Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Insulating bulkhead for gas fireplace vent
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Bonthron
03-04-06, 10:00 PM
I had installed a zero-clearance direct vent gas fireplace in our living room. Due to the room layout I needed to vent the fireplace up near the top of the ceiling then horizontally back to the outside. The one thing that is making this install unique is this horizontal vent run for about 60" through the ceiling in our front hall.
I want to build a bulkhead around this vent pipe to improve the look of it. The ceiling in our front hall is actually about 14' high since our front hall is about 6' lower than the main floor our fireplace is on.
The one problem is that we have had a minor problem with a small amount of water dripping out of the vent pipe seam when the fireplace is turned on. Our professional fireplace installer said this is due to a small amount of snow or ice building up inside the vent pipe near the exterior termination point. He said this is most likely due to condensation inside the pipe freezing (I'm in Canada) and then melting when the fireplace is initially turned on. The installer said that when I build the bulkhead I should line the inside of it with foam sheet insulation and that should resolve the problem. My question is what type of insulation should I use? When I was buying my materials this afternoon I looked at all their selection of foam sheet insulation and they all said they were of a flammable material and the people there couldn't recommend a solution for me since they don't install fireplaces.
Would it be safe to use these foam sheets since it is a zero-clearance fireplace? The foam sheets if installed would be at least 6" away from the vent pipe. I could cover the foam with thin drywall or even a cement board, but I'd rather not have to do this extra step unless it's necessary.
If this isn't safe does anyone have any suggestions?
BTW, I'm not entirely sure that this insulation will solve the condensation/water problem, but I'm doing it since the installer said it would. When I close off the space I'll be placing in an aluminum roasting pan under the join where the water comes from just incase. It's only a tablespoon or two of water that comes out occasionally but I don't want to take a chance. ;)
Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Chris
I want to build a bulkhead around this vent pipe to improve the look of it. The ceiling in our front hall is actually about 14' high since our front hall is about 6' lower than the main floor our fireplace is on.
The one problem is that we have had a minor problem with a small amount of water dripping out of the vent pipe seam when the fireplace is turned on. Our professional fireplace installer said this is due to a small amount of snow or ice building up inside the vent pipe near the exterior termination point. He said this is most likely due to condensation inside the pipe freezing (I'm in Canada) and then melting when the fireplace is initially turned on. The installer said that when I build the bulkhead I should line the inside of it with foam sheet insulation and that should resolve the problem. My question is what type of insulation should I use? When I was buying my materials this afternoon I looked at all their selection of foam sheet insulation and they all said they were of a flammable material and the people there couldn't recommend a solution for me since they don't install fireplaces.
Would it be safe to use these foam sheets since it is a zero-clearance fireplace? The foam sheets if installed would be at least 6" away from the vent pipe. I could cover the foam with thin drywall or even a cement board, but I'd rather not have to do this extra step unless it's necessary.
If this isn't safe does anyone have any suggestions?
BTW, I'm not entirely sure that this insulation will solve the condensation/water problem, but I'm doing it since the installer said it would. When I close off the space I'll be placing in an aluminum roasting pan under the join where the water comes from just incase. It's only a tablespoon or two of water that comes out occasionally but I don't want to take a chance. ;)
Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Chris