Why You'll Love a Ventless Fireplace

by Rachel Lyon, Editorial Director for The House Designers

We’ve come a long way since the first fireplaces that people relied on to warm their homes in the wintertime. What once required careful construction to ensure effective heat reflection inside and proper venting to release smoke outside, you can now achieve with a modern ventless fireplace that offers an all-in-one solution. And for those who are interested in creating ambiance rather than actual warmth, you might be surprised to learn that there are models that can deliver on aesthetics without emitting heat. Here’s why ventless fireplaces make a great choice for practically any family and any home!

Easy & Flexible Installation

The major perk of ventless fireplaces is obvious—they don’t require a vent. A traditional fireplace is much more than the firebox area that you gather around at the hearth. Behind the wall, there’s a damper that you need to open when burning a fire and close when the fireplace is not in use, a smoke shelf and chamber that prevent downdrafts from pushing smoke and gases back into the house and funnel it up instead, and a flue that directs smoke all the way to the chimney to release it outside. All of these parts have to be incredibly durable and heat resistant to prevent combustion. They’re also expensive to install, difficult to fix, and require regular maintenance to keep the fireplace in good working order and safe to use.

With all the complexity of a traditional fireplace, it's no wonder ventless fireplaces have gained popularity over the years. Whether you choose a gas or electric model—any fireplace that burns wood requires a traditional setup—a ventless fireplace is pretty much contained to the firebox area. Ventless gas fireplaces take combustion air from the room to create heat and blow it back inside while electric fireplaces are comprised of a digital flame and a heating element that can warm the space on demand. As long as the firebox fits the space and is connected to a power or fuel source, you’re good to go! That means you can install one of these fireplaces practically anywhere in your home. They’re even favored to replace traditional fireplaces in renovations, because few homeowners want to sign up for realities of a real chimney—ongoing upkeep and the risk of animals using the flue for shelter or food storage. These should be problems of the past!

Clean Operation

Do you know why spring cleaning is a thing? The practice is common in cultures across the world and has been tied to numerous religious traditions, but it’s also a natural result of burning fuel for heat and light. That’s why it’s particularly common in colder climates! When people needed fireplaces to heat their homes and used kerosene or whale oil lamps during long winter nights, a layer of soot would build up inside over time. So, when the weather warmed up enough to open the windows, families would get to work cleaning the whole house. This once-compulsory seasonal ritual is still ingrained in us, even if we enjoy the cleanliness of modern HVAC and lighting.

While we don’t battle the kind of indoor pollution that our ancestors once did, we can still make good choices to maintain better air quality inside. Opting for a ventless fireplace is one great option, because they’re incredibly clean by design. There’s no actual fire or combustion by-products from electric fireplaces due to the digitally generated flame effect and heating element that works just like an electric space heater. Ventless gas fireplaces feature real flames, but they have a regulator that mixes gas and air to burn as cleanly and efficiently as possible, so they reduce the possibility of soot and fumes down to practically nothing. They’re federally regulated to ensure they meet these strict standards, and some even come with built-in monitors that will shut the fire off if the oxygen level in the room drops too much or if any carbon monoxide is present. With modern models like this, you can enjoy your fireplace without worries.

An Array of Design Options

Finally, ventless fireplaces come in a wide range of shapes and sizes and with all sorts of customizable finishes—you can really tailor your choice to match your style! You’ll find plenty modeled after traditional wood-burning fireplaces with tiled fireboxes, wood-look ceramic logs, and decorative cast iron elements. On the flip side, contemporary fireplaces often come in streamlined, linear formats with all kinds of decorative media for the flames to rise from—everything from faux wood, to rocks, to glass in every color. Consider built-in versus wall-mounted installation, two- and even three-sided viewing, and other visual and operational features and you won’t be lost for lack of options.

If you’re looking for a ventless fireplace, Modern Blaze is the place to go! This authorized dealer of dozens of popular and niche brands focuses entirely on vent-free products, including gas, electric, ethanol, and even water vapor fireplaces as well as things like firepits and patio heaters. With indoor and outdoor ventless fireplace models that appeal to all aesthetic tastes, you’re sure to find a wonderful fit for any application. They even offer free expert advice, so give them a call at 1-866-713-2399 to start discussing the possibilities today!