I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott

Sounds like your seller either did not keep appliance instructions / manuals
or give them to you.

As to the gas logs, please don't fuss with them until you have first
identified the manufacturer and gone to its web site to see if you can get a
manual instructions. Almost everybody these days has a PDF file on line of
every manual for their products.

A bright flash light and a lot of close inspection of the unit will
probably yield a manufacturer name and a model number stamped or cast some
where into the logs set.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott

I recommend that you get a 4 inch 3 ring binder and a bunch of heavy duty
plastic sheet protectors from an Office Depot type place. The sheet
protectrs are three hole punched, and fit into the binders.

Once you get the manual / instructions from the manufacturer, put the into a
sheet protector in the binder and keep forever, or until you sell the
place. Deliver the binder to the whoever buys from you. They will bless
you.

Then go to the web site of the manufacturer of every appliance (stove,
microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, electric coffee
pot, hot water heater, furnace, AC or heat pummp, thermostat, etc.) you
have, get to your appliance's model number, and download the manual /
instrctions if you don't already have it. Store the manuals / instructions
in the binder.

I have binders for all household appliances; all electronics (TVs, stereo
components, VCRs, DVDs; phones); outdoor yard equipment (really good at this
time of year for looking up the lawnmower spark plug number and the oil gas
ratio mixture on the weed wacker); all shop tools; computers and computer
components) and 1 or 2 others I can't remember right now. Raelly a big
help t have the stuff in binders, protected in plastc, on a book shelf in
the wokshop.

- - Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.

I would look around for instructions. Lighting the pilot light is a bit
confusing the first time, even with instructions. You don't want to blow up
your new house and it is possible if you don't know what you are doing. The
glass wool is to make glowing embers and gets replaced every few years.


"Jim McLaughlin" jim.mclaughlin wrote in message
. ..
Sounds like your seller either did not keep appliance instructions /
manuals
or give them to you.

As to the gas logs, please don't fuss with them until you have first
identified the manufacturer and gone to its web site to see if you can get
a
manual instructions. Almost everybody these days has a PDF file on line
of
every manual for their products.

A bright flash light and a lot of close inspection of the unit will
probably yield a manufacturer name and a model number stamped or cast
some
where into the logs set.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott

I recommend that you get a 4 inch 3 ring binder and a bunch of heavy
duty
plastic sheet protectors from an Office Depot type place. The sheet
protectrs are three hole punched, and fit into the binders.

Once you get the manual / instructions from the manufacturer, put the into
a
sheet protector in the binder and keep forever, or until you sell the
place. Deliver the binder to the whoever buys from you. They will
bless
you.

Then go to the web site of the manufacturer of every appliance (stove,
microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, electric
coffee
pot, hot water heater, furnace, AC or heat pummp, thermostat, etc.) you
have, get to your appliance's model number, and download the manual /
instrctions if you don't already have it. Store the manuals /
instructions
in the binder.

I have binders for all household appliances; all electronics (TVs, stereo
components, VCRs, DVDs; phones); outdoor yard equipment (really good at
this
time of year for looking up the lawnmower spark plug number and the oil
gas
ratio mixture on the weed wacker); all shop tools; computers and computer
components) and 1 or 2 others I can't remember right now. Raelly a big
help t have the stuff in binders, protected in plastc, on a book shelf in
the wokshop.

- - Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.

Hi Elliott,

Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! If this log set is
installed in a masonry chimney with a flue then, yes, most certainly
it is vented. Here in Canada, our code requires all log sets to be
outside vented and any existing damper to be removed. They do operate
on a standing pilot (at least, I'm not aware of any that use
electronic ignition) and the material you describe as looking like
insulation does, in fact, glow as it heats up.

Most gas appliances don't require much in the way of maintenance but
it would be a good idea, nonetheless, to have it checked out by a
qualified gas technician, just to make sure everything is working
properly. And, if you don't have a CO2 detector in your home, now
would be a good time to buy one, if just for your peace of mind.

Now the bad news... these log sets use 60,000 to 100,000 BTUs, even
more, so they're not exactly cheap to operate. Keep in mind they're
also not intended to heat your room; rather, they're designed to heat
your entire neighbourhood. :-)

Now the **really** bad news.... conditioned air is literally being
sucked out of your home 24 hours day, 365 days of the year. You're
losing a tremendous amount of conditioned air up your chimney because
we're not just talking about a "loose fitting" damper.... we're
talking NO damper! If you're not exactly married to the idea of a gas
log set -- and, admittedly, they really are very beautiful -- I would
highly recommend you replace it with a gas insert. This would save
you a considerable amount of money and provide you with a proper heat
source in the event of an emergency (e.g., furnace breakdown or
extended power outage).

Hope this has been helpful.

Cheers,
Paul


On 15 Apr 2006 18:56:