What's Included
How gas fireplace venting is handled in Elder Springs
Where the termination may sit
A wall termination has to keep its distance from openings and surfaces. Table 503.8 of the Florida fuel gas code sets direct-vent terminal clearances, including 12 inches above grade and a distance from openable windows and doors that grows with the appliance's input. DuraVent's instructions give their own figures, such as 12 inches above a deck or balcony and 18 inches below a ventilated soffit.
The appliance manual can set different distances again, and the installation has to meet every figure that applies. We measure the termination on your Elder Springs home against the manual for the installed unit and the code, and we explain any shortfall and how it can be corrected.
Changes near the vent after installation
A vent maker's clearance list covers decks, porches, balconies, soffits, windows and doors, gas meters and regulators, air inlets and walkways. Any of those added or changed after the fireplace went in can bring the termination out of line with what was approved.
Mention any recent additions or remodeling near the vent at your Elder Springs home, even if someone else did the work. Our team measures the current layout, which is what the vent has to meet today.
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 Elder Springs 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.
Venting through block or brick walls
A wall built only of noncombustible material changes the opening around a termination. DuraVent's instructions allow a hole with zero clearance to the vent pipe through a wall of masonry block, brick or concrete only, and only where the appliance maker allows it. A wall with any wood framing needs the specified framed opening and clearance.
A wall that looks solid from outside can have framing behind it. Our team checks what the wall at your Elder Springs home is made of before cutting or resizing an opening.
