Do you need a chimney when using a gas fireplace and a high efficiency furnace?
the furnace, depending in the efficiency will require either a furnace flue, or a PVC “exhaust pipe” (I think 90% or higher efficiency requires a nonmetallic pipe, and delivers exhaust that is no hotter than the air out of the register) the gas fireplace, too, will require a flue of some sort, but many newer ones are “direct vent” models, that exhaust directly through the wall, rather than have a stovepipe through the roof. so, yes, you still have to get the gas fumes outside, but it is not necessary to have a traditional chimney.
Friends in North Carolina had a “ventless” propane gas fireplace that did NOT have or need a chimney. Contrary to some, carbon monoxide is not a problem with this kind of fireplace because there is complete combustion of tho flue gas to Co2 and H2O. This is why gas stoves are also not a problem. However, this means all the water vapor remains indoors, so it will increase the humidity. There may also be a slight odor. In Indiana, we had the choice of having a vented fireplace or having the ventless fireplace you mention. We chose the vented kind, where there is not a chimney but the burnt gas is vented outside. In our setup, there are two vent pipes to the outside, one inside the other. The outer pipe has the hot fireplace exhaust, and the inner pipe brings in fresh air direct to the fireplace, so it is pre-heated by the exhaust. This way, the fireplace does not cause a draft and you don’t need to leave windows open for ventilation – the fireplace heats it’s own air supply. You just nee
Both of these devices emit dangerous gases, which must be vented from the house to prevent asphixiation. These vents can be joined under some building codes, if they are positioned close together in the house. These vents do not have to be a traditional brick and mortar chimney. As long as they are wide enough to satisfy the building code, they can be simple pipes that rise through/above the roof. Yes they need to be vented. No, it does not have to be a traditional chimney.
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