Now that the winter is setting in my husband and I continue to argue whether it is worth running our Superior direct vent fireplace...So does it help heat the house or is it a waste of energy - it was installed in 2000. The model is DVT6. Thanks for any information ... it does have a blower fan which draws air from the room under the unit and returns it out at the top of the unit. :rolleyes:

I have included a manual for a very similar fireplace by the same manufacturer since yours is not available to me.

http://www.lennoxhearthproducts.com/resources/manual/700041M%20Rev%20B-SDDV-35-40(II).pdf

The direct vent fireplace is not very energy efficient as compaired to the new style high efficiency whole house furnaces

They are designed more for esthetics than for actual heating. They will heat an area especially with the optional blower but will do it at a less cost savings than the high efficiency furnaces that are in many homes today

Naturally since most people are drawn to a open fire the unit will give warmth as well as a feeling of well being and this is the reason people have fireplaces to start with. This is all mental as it is built into our memory banks from way back in our cave man days when a fire was one of our main life forces and we continue on being drawn to that fire.

If you enjoy the direct vent fireplace then by all means use it but if you are using it to save energy only then there are better more energy efficient furnaces around.

Use your furnace for heat, but use your fireplace if you want to cuddle. :D