What's Included
Gas fireplace vents in Astor Farms, in detail
Direct vent and B-vent systems
Vented gas fireplaces use one of two main systems. A direct vent fireplace is sealed from the room, with a co-axial pipe that brings combustion air in from outside and carries exhaust out, usually through a wall or the roof. A B-vent, or natural vent, fireplace draws air from the room and sends its exhaust through a draft hood and up a double-wall Type B pipe.
The difference decides almost everything about a repair on your Astor Farms fireplace, from the pipe that can be used to where it may end outside. Our team identifies the system from the appliance's rating plate and manual before discussing parts.
Joints that lock the way they should
Direct vent sections join with twist-lock connections. In the DirectVent Pro instructions the male end goes into the female end until the locking lugs are covered, and the female end is turned an eighth of a turn to lock. Screws are optional and allowed only where they do not penetrate the inner wall of the pipe, and no sealant is needed unless the appliance maker requires it.
A joint that was never fully locked, or one that has separated, lets exhaust escape before it reaches the outside. Our team checks the accessible joints on the vent from your Astor Farms fireplace, relocks or replaces what has loosened and confirms that no screw has pierced the inner pipe.
A yearly check of a direct vent
DuraVent's direct vent instructions call for an annual inspection of the venting. Exposed parts are checked for corrosion, which shows as rust spots or streaks and in extreme cases holes, and corroded components are to be replaced immediately. The vertical cap is removed and a flashlight shone down the vent to find nests or other foreign material.
Our fireplace and venting maintenance visits in Astor Farms cover those checks where the system can be reached safely, along with the termination clearances. What we find goes into a written record, so the next visit can compare.
A yearly check of a B-vent
The Type B instructions say an annual inspection is required to maintain the vent's warranty. The cap, vent pipe, connector and connection to the appliance are inspected, the sealant around the flashing and storm collar is checked, a light is shone down the pipe for damage, corrosion or condensation, and disconnected sections are reconnected.
The instructions are blunt about damage. Damaged or corroded parts should be replaced immediately. Our team follows that list on B-vent fireplaces in Astor Farms and prices any replacement before the fireplace is used again.
