What's Included

How gas fireplace venting is handled in Sanford

Planning a vent route for a new fireplace

Every direct vent appliance has limits on horizontal run, vertical rise and the number of elbows. DuraVent tells installers to check the appliance manual for those restrictions, and its Type B instructions advise keeping turns and lateral runs to a minimum, noting that a 45 degree turn is preferable to a 90 degree turn.

At your Sanford home our team lays out the route from the fireplace location to a termination that meets its clearances, checks it against the appliance's venting table and shows you the route before work begins. Permits are discussed where the local authority requires them.

Vent pipe in lived-in spaces and chases

Vent pipe that passes through a lived-in room has to be enclosed. The Type B instructions require any portion passing through an occupied area to be enclosed to prevent damage and burns, and where B-vent runs outside in a chase, the enclosure needs an access door for inspection and maintenance.

Direct vent runs are often hidden the same way, behind a surround or a wall. Our team explains which parts of the route at your Sanford home can be seen, which need a panel removed and who reopens and finishes the enclosure.

Roof flashing and storm collar on a B-vent

Where a B-vent passes through the roof, the Type B instructions call for a hole giving a 1 inch air space, a roof flashing fitted tightly to the roof with shingles overlapping its top edge, non-hardening sealant at the flashing base and at the pipe joint, and a storm collar over that joint for a watertight seal.

Water staining on the ceiling near a vent pipe can point to that flashing or collar. Our team checks the roof penetration for the B-vent serving your Sanford fireplace and reseals or replaces the flashing and collar where needed.

Checking the vent after a storm

Each year's Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30. Wind can dent or loosen a vent cap, and debris can collect around a termination at ground level.

After a storm passes over your Sanford home, look at the vent caps from the ground. A cap that is bent, loose, missing or blocked is a reason to leave the fireplace off until our team has checked the vent.