Vented Gas Logs

Vented gas logs burn in a working wood-burning fireplace with the damper held open, so the flame can burn tall and yellow like a wood fire. This collection spans two- and three-burner log sets, ember-bed burners and contemporary burner kits in natural gas and propane, with safety pilot, remote and electronic ignition controls.

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Vented Gas Logs for a Fireplace With a Working Chimney

A vented gas log set is listed as a decorative gas appliance for a solid-fuel burning fireplace. The burner and logs sit where the wood used to burn, and the chimney vents them just as it vented the wood fire. Vented sets are not held to the clean-burn limits that let vent-free exhaust stay in the room, which is why they can run a bigger, yellower flame. The trade-off is heat, since much of it rises up the flue with the exhaust. Choose vented when the fire is mostly for the look.

The Damper Is Locked Open, Not Just Left Open

The manuals from all three makers here fix the damper in an open position. Grand Canyon calls for a damper stop that keeps a minimum flue opening, set from its minimum damper opening table. Empire requires a damper clamp so the damper cannot close by accident, and Majestic includes one with its Stadium burner. Massachusetts goes further and requires the damper to be removed or welded fully open. Have the chimney and firebox cleaned first, and never share the flue with a separate solid fuel appliance, which Grand Canyon's manual forbids.

Grand Canyon Sets Start From Hand-Picked Logs

Grand Canyon builds its vented range on 2- and 3-burner pans, and each log species is made to fit both. Its brochure says the Arizona Weathered Oak logs all came from one Northern Arizona tree struck by lightning more than 40 years ago. Its log hunters hand-picked the Arizona Juniper logs from desert washes. That is where the bulges, cracking and twisting in those sets come from. Majestic takes the same multi-row approach with its 2-tier and 3-tier Stadium burners, and Empire builds its vented sets on its Slope Glaze burner.

No Thermostat on a Vented Installation

The Majestic, Monessen and Empire manuals all prohibit a thermostat on a vented log installation, so a vented set is controlled by hand, by wall switch or by remote. Grand Canyon offers four control levels: a manual safety pilot, a millivolt valve with remote, a modulating millivolt valve with remote that also adjusts flame height, and electronic ignition with remote. Majestic's sets use intermittent pilot ignition. A millivolt system keeps working when the power is out.

Some Vented Burners Can Change Fuel

Unlike the vent-free burners in this range, some vented burners convert between natural gas and propane with a manufacturer's kit. Empire publishes conversion steps for its Slope Glaze burner. Otherwise, order the set in the fuel your house uses: natural gas or propane.

Explore Related Gas Logs

Looking for something else? Browse the rest of the gas log range:

Gas Fireplace Log Sets, vented and ventless in one place
Ventless Gas Logs, for a fireplace without a working chimney
Outdoor Gas Logs, sets and inserts for an outdoor fireplace

Frequently Asked Questions about Vented Gas Logs

What are vented gas logs?

A gas burner and log set for a working wood-burning fireplace, run with the damper locked open so the chimney carries the exhaust away. They are listed as decorative gas appliances for solid-fuel fireplaces and are chosen for the flame more than the heat.

Do vented gas logs need the damper open?

Yes, permanently. Grand Canyon calls for a damper stop that leaves a minimum flue opening, and Empire and Majestic use a damper clamp so the damper cannot close while the logs burn. The required opening is listed in each manual, and Massachusetts requires the damper to be removed or welded fully open.

Do vented gas logs give off heat?

Some, mostly as warmth near the fireplace, but much of the heat leaves up the chimney with the exhaust. If heat is the goal, ventless gas logs keep theirs in the room, within the limits on room size and local code.

Can I use a thermostat with vented gas logs?

No. The Majestic, Monessen and Empire manuals all prohibit a thermostat on a vented log installation. Use a manual valve, a wall switch or a remote instead.

Can vented gas logs be used outdoors?

Only in a version rated for outdoor use. Grand Canyon's price guide states its assembled 2- and 3-burner sets are for indoor use only and that its stainless "-SS" burners are the outdoor versions. Check the product page for an outdoor rating before you order.

Can vented gas logs be converted from natural gas to propane?

Some can. Empire publishes propane and natural gas conversion instructions for its Slope Glaze burner, using a kit ordered from Empire. Others are built for one fuel, so check the product page and order the fuel your house uses.