Great question, and we get it a lot! You are talking about the “flame and heat” portion of the vent. Before we talk about that, we should cover the ember protection part of the vent. That’s handled by the stainless-steel mesh on the back of the vent. This part blocks burning embers for the life of the vent, and it works repeatedly. No need to replace after a wildfire event. It’s recommended to inspect for any ash that might have accumulated, and simply blow out with a leaf blower. That’s good practice to keep your vents healthy! As for the intumescent honeycomb; this part of the vent only activates when the outside of a home reaches 450-500 degrees. This is will activate if your home is under imminent failure. Once the outside of a home reaches that temperature, the paint will be scorched, roof gutters will be damaged, windows seals, etc. You will need to replace any vents that get activated along with all of the other damage that can occur at those temps. The good news is that IF our vents get activated, heat and flames will have been kept OUT OF THE HOME! TIP: A properly managed landscape, proper tree trimming, and a clear 0-5 ft. zone can help to ensure that flames never get that close!
What happens to wildfire vents after a fire danger has come and gone? Do new ones have to be installed?
Hello Sondra,
Great question, and we get it a lot! You are talking about the “flame and heat” portion of the vent. Before we talk about that, we should cover the ember protection part of the vent. That’s handled by the stainless-steel mesh on the back of the vent. This part blocks burning embers for the life of the vent, and it works repeatedly. No need to replace after a wildfire event. It’s recommended to inspect for any ash that might have accumulated, and simply blow out with a leaf blower. That’s good practice to keep your vents healthy! As for the intumescent honeycomb; this part of the vent only activates when the outside of a home reaches 450-500 degrees. This is will activate if your home is under imminent failure. Once the outside of a home reaches that temperature, the paint will be scorched, roof gutters will be damaged, windows seals, etc. You will need to replace any vents that get activated along with all of the other damage that can occur at those temps. The good news is that IF our vents get activated, heat and flames will have been kept OUT OF THE HOME! TIP: A properly managed landscape, proper tree trimming, and a clear 0-5 ft. zone can help to ensure that flames never get that close!