Table Of Contents
Venting Systems
When installing a gas wall heater on your property in Sydney, there are several things you need to consider. Although a wall heater plays a significant role in warming your space and making it comfortable enough to relax in, the installation work must be done in the right way.
Heaters can be a significant hazard if they are not installed correctly. Working with a professional plumber offers you many benefits because they know all the rules and regulations to follow in the process. They also have the right tools for work and use the latest technologies in the industry to do the installation, maintenance, and repair job.
One of the most important considerations that you should make is whether you want to have a vented or unvented wall heater. This is the issue that this article focuses on.
Difference Between Ventless And Vented
What is a Vented Wall Heater?
A vented wall heater refers to a self-contained, sealed heating appliance that usually warms inside air by allowing it to recirculate around the closed chamber. All the combustion by-products are discharged outside your home through a direct vent. Direct vented wall heaters are permanently attached to the house. They are not connected to the ductwork, meaning there is no need for them to be connected to the chimney.
The good thing is that they can be installed on many exterior walls. Vented heaters usually circulate the heated air by using gravity. However, some models come with a circulating fan. They are the best options to have on your property if you cannot afford a central heating system. They also tend to be less costly than central heating systems.
Vented wall heaters feature zonal heating, meaning that the heaters have their own controls. Therefore, you can heat each part of your home at a different temperature. They are also versatile since they are freestanding or wall-mounted appliances with a wide range of styles and colours. You can get a wall heater that is customised to match your indoor décor. In addition, they are also available in different heating capacities.
Another aspect of vented gas heaters is that they can be added to your heating systems. You can also use them as a scaled-down system if you cannot use ducting. Since they are compact, they have the ability to deliver warm air to areas that are hard to warm in your house.
What is a Ventless Wall Heater?
Ventless wall heaters refer to space heating appliances that do not vent combustion air outside your house. The oxygen that is required to fuel the combustion process for heat is derived from the air inside the space you have placed the unit. The resultant heat is then vented back out directly from the appliance.
With a ventless wall heater, there is no outside air exchange. This is the primary reason why most conventional heaters lose a lot of heat. Ventless gas heaters are more efficient compared to traditional systems. However, they also have some drawbacks that you should keep in mind.
Why Do Wall Heaters Need To Be Vented?
It is vital for wall heaters to be vented. This is explicitly important if you are building a new home that has modern and strict design standards. A vented wall heater usually maximises potential space, offers a convenient way to heat your area, and is also more energy-efficient. Here are other reasons why wall heaters need to be vented.
Enhance Safety in Your Home
Due to the design of vented wall heaters, they do not affect the air quality of your indoor space. They usually use a high-temperature panel that separates the burning area of the gas from the inside of your house. So, your vented wall heater takes the air in from the outside.
Then the heater vents all the gas to the outside. This is unlike a ventless wall heater that vents into your house. They make your house unsafe to live in since all the gas is vented inside your house. This makes vented wall heaters a safer option to install in your home than all other options.
Provide a Great Flame
A vented heater produces an ample flame because the burning temperatures do not need to be high. This is unlike ventless heaters that require the burning temperature to be high, creating a less realistic blue flame. For a vented heater, the temperature is more controlled, leading to the production of a flame that looks like a real flame. Thus, if realism is critical to your heating needs, you need to vent your wall heater.
More Flexibility in Your Home
A vented wall heater does not need a way to vent to the outside of your house. The venting can occur through a masonry chimney or an existing block. However, there are no limits to using your existing chimney to get the necessary venting. If you don’t have a chimney, you can place the vent horizontally through an outside wall other than vertically to the rooftop through a chimney. This gives you high-level flexibility and other options on where you can install your vented wall heater in your home. In general, wherever you have an exterior wall, you can install your vented heater. It offers the level of flexibility that you would want to have with your devices at home.
No Heat Loss
Vented gas wall heaters usually utilise the outside air for combustion. This ensures that no cold air comes inside your house from doorways, windows, or any other leak you may have in your home. Thus, no heat is lost, and the warming also takes place faster. They offer excellent levels of energy efficiency that you would like to have in your property in Sydney.
Derive Air from Outside
Unlike ventless heaters, a vented wall heater is connected to the outside directly by a smaller pipe within a big one or two pipes. This means that the air used by the wall heater is derived from outside. The heater does not use air from inside. This is because it may have already been used to cool or heat your home.
This makes the heater more efficient. The other great thing is that the heater exceeds the energy star standards for wall heaters. This allows it to help you save a lot of money in terms of energy bills.
Heater is Sealed
Vented wall heaters are usually safer since they are made up of wholly sealed units. The heater usually accesses the right amount of air supply at all times. Since they are completely sealed, it means that there is no possibility of a backdraft that can release gas fumes into your house. Ventless heaters may not be able to get the right amount of air from within your home. This leads to negative air pressure and inefficient operation of the appliance.
Vented Vertically and Horizontally
A vented wall heater can be vented either vertically or horizontally. Thus, there is no set need for you to run the vent through the roof. You can opt to run it through a nearby wall. You also get some wall furnaces lined with glass, meaning that they cannot corrode. This makes them last for many years and offers value for money.
Drawbacks Of Vented Wall Heaters
Although you get a lot of benefits by venting your wall heater, there are also some drawbacks that you might experience. Thus, you need to be aware of these drawbacks so that you can make a more informed decision in the process. Here are some of the issues involved.
Inadequate Warmth
Ventless wall heaters usually produce less realistic fire compared to vented heaters. Thus, the vented heater is your best option if your main focus is to get a more realistic-looking fire. However, the ventless heater is a better option if you want more warmth. This is because a vented wall heater does not produce a high amount of warmth.
Inaccessibility to Flames
A vented wall heater offers high-level safety because it features sealed combustion behind a glass. Therefore, you cannot access the flames or remove the glass for the heater to function correctly. This can be an added benefit if you have kids in your home. However, it is a disadvantage in that you cannot control the flames. Even if you want to make the heater produce more warmth, you cannot do it since you do not have control of the flames.
Costlier
Vented wall heaters are more costly than ventless options. Professional installation is needed, meaning that you have to pay more for the process. However, they also have a chance of lasting for many years; thus, they offer value in the long end.
Common Problems With Vented Wall Heaters
Besides the drawbacks, some issues affect vented wall heaters that you need to know. This is normal because, with time, even the other types of heaters face problems. However, some of the issues are common with vented wall heaters. Here are some of these typical issues that you need to note before doing the installation.
Failure to Give Off Heat
One of the most common problems with vented heaters is the failure to give off heat. This problem is usually caused by issues such as a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. The problem may also be caused by the thermostat not being in the right setting or working right.
Take Up Excess Space
A vented wall heater usually takes up excess space. If you place something big in front of the heater, this can hinder the hot airflow. To get the best from the heater, you should ensure that there is no blockage by a piece of furniture or any other big object.
Fan Might Not Function Properly
The other major issue with the vented wall heaters is that the fan might not function correctly or fail to work ultimately. When you recognise this problem, you should check the wiring to ensure it is connected well and not frayed or burned. You can also inspect the switch to ensure that it is functioning in the right way. Besides, there is also a likelihood there would be a blown fuse causing the fan to fail to work. The problem may also be with the motor, and in this case, you need to call your professional to do the repair work.
Blowing Cool Air
This is another common problem you may experience with a vented wall heater. This shows that your appliance has an issue with the heating element. In this case, you need to turn it off and call a professional to do the necessary repairs.
Need Help With Your Vented Wall Heater?
Now that you know all the aspects of vented wall heaters, you can make a more informed decision on whether to invest in vented or ventless heaters. You can also opt to ask for professional advice from the best plumbers in Sydney to offer you more insight on the best option for you.
The plumbers can also help you do the installation, perform inspections, repairs, and maintenance of your vented wall heater. And as mentioned, they have all the necessary skills and apply state of the art tools and techniques to ensure that your heater is working optimally.
