Apparatuses and methods for balancing combustion air and exhaust gas for use with a direct-vent heater appliance

A direct-vent fireplace assembly, comprising:

• a firebox;
• a combustion air duct in communication with the firebox and configured to contain a flow of combustion air, the combustion air duct having an inlet with a central axis;
• an exhaust gas duct in communication with the firebox and configured to contain a flow of exhaust gas, the exhaust gas duct having an outlet with a central axis, the central axis of the exhaust gas duct outlet being at least approximately co-axially disposed in relation to the central axis of the combustion air duct inlet;
• a first valve located at least adjacent to the combustion air duct, the first valve being rotatably positionable relative to the combustion air duct to affect the flow of combustion air in the combustion air duct;
• a second valve located at least adjacent to the exhaust gas duct, the second valve being translationally positionable relative to the exhaust gas duct to affect the flow of exhaust gas in the exhaust gas duct;
• and
• an actuator having a first end toward a first direction and a second end toward a second direction and a midsection between the first and second ends, the actuator having a handle portion toward the first end and a longitudinal axis positioned substantially perpendicular to and at least approximately intersecting the central axes of the combustion air duct inlet and the exhaust gas duct outlet, the actuator being translationally positionable in the first and second directions along its longitudinal axis, the first valve being rotatably coupled to the second end of the actuator so that a translational movement of the handle portion in the first direction rotates the first valve to allow an increased flow of combustion air in the combustion air duct, and a translational movement of the handle portion in the second direction will rotate the first valve to restrict the flow of combustion air in the combustion air duct, the second valve being fixedly attached to the midsection of the actuator so that a translational movement of the handle portion in the first direction will translate the second valve in the first direction and increase the flow of exhaust gas in the exhaust gas duct, and a translational movement of the handle portion in the second direction will translate the second valve in the second direction and restrict the flow of exhaust gas in the exhaust gas duct.