No Chimney? No Problem.
If you want a fireplace feature without an existing fireplace or chimney, what are the options?
There are multiple options for installing a fireplace even in a location that has never had a fireplace and there is no chimney. The easiest options are electric fireplaces and ventless gas fireplaces. Both of these options do not require venting. But there are other options as well. Options that require venting but may still be feasible.
- Electric Fireplaces
Electric Fireplaces are super easy to install. You just plug them into an outlet, and they are ready to go. They are versatile, convenient, and can fit in a wide variety of spaces. Of course, you will probably want to build it into the wall or you can get a free-standing version.
With electric fireplaces, the fire is not a real fire; it is a flame effect. LED lights and mirrors create the illusion of flames. This makes them safe for children and pets and there’s no ash or soot to clean. However, some people don’t prefer that the flame looks like an effect rather than a burning fire.
- Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces
Ventless fireplaces are similar to any gas fireplace but work by bringing in air to feed the fire from inside the room and exhausting it as heat back into the room. They are designed with a regulator that produces a mixture of gas and air that allows the gas to burn cleanly. They burn so efficiently, 99.9%, that combustion gases are prevented from coming into the room.
Vent-free fireplaces offer real flames and heat. Because they don’t require venting, they can be installed almost anywhere. They do, however, require a gas line connection.
- Vented Gas Fireplaces
As is obvious, vented fireplaces require a form of venting. Usually that happens through a chimney. But if the home does not have a chimney, a vented fireplace can be vented through an exterior wall. Venting horizontally—through a wall—is a simple solution and can be as easy as running pipe from the back of the fireplace out through the wall, then installing a termination cap.
Horizontal venting is not an option with wood burning fireplaces; these must vent vertically. But with so many wonderful options of gas fireplaces, this is a very appealing and viable option.
High Country Fireplaces offers a wide variety of fireplaces that fall into the categories above. Our knowledge of fireplaces can answer any questions you have about the best solution for your space. Contact us to learn more.
