ventless gas fireplace - figuring size needed

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kenfsr

Member
Aug 12, 2008
36
orange,ct
have a converted garage attatched to house so it is now a family room, purchased a ventless propane fireplace to use as a supplement heat source on cold winter days or for ambience when in room, room currently is heated by hydronic baseboard 2 walls, room dimensions are 20x12 with vaulted cieling of 15', no door on room open to entrance area and leads into kitchen and living room and dining room , no doors open layout . figuring approx 2880 cf of space in family room, approx 7880 cf total with combined rooms ( small cape w/ bedroom upstairs approx 1700 sf living space), heat home with pellet stove located in living room. is the size of the vented gas fireplace of 26,000 btu sufficient or overkill ?
 
26,000 btu is more than plenty to supplement your existing heat source for a room that size. Make sure you have a CO monitor in that room if you're using ventless gas...
 
LP too! Can you un purchase the vent free unit and buy a inexpensive vented one? if its a garage, no reasob you cant just pop a hole in the side of the building? Vent free LP is not going to smell like a dozen roses...

12,000-26,000 is the range i would be looking at. You can turn some down 30% and some down 50%. Most vented fireplaces can run on a thermostat, vent free ones cant.
 
You're probably going to want a ceiling fan in that vaulted ceiling to push the warm air to where you are. You'd be amazed at how much a ceiling fan on low can do.
 
thanks for answers on fireplace, we had purchased the ventless fireplace on sale last year and redid the room into a gameroom, probably won't use fireplace that often, only for ambience on occasion while in room,looking for an external regulator for the propane tank, requires a regulator to reduce incoming gas pressure to between 11 -14" wc, also the insert requires an 3/8" inlet connection to pressure regulator, is this a similar regulator like on a gras grill, fireplace is only 26,000 btu's.have been looking on internet for regulators, little confused as to what size to purchase. any help on this would be greatly appreciated. thanks - ken
 
not sure of mfg, believe it to be procom, bought at lowes, unit is 26,000 btu item # 030334 vent-free gas fireplace insert, model # ssfbd28t
 
what if you have a vent free but crack the damper say an inch or two?
does that cut down on humidity
 
Sure. The heat escaping will take the humidity right out with it. ;-)
 
poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook said:
unvented gas burner will produce lotta humidity which will migrate to colder areas of the house,condense, & result in mold growth. pelletstove heat wont help the situation. furnace with registers at windows would help by blowing hot air & drying out the cold remote areas.
keep an eye out for mold in cold areas & closets if no-vent unit is used much

yup
 
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