Direct vent gas fireplaces (e.g. an Ortal fireplace) offer several advantages over vent-free fireplaces and wood-burning fireplaces. These advantages include superior aesthetics, more venting options, negligible heat loss, and safer operation. Read on to learn more about the benefits that direct vent fireplaces offer over vent-free and wood-burning fireplaces.
Superior aesthetics to vent-free fireplaces
One of the benefits that a direct vent gas fireplace like an Ortal fireplace offers is superior aesthetics. While fireplace aesthetics are subjective to an extent, most agree that a direct vent fireplace looks better than a vent-free fireplace. This is because a direct vent fireplace produces a flame that looks more like the yellow-orange flames that come from a wood-burning fireplace. These aesthetics come without the safety drawbacks seen in wood-burning fireplaces. A vent-free fireplace, however, produces a blue-ish flame because of its higher operating temperature. Vent-free fireplaces must operate at higher temperatures because they do not have a vent to get rid of the emissions that come with lower temperatures.
More practicality than wood-burning fireplaces
Direct vent fireplaces are more practical than wood-burning fireplaces. This is because they can operate with either a traditional vertical chimney or with a horizontal vent through an exterior wall. A wood-burning fireplace can only operate through a traditional chimney. Also, wood-burning fireplaces need to be refueled much more often than direct vent fireplaces.
Zero heat loss
Unlike wood-burning fireplaces, direct vent fireplaces can operate with little to no heat loss. A traditional wood-burning fireplace sucks cold air into the building to fuel the fire. This results in some of the heat that the fireplace gives off being lost. Paradoxically, this heat loss gets worse the bigger the wood-burning fireplace is. A direct vent fireplace is designed to suck air through the vent, thus ensuring that it does not leak into the house.
Safer operation
Direct vent gas fireplaces are much safer to operate than both wood-burning fireplaces and vent-free fireplaces. Traditional wood-burning fireplaces are a serious fire hazard. They also give off fumes and smoke. Vent-free fireplaces, like direct vent fireplaces, use a special glass pane to keep the flame contained. This means that they are not a serious fire hazard. However, vent-free fireplaces do release fumes into the building. A properly functioning vent-free fireplace will not release a dangerous amount of fumes into your home. However, a malfunctioning vent-free fireplace can certainly release a dangerous amount of fumes. A direct vent fireplace will not give off fumes or smoke. It is also not a serious fire hazard due to its protective glass.
