Cape May County, New Jersey
Gas Fireplace Replacement in Middle Township, NJ
In Middle Township we replaced two fireplace systems with gas fireplace systems. Here is what vented and unvented mean.
Dr. Sweeper has completed a project in Middle Township, Cape May County: two fireplace systems were replaced, updating both fireplace units with functioning gas fireplace systems. The project is shown below.
The township's housing is mostly detached and owner-occupied: about 70% detached and 81% owner-occupied. The median build year is 1986, only about 10% of homes predate 1950, and the ACS median home value is about $342,000.
The job was about the fireplaces themselves, not the masonry above them. See our gas fireplace service page for how far we go.
Our work
Our work in Middle Township
Two Gas Fireplace System Replacements in Middle Township, NJ
Middle Township, NJ · Fireplace system replacement (two units)
Two fireplace systems replaced with gas fireplace systems in Middle Township.
Read the projectLearn
Vented and unvented gas fireplaces
A vented gas fireplace sends its exhaust outside through a flue or vent pipe. An unvented one is designed to burn so cleanly that it needs no vent, and it releases its combustion products into the room. Each type has installation rules set by the manufacturer, and rules about vent-free appliances differ by jurisdiction. It is worth asking the installer and the local building department what applies.
When one is replaced, the new unit must match the situation. Our gas fireplace chimney care guide and the gas fireplace service page explain more, and the Middle Township project shows the job. We do not rule here on what is legal for any particular house.
Always ask what an installer is allowed to do under local rules, and get it in writing.
Housing profile
What the housing mix means in Middle Township
Most homes here are detached and owner-occupied. The gas fireplace replacement shown above is one example. Gas fireplaces differ in how they vent (into a chimney, direct-vent or unvented), and that changes what a house needs from its chimney.
What we look at
Two kinds of gas fireplace
Vented
Exhaust leaves the house through a flue or vent pipe.
Unvented
Also called vent-free. Burn products are released into the room.
Why it matters
The two have different installation requirements and different maintenance.
Replacement
The replacement unit must suit the opening and the venting that is there.
Symptoms
| Symptom | Possible cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Odor from a gas fireplace | Burner or venting | Service call |
| Soot on glass or walls | Incomplete combustion | Service call |
| Pilot won't stay lit | Thermocouple or draft | Service call |
| Old unit not working | Age | Replacement |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What did the Middle Township job include?
Two fireplace systems replaced with functioning gas systems, per its page.
Do gas fireplaces need a sweep?
They do not build creosote, but venting and the burner should be serviced.
Can you work on the gas line?
Please ask us what we handle and what needs a licensed gas fitter.
Service areas
Other areas we serve
Chimney Academy
Guides that go with this page
Questions about your chimney in Middle Township?
Call us, or send a scheduling request. We will contact you to confirm. Your appointment is not confirmed until we do.