381-8 Old Riverhead Road

Westhampton Beach, NY

Tel. 631-998-0780

Hours: Tues. - Thur. 9am to 3pm / Fri. 9am to 12pm (or by appt.) / Sat. - Mon. Closed

Our Company Blog

Direct Vent Vs. Vent-Free Fires

Are you shopping for a fireplace to bring your dream hearth home? Studies show that homeowners want fireplaces. Whether you have a house, trailer, or condo, you can still have the fireplace of your dreams. Some fireplaces are easier to install than others. However, if you want to get the best value and installation for your unit and home, you should call Beach Stove & Fireplace. Our team of experts can help you choose the best product from the industry’s best manufacturers for your need and space.

Vent-Free Appliances

Not all fires need ventilation. Gas units burn so cleanly that certain models do not need ventilation at all. These may not be as popular because the flame itself is not the natural yellow flame that many people desire, but they do have all the convenience of gas fires. Gas units are easy to light, usually with an button or a match-light. They also have precise temperature control, sometimes with the use of a remote! Gas units also extinguish immediately, cut down on accidental burns. Homeowners love the convenience of gas and the freedom to install vent-free units anywhere. They come in a wide range of sizes and styles. They are designed to look like a wood fire, with detailed ceramic logs. When you choose a vent-free fireplace, you can have it installed into an existing fireplace or have one built to match your home and personality. We’ve installed traditional and rustic, sleek and contemporary, and many other styles in between.

Direct-Vent Appliances

If the location allows, you may be able to install a direct-vent fireplace. Direct-vent fireplaces do require ventilation. They are closed units, which draw air from and vent to the outside of the home by way of a wall or ceiling. Using direct-vent technology, we are able to bring fire into homes around Suffolk County. When you choose direct-vent fireplaces, you can benefit in five specific ways:

  • Easy installation
  • Increased efficiency
  • Increased safety
  • Uses outside air only and doesn’t affect the inside air
  • Keeps the home warmer without the use of electricity

Not only will you experience a warm fire, but it is eco-friendly and highly efficient. You never have to open your direct-vent fireplace. The heat reaches your living space by circulating air around the firebox (never entering the firebox itself).

Call Beach Stove and Fireplace

These units are low-maintenance, but that does not mean they need zero maintenance. Even the closed units and vent-free units need professional service to keep working properly.

The experts at Beach are knowledgeable and experienced, non-commissioned, friendly sales professionals. We guide and help our customers to achieve both satisfaction and safety. We are NFI certified, so even the manufacturers trust us. We offer a one year warranty on our labor. When you trust your home and fireplace to us, you don’t have to second guess. Call Beach Stove and Fireplace at 631-998-0780 today!

By Julie Dismore on April 30th, 2019 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Direct Vent Vs. Vent-Free Fires

Direct Vent Vs. Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces

Before winter is in full swing, it may be time to consider a new fireplace! Adding a fireplace to your home help with supplemental heat and save you money on heating bills. It provides the perfect ambiance to relaxing evenings, and it also create the perfect backdrop for all your winter festivities. You don’t even have to have an existing fireplace or chimney system to have a new fireplace anymore. When you choose a gas fireplace, it can be installed anywhere and offer all the benefits of a fireplace with the convenience.

Choosing Gas

dancing flames of a gas fireplace Gas is the most popular choice of fireplaces due to their affordable pricing, easy installation, unrivaled convenience, and low maintenance. It burns cleaner than any other fuel, making service appointments less frequent, and easy clean up. Gas fires are more realistic and beautiful than ever, in addition to being an excellent heat source. You don’t even need a chimney when choosing a direct vent fireplace or a vent-free fireplace.

Direct Vent Gas Fireplace

Direct vent fireplace technology has made it possible to have the high efficiency of a gas stove, without a chimney. A direct vent fireplace is a closed unit that draws air from the outside for combustion, and then it vents the combustion byproducts out a separate pipe. Imagine two pipes, one inside the other, one drawing air in, and one venting air out. This is direct vent technology. It is generally in a wall behind the fireplace unit, but it can also be through a floor or ceiling.

