"Joe D." wrote in message
. ..
I moved into a house with a vented gas fireplace and gas logs.
Beneath the grate holding up the logs there were vermiculite granules
in a pan which covered the gas vents.

My wife wanted me to remove the vermiculite since she didn't like
how it looked, and wanted to use the fireplace without it.

When I run the fireplace the flame jets exhaust downward on either
side of the feed pipe, hitting the pan (now with no vermiculite in it).

Is it safe to run the fireplace like this, or should I put vermiculite
back
in it?



I have never seen one with just vermiculite.

The normal is silica sand and vermiculite. The burner jets the gas down to
the pan and then it rises through the sand and burns on TOP of the sand.
The vermiculite merely glows like burning embers.

It doesn't sound right to me they way you have it now. If I were in your
situation I would try to find a brand name somewhere on your set and then do
a little research before burning them again. If Peterson is the brand you
almost surely need some sand.

For you and Dr Hardcrab you can buy the vermiculite at any fireplace center
that sells the logs. It is a little pricey as I recall.

Colbyt