Architecture - question: ventless gas fireplace to vented

Author

question: ventless gas fireplace to vented

Pierre Levesque, AIA

2005-12-20, 9:21 pm

I have an old client call me and he tells me, "OK, I had this contractor
install a ventless (vent-free) gas fireplace in my family room and now it
doesn't work. So I call some local plumbers to look at it to fix it and
they ALL tell me, ventless fireplaces aren't legal in Nassau County"... "As
a result I can't get anyone near my place to fix it and/or retrofit it to be
a vented one... how would I go aboout that?"

Now the obvious initial answer to his question is "you IDIOT! why didn't
you hire me to prepare the spec and I would have researched and specified a
vented fireplace in the first place!"

But aside from that answer (or others as accurate), has anyone here ever run
into a situation like that? Is it even possible to rig a ventless fireplace
to become a vented fireplace? Or is he screwed whereby his only option is
to rip this one out and replace it with a new one? My thought is to just
tell him he's screwed but that might end the (relatively descent)
relationship I have with him... I'd rather give a fix a shot...

Don

2005-12-20, 11:21 pm

"Pierre Levesque, AIA"> wrote
>I have an old client call me and he tells me, "OK, I had this contractor
>install a ventless (vent-free) gas fireplace in my family room and now it
>doesn't work. So I call some local plumbers to look at it to fix it and
>they ALL tell me, ventless fireplaces aren't legal in Nassau County"...
>"As a result I can't get anyone near my place to fix it and/or retrofit it
>to be a vented one... how would I go aboout that?"
>
> Now the obvious initial answer to his question is "you IDIOT! why didn't
> you hire me to prepare the spec and I would have researched and specified
> a vented fireplace in the first place!"
>
> But aside from that answer (or others as accurate), has anyone here ever
> run into a situation like that? Is it even possible to rig a ventless
> fireplace to become a vented fireplace? Or is he screwed whereby his only
> option is to rip this one out and replace it with a new one? My thought is
> to just tell him he's screwed but that might end the (relatively descent)
> relationship I have with him... I'd rather give a fix a shot...

Couple thoughts:
The contractor installed an illegal fireplace?
If so, I'd call him, explain the dilema and say, 'wut up dawg?'
I've never heard of retro'ing a vent, but maybe a call to the manuf. is in
order, maybe they have a kit.
Even if it can be vented won't the box have to come out of the hole?
Then there's that whole matter of finding room for the vent in the wall,
ceiling, floor, wherever.

I'm kinda handy with tools so if it was mine I'd try to fix it rather than
retro'ing or replacing.
Basically its a fancy gas grill and not too sophisticated.

Pierre Levesque, AIA

2005-12-20, 11:21 pm

Don" <one-if-by-land@concord.com> wrote in message
news:k03qf.8507$nm.5074@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> "Pierre Levesque, AIA"> wrote
>
> Couple thoughts:
> The contractor installed an illegal fireplace?
> If so, I'd call him, explain the dilema and say, 'wut up dawg?'

No shit.... that's actually the first thing I told him.

> I've never heard of retro'ing a vent, but maybe a call to the manuf. is in
> order, maybe they have a kit.

Got the email out to them already but the folks here are usually smarter
(smart asses at least - LOL). I'm curious to see which comes out first ;-)

> Even if it can be vented won't the box have to come out of the hole?
> Then there's that whole matter of finding room for the vent in the wall,
> ceiling, floor, wherever.

Lucky for him, it's already against an exterior wall. In fact, the box for
the thing is sticking out as it was partially fit into a former floor to
ceiling pane of glass.

These is the drawings I doodled up for him to "take to my own contractor and
manage the job myself" (cheap bastard).
http://tinyurl.com/ac53v
http://tinyurl.com/a67hl

I completely expected him to go hire a GC that would know the local codes.
I really don't care because all he wanted from me was a "sketch" (cheap
bastard)
>
> I'm kinda handy with tools so if it was mine I'd try to fix it rather than
> retro'ing or replacing.
> Basically its a fancy gas grill and not too sophisticated.

Yeah, I figure it's prolly something fairly easy
>
Bottom line is that he's just perfectly illustrated yet another case of
clients "self project managing" themselves into a mess. Yet another case of
"you get what you pay for"

I don't care though, the only reason I did him this small favor is for the
"down the pipeline" job of doing a new home for him in the future.... hence
my willingness to look into this mess he's created for himself

(cheap bastard)

Don

2005-12-21, 12:21 am

"Pierre Levesque, AIA"> wrote
> These is the drawings I doodled up for him to "take to my own contractor
> and manage the job myself" (cheap bastard).
> http://tinyurl.com/ac53v
> http://tinyurl.com/a67hl

GASP!!!
Robin: "Holy ventless fireplace, Batman!"
You designed stuff for Batman???
(the Title on Sht A-01 looks like it says Bat room) heh-heh

Pierre Levesque, AIA

2005-12-21, 1:21 am

LOL... Shit A-01 says Bat room... (heh-heh right back atcha)

"Don" <one-if-by-land@concord.com> wrote in message
news:Ji4qf.7710$3Z.2513@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> "Pierre Levesque, AIA"> wrote
>
> GASP!!!
> Robin: "Holy ventless fireplace, Batman!"
> You designed stuff for Batman???
> (the Title on Sht A-01 looks like it says Bat room) heh-heh
>

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