A direct vent fireplace is different than a vent free fireplace or gas log fireplace because it is wholly separate from the home. In fact, the fixed glass panel that provides a viewing window also serves as an important barrier to keep the combustion isolated from the home. This fireplace is highly efficient, because it uses all the heat for the house instead of needing heat to draw air up the chimney. 

Vent Free Gas Fireplace

Like a direct vent fireplace, a vent free fireplace can be installed anywhere because it doesn’t require a chimney or flue. However, it works in the opposite way, drawing its air for combustion from the home, and then venting combustion byproducts into the home. This system doesn’t waste any heat, but can create condensation in the home that may damage wall coverings, flooring, and ceilings. Another drawback to a vent-free gas fireplace is the temperature control. They provide quite a bit of heat, but the temperature is hard to regulate, whereas a direct vent unit has precise temperature control.

Are you ready to have a new gas fireplace before winter? Call Beach Stove and Fireplace for the best products, prices, installation services, and more. Call 631-998-0780 or stop by today!

By Julie Dismore on October 17th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Direct Vent Vs. Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces

Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces and Log Sets: Risks and Rewards

There are many reasons to convert your fireplace system from wood-burning to gas. Many homeowners decide to convert to gas, and vent-free systems are an easy conversion, especially if use of the existing chimney is not an option. Although it can be an easy option for your heating system, vent-free gas fireplaces and log sets have their share of risks.

Vent Free Gas Fireplaces and Log Sets Risk and Reward - Westhampton NY - Beach Stove and Fireplace

Vent Free

These gas appliances are designed to be vent-free, so they are just that. They do not vent, which means they draw air from inside the home, and dispense exhaust back into the home. This type of system burns hotter because no heat is lost through the chimney, and it essentially converts a fireplace into an efficient room heater. Although they work well, and aesthetically, they burn with real flames, there has been concern about these vent-free systems. Home and business owners not only want a heat system that is aesthetically pleasing and efficient, but also safe.

Air Quality

If a vent-free gas fireplace or log set burns fuel, but doesn’t vent outside, that means that byproducts come into the room and the home. When these vent-free appliances hit stores in the 1980s, critics worried about carbon monoxide poisoning. This is a legitimate concern for homeowners, but consumers should be aware that anything sold in the American market is tested and abides by specific safety standards. In the case of vent-free gas products the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has a document of 119 pages, and includes 33 separate tests that each product must successfully pass before approval to be marketed. One of these requirements is that each appliance should be equipped with an oxygen detection safety sensor.

The main by-products released from a vent-free system are:

  1.  Carbon monoxide (CO) is highly toxic and can cause death or permanent damage. It is released if the fuel isn’t burned completely. A problem in the gas line, with the burner, or an incorrect install can cause an excess of carbon monoxide.
  2.  Carbon dioxide (CO2) isn’t toxic, but causes sleepiness and a possible headache. Even under the best circumstances a vent-free fireplace or log set will release a large amount of carbon dioxide.
  3.  Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a toxic gas, only released in small amounts from a moderately sized vent-free gas appliance. Constant exposure to even a small amount can cause respiratory problems, cough, sore throat, headache, vertigo, and nausea.
  4.  Water vapor isn’t toxic, and can actually add moisture to a dry home. However, if the home has adequate moisture, a vent-free gas fireplace can cause excess moisture and contribute to mold in the home.
    There are risks to a vent-free fireplace or log set. However, the safety and efficiency of these systems are always under review, and our manufacturers offer the best products on the market.

Getting Started

Beach Stove & Fireplace offers a variety of gas products, including gas log sets. If you’re ready to make the change to gas, we are ready to help. Homeowners should be aware of the differences between direct gas inserts and gas log sets ,and decide what is best for their home and family. Call to schedule an appointment  with one of our experts today.

By Julie Dismore on March 28th, 2016 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Comments Off on Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces and Log Sets: Risks and Rewards

Our Location

Beach Stove and Fireplace is located on Old Riverhead Road between Montauk Highway and Sunrise Highway. From Sunrise Highway take exit 63 south, travel 1.2 miles and turn right at the 381 complex (just north of Gabreski Airport)