I clipped this post from a previous discussion on gas inserts to provide additional info on the subject. Posted by: renron on 12.19.2006 at 07:28 pm in Fireplaces Forum First, DON'T install a ventless fireplace!!! Even though the MFG.s will tell you the exhaust fumes are OK, do you really want to breathe them? Many people end up with Major Headaches and chronic breathing issues. Does it sound like a good idea to breathe burnt exhaust gasses? B type flue(vent) pipes are dual thickness pipes. A pipe inside another pipe, suitable for use at 1" or more to flammable materials. Outer casing pipe is sealed and will not conduct air. D (Direct Vent) type flue(vent) pipes are also dual layers but they are capable of exhausting burnt gas through the inner pipe and importing exterior(outside) combustion air for burning. Think of a straw inside a larger straw. Inside straw blowing, outside straw sucking outside air for combustion. A fan is usually used to help exhaust the burnt gasses. Details below: B-Vent (Natural Vent) gas fireplaces are designed primarily for decorative use. Generally they produce a larger and more realistic yellow flame. B-vent fireplaces are sometimes available without a glass window, so many homeowners are attracted to this design because of the open, realistic flame effect; some models do have a glass window so the existence of a window on a fireplace does not define its product classification. Natural vent gas fireplaces use room air for combustion and vent fumes through a vent or chimney that must terminate vertically above the roof line. The key to determining whether a B-vent fireplace will meet your heating needs is to check the manufacturer's listed efficiency rating (gas consumed x efficiency = heat output). While efficient, heater-rated B-vent fireplaces do exist, many lower quality "builder grade" fireplaces have no efficiency rating and, therefore, will not supply substantial heat. In fact, this category of fireplace will often use the greatest amount of gas at the lowest range of efficiencies. If you live in a warmer climate where you want the aesthetics of a fire without much heat, this may be the appliance for you. Likewise, bedrooms and smaller rooms may be a good candidate for a b-vent fireplace, but please check building codes to see if this class of fireplace is approved in your locality or for installation in the room where you'd like to use it. Local/national codes in some areas prohibit the use of b-vent rated appliances, especially in colder climates. Be aware that very "air tight" houses can cause performance problems with b-vent rated appliances, so please consult an experienced fireplace installer who can advise you on the proper installation and use you are considering. Direct Vent Fireplaces offer the most features with respect to gas consumption, efficiency ratings and venting options. A direct vent fireplace will always have a glass window because these fireplaces are sealed systems using a double walled venting system. Combustion air enters the appliance via one section of pipe while fumes and moisture are vented through the other pipe. Most often, a double wall "pipe within a pipe" system is used. Subject to each model's requirements for distance and offsets, direct vent fireplace venting may be terminated either horizontally or vertically. Efficiency rating will average 65% to 84%, similar to ratings on gas furnaces. Keep in mind that these appliances must "waste" some of the heat produced to create a draft of rising warm air to evacuate the fumes produced without aid of a forced air exhaust system. Think of direct vent fireplaces as a decorative furnace: the beauty of a realistic flame with high efficiency. This appliance is great for primary or supplental heating and for emergency backup heating as most work without aid of electricity. Because this is a sealed system that uses outside air for combustion, direct vent fireplaces are usually the favored choice among those in the fireplace industry because of their greater efficiency and exceptionally reliable performance. Hope this info helps, I am a General Contractor. Renron

I bought my Mendota 44I in March, 2011. I replaced the batteries this fall, when the ignition system would not work. Long story short, the pilot light can be lit manually, but only stays on about 24 hours. The ignition system (electronic spark generator for lack of the proper term) does not work at all. When the pilot goes out the system goes into lockout after it tries to relight three times. (Makes me nervous that the pilot light gas flows about 30 seconds each time, for three times, before it locks out.) (No the pilot flame is not "dancing" or otherwise being pulling off the electrode.) Its taken forever for the dealer and installer and to get their acts together. The dealer claims Mendota has just put out a modification, which the dealer does not even have yet, that requires the electronic module, apparently the pilot light assembly, and god knows what else, to be relocated, because in their current position, the control module overheats, and stops functioning. The dealer has no one trained to do this modification, and is not sure who will do it. All of this while my one year warranty is running out in a couple of months. The electronics and valves (Proflame made by SIT) is an Italian company. Proflame by SIT is used in several different inserts by other manufacturers, and most of them have a much better manual, available online, than Mendota's, with better troubleshooting and color coded wiring schematics in the manual. On the other hand, Mendota seems to believe that nobody should take the glass off this fireplace except for an authorized servicer. For sure, it is impossible to work on this, or even check the electrical connections on the wiring harness, without completely removing the insert from the fireplace, including detaching the flue, etc etc. This insert had the best looking fire, logs, etc. while burning when I was looking for an insert, , but I too am wondering if I made a huge mistake buying the FV-44i!!!!!!!!!!

Boy, talk about a thread coming back from the dead! If you are still looking, Msmico, the mendota 42 and 45 take the same log sets. It falls a couple inches short of the ends of the firebox on each side, which seems to bother a lot of people. Once its installed and burning in your home, I doubt anyone would really notice. I'm leaning towards Mendota just because their burners are more controlable: you can actually turn them way down, whereas on most gas FPs, turn them dosen't use less gas, it just dumps heat outdoors, not a good choice environmentally or economically, IMO.

We've had a heat n glo for about 10 years and we've never ben happy with it. It runs very hot, hard to adjust