nice yellow flame then its likely vented.
Thank you for all your helpful comments but I am a little confused. I have a gas fireplace. The kind where you turn on the gas, then light it. It has artificial logs and is in a masonry (not pre-fab) fireplace with no glass front or vents. Do I need to have the flue open when using it?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If you want to live another day, open it. Otherwise the carbon monoxide will get you. It sounds like you have a wood-burning fireplace that was converted to gas. You can close the flue when you shut it off, to keep the warm house air from going up the chimney, or if you have glass doors just leave the flue open all the time and close the doors when off. You can have the doors open or closed when it's burning, open lets more heat into the room bust is more dangerous for small children.
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