What is going on with my factory fireplace

Hello all ..... It's been a while since I have posted and unfortunately I was not able to get my magnum ZC in this summer. Lost my job in March and on unemployment so mortgage had to come before any "wanted" fire place install.

So I sit at my table and apply for jobs every day on the laptop. I have a view out my window that includes a side view of the part of the house that includes my existing fireplace install. I have noticed recently that every now and then a bunch of smoke appears close down towards the ground, and this always happens when I have a fire going in the fireplace.

Notice the pictures that show my factory fireplace install. One picture shows the fireplace itself, the other picture shows the outside enclosure that the fireplace and chimney are in. Notice the arrow pointing to the vent.

I have not actually seen smoke come out of it, but I suspect that when I see this plume of smoke that it is coming from this vent.

What is this vent for .... any guesses on what is going on ...

Maybe I will need to install that magnum ZC sooner than I thought (

BTW .... our house is 17 years old ....

Okay, thanks for the reply.

Probably nothing really to worry about then ....

No gas line. Those lines in the 2nd photo are all for my heat pump. We bought this house new and its never had gas.

I called a local fireplace company and it sounds like that is a vent for the grill in front of the fireplace. I guess when you have the glass front closed it allows air into the fire area, and for sure when I put my hand on it there is a draft going in.

But still kind of weird that smoke can go out that way .....

Well being unemployed ...... the only way it would get inspected is by me ....

Might just kick down and by the ZC with new chimney and start taking the old one out .......