I have a gas fireplace and the vent is on an outside wall. I recently built a deck along that wall and now this vent sticks out too far with sharp edges and my kids keep bumbling their head on it. Do I have any alternatives such as piping the vent a little high so it is not at the current level. I have attached a picture of the vent. I understand that I would have some piping on the outside but at least the sharp edges would not be there. The fireplace is located right along the wall the vent is coming out of so the current distance from vent to fireplace is only a few feet.

 

Does the fireplace use concentric piping ? That could probably be extended.
Post a picture showing the deck, the vent and the roofline.

 

1. Let the kids bump their heads. They will learn. If they don't learn... have them tested.

2. You can add a guard around the wall vent to provide bump and heat protetction.

3. If you remove the box and run the flue up you may have to go through the roof as you likely have to keep the exhaust at least 24" below the eave (check your codes to confirm) and I can't see removing the box just to route the flue up a foot or two which would look silly. Plus you'd still have something sticking out of the wall for the kids to hit. And by the time you space the flue away from the wall it may end up sticking out further than your current box.