Thread: Vented gas burning fire place vent location?

This was on a home that I had inspected yesterday. The fire place was vented gas burning. The vent pipe on the outside of the home appears to me to be to close to the soffit. This install does not look right to me. Is anyone aware of any clearance or installation issues here? See pictures. Thanks in advance. Feedback is always fulfilling.

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Scott:

It appears to be a direct vent installation. If so the clearance is up to the manufacturer, usually 12" to a soffit. I cannot tell from the photo if there are soffit vents.

If it is a Type B vent, then it's wrong.

Aaron

Wait a minute and I'll get back to you........[laughing]


Ok, soffit clearances are figured on a horizontal termination. Vertical terminations, such as this one, are intended to vent through the roof. If it doesn't vent through the main roof, then the sidewall clearances would apply, which I'm sure this certainly does not.

They do get extra points for creativity. I mean, they were obviously concerned with people on the deck getting burned. Not so concerned about CO poisoning or recirculation of soot and exhaust gases back into the home. BTW, I've seen an entire attic fuzzy with mold from venting too close to an unventilated soffit.

The mfrs. listed instrutions will have your clearances.

Bob

Scott,
The best thing to do here is consult the manufacturer's installation instructions. There will be very specific flue clearance diagrams or tables in that document.

I had one recently that was similar and the termination was requires to be 3 ft above the roof deck and 30" minimum from the side wall.

Defer it or check the specs for the model you have.

"Oh they never use that thing any way" said the broker

Direct vent meaning power vented? There was no power venting with this unit it was gravity drafted. The heat coming out of the top of it was significant. Will likley defer it to a qualified fireplace contractor. As always thanks for the feed back.

Scott, direct vent means combustion air in an exhaust out through a concentric vent. In the photos provided, you'll see louvers just above the storm collar, which is the fresh air intake. The louvers above are the exhaust.

Bob

Thanks Bob for the clarification.