Gas fireplace venting from a family-owned team in Carver Shores

Counting the turns in a vent run

Every elbow adds resistance to a vent. One maker caps the total of all elbow angles in a direct-vent system at 270 degrees, so a run with two 90 degree elbows and two 45 degree elbows has used its whole allowance.

Remodels tend to add elbows as the pipe is steered around new framing. Our pros count every elbow they can see or trace and compare the total with your manual. An extra turn hidden behind a wall is one of the reasons a relocated fireplace starts misbehaving.

How high a B-vent cap sits above the roof

Roof pitch sets the minimum height of a gas vent cap above the roof. One B-vent fireplace manual's table starts at 1 foot for roofs from flat to 7/12 and climbs to 5 feet for pitches over 12/12 up to 14/12.

The Florida fuel gas code has its own pitch table in section 503.6.5, and section 503.6.7 calls for the vent to end with a listed cap or listed roof assembly. Our pros check the cap, its height and the pitch, and they use the larger requirement.

Blue flames that float off the burner

Flames that turn blue, lift off the burner and wander are sometimes called ghosting. One direct-vent manual ties it to insufficient oxygen reaching the fire and lists four checks for it.

Our crew works through those checks in Carver Shores before anything is replaced, starting with the easiest to reach.

• Cap installed correctly and free of debris
• Vent joints tight with no leaks
• No debris blocking the air intake at the back of the firebox
• Glass secured and latched

Shrubs, vines and fences growing into the vent

Plants grow toward open wall space, and a sidewall cap is often surrounded by it. Bushes and fences are two of the obstructions one maker keeps at least 24 inches from the front of the termination hood.

Our pros check for vines on the cap itself, which can block its openings, and measure the space in front of it. We tell you how much trimming the manual asks for, and a quick check after each growing season keeps the cap clear.

Power for fans and electronic ignition

Many direct-vent fireplaces need electricity for a blower, lights or electronic ignition. One manual requires the appliance to be grounded under local codes, falling back to the National Electrical Code where no local code applies.

Any new outlet or circuit belongs to an electrician and shows up as a separate line on your estimate. Our crew checks that the fireplace's power connection is in place and explains what the manual asks for before any vent work is scheduled.