Does a gas fireplace with flames need a chimney?

[MichelleWThompson]

Have ugly 1970's style gas heater installed in livingroom with no surround and I want to replace it with a real flame gas fire, but will it need to have an open chimney for this? Might as well install a chimney and real wood fireplace, what with energy bills skyrocketing, eh?

[Strifer]

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[4WOFURY]

No, they don't, if you're using a clean burning fuel. Same thing as your gas stove.

[fishingme]

Originally Posted by 4WOFURY [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

No, they don't, if you're using a clean burning fuel. Same thing as your gas stove.

I've got gas in my house for everything except the fireplace isn't used. Not sure if it's different when in terms of in the fireplace but my chimney always leaks out vapor/ a little smoke whenever I'm using the furnace

[Cecily]

Why is this in Rants and Fla... oh.

[LulzSect]

Enjoy your CO2 poisoning.

[indiscriminate_hater]

CO?

[Cecily]

Too many plants in this room stealing my oxygen.

[hatelore]

Def burn wood only in it, don't listen to the idiots saying you need a chimney. Your ac will filter it out. I would burn pine or cedar only too for good burns.

[LulzSect]

Originally Posted by indiscriminate_hater [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

CO?

How much carbon dioxide is produced when different fuels are burned?

Different fuels emit different amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in relation to the energy they produce. To compare emissions across fuels, you should compare the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of energy output or heat content.

Pounds of CO2 emitted per million Btu of energy for various fuels:

Coal (anthracite) 228.6
Coal (bituminous) 205.7
Coal (lignite) 215.4
Coal (subbituminous) 214.3
Diesel fuel & heating oil 161.3
Gasoline 157.2
Propane 139.0
Natural gas 117.0
The amount of CO2 produced when a fuel is burned is a function of the carbon content of the fuel. The heat content or the amount of energy produced when a fuel is burned is mainly determined by the carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) content of the fuel. Heat is produced when C and H combine with oxygen (O) during combustion. Natural gas is primarily methane ( CH4), which has a higher energy content relative to other fuels, and thus, it has a relatively lower CO2-to-energy content. Water and various elements, such as sulfur and non-combustible elements in some fuels reduce their heating values and increase their CO2-to-heat contents.

Learn more:

Carbon dioxide emissions per physical unit and million Btu for numerous fuels

Last updated: June 4, 2014