Can You Burn Wood In A Vented Gas Fireplace

Modification and complete safety checks are required before burning wood in the gas fireplace.

Can you burn wood in a vented gas fireplace. As the name suggests it s for burning gas only. None of the components of any gas fireplace including venting system are designed to handle the much higher btus heat of a wood fire. Can you burn wood in it. Actually when a wood burning fireplace is converted to gas the chimney can be damaged by the corrosive substances and acids caused by burning gas.

For most wood burning fireplaces with a single venting system the choice is simple. That s when things get a little tricky. A gas fireplace is not designed to burn wood. With the vent route and appliance selected check your list of venting components.

Some gas fireplaces have all the necessary safety features to burn wood if you wish to convert the fireplace entirely to a wood burning version. And unvented gas fireplaces do not vent outside at all. You can make the conversion by simply adding a gas log set or by installing a self contained gas insert unit with its own chimney. A built in gas fireplace s venting system is inadequate to deal with the smoke and vapors of a wood fire.

The built in ventilation systems of these gas fireplaces are not intended to deal with the smoke and vapors of wooden fire. Burning wood in such a fireplace is an enormous fire hazard. Burning wood in a gas fireplace will cause at least three bad things to happen. Vented gas fireplaces use outside air for combustion.

Conventional masonry wood burning fireplaces are ideal for converting to gas because they already have the look of a traditional fireplace and all you have to do is install the gas burning guts inside the firebox. In every circumstance it s essential that the chimney is evaluated to ensure that it s the right fit for the appliance it s connected to. Burning wood in it could be a fire hazard or at the very least fill your home with smoke. However other brands offer many systems for their product.

While wood burning models are the age old standard most of today s new fireplaces are fueled by gas which eliminates the messy ashes and soot leftover from wood fires. This will give you some flexibility and more options as to where you can place your vented gas fireplace in the home. For appliances with multiple brand options you may not know which ones to choose.