Ventless Fireplace Experiences?

[MosMom]

We're looking into one for our bedroom but was curious about personal experiences with the "flammable gel" used to make the fire. Is it truly nontoxic, odorless, and smokeless? Any horror stories?

 

[tinaluis]

We have a vent-free fireplace that uses natural gas (and emits carbon dioxide). We decided on this instead of the gel-fuel type because it is an actual source of heat that we can use when we lose power in winter (which sometimes happens when we have an ice storm) and our furnace doesn't work. It's helped us out more than a few times.

 

[WDWAurora]

We have a vent-free fireplace that uses natural gas (and emits carbon dioxide). We decided on this instead of the gel-fuel type because it is an actual source of heat that we can use when we lose power in winter (which sometimes happens when we have an ice storm) and our furnace doesn't work. It's helped us out more than a few times.

This is what my parents have. They had a cheap set that wound up smoking our house up (or that room anyway). They have since replaced with a moderately priced set that works well.

 

[RUDisney]

We had one but had to upgrade it to a vented one when we insulated the house. It would have caused too much condensation in a "tight" house.

We still have it in our basement, although it's not hooked up and I want to get rid of it. You can have it if you want, MosMom.

In Pennsylvania, you can't have a ventless fireplace in your bedroom. If something goes wrong, you could wake up... dead... from the CO2. Best to go with vented. There is just a small "incision" that needs to go through your house.