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Hot vent hazard – look but don’t touch!
There’s a lot of newer homes built with gas insert fireplaces. Rather then constructing a chimney through the roof contractors are venting these outside the exterior wall. This is a much cheaper way to build a home and accomplishes the essential task of exhausting gas fumes outside of the home. But there is a potential hazard that is not hard to figure out – just read the label on the vent piping. “Caution: Hot!”
These vents are often at hand level beside grassy play areas and walkways. They are just waiting to be touched. The good news is they are only hot when they are in use. And their use is less frequent in hot summer weather when someone is more likely to be outside playing or working around the house. If you have one of these on your home I have seen a few good ways to keep you or loved one from accidentally touching this if it is hot. You can use landscaping to steer people away from these vents. Or a screen cover may be installed – see the pictures. But be careful what you store against this – I once saw a yard waste container that was melted to half its original height because it had melted under the heat. If you have another idea let me know. I wish contractors would install every one of these higher and out of reach from accidental touching!
