I just moved into a house that has a masonry fireplace – firebox, chimney, hearth, etc. It also has a gas line coming out the side. So if I want to burn wood, can I start the fire by turning the gas on? If the fire is low, can I turn the gas on to make it bigger? Or do I only use the gas logs with gas?
The fireplace does have a damper, of course, as well as an air intake valve on the back wall. I have never had a fireplace before, and any info is appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill
Replies
If I understand correctly, you have just a gas line stubbed in to the fire box area of your fireplace. You will need to plumb that to a "log starter" to use it with firewood. I have one made out of some alloy {maybe Bronze} with a series of holes along the length of the unit. It is installed under my grate and works well for starting or for helping out poor burning wood.
are you nuts!!!!!!!! Sounds like you have a fireplace that was in the process of being converted or someone took a set of gas firelogs with them when they moved. A gas log setup should never be used for wood fires, the heat will distort any metal that is in it long enough, including the gas supply line ...
"are you nuts!!!!!!!!"My fireplace has a gas line and log starter.NEVER HAD GAS LOGS.It was built that way from the start.
I don't get it, I have heated with wood fireplaces for a long time, in almost everyone the damper or something has been warped beyond function, if you can build a wood fire hot enough to melt steel how is a gas stub in the firebox safe??
Gas stub I assume is down low and the other stuff that warps is up high. BIG difference in temp. I also hope that there is a gas shut off valve outside of the fireplace so there is actually no gas in the pipe that you see.
roger
Ditto what Bill H. said. As a note of clarification, the gas supply line is schedule 40 iron pipe, not any sort of flexible connection. It has worked well for over 25 years now.
You are correct. Fire starter. We have one and it is GREAT!!!! No more newspapers, etc. Fire starts going down we put another piece of wood on and fire it up.
Get a pro to put on the pipe with holes on. Good to go.
If you look around your fireplace yo will see a valve to adjust the flame, turn it on and off. We have a removable T handle we keep on the mantle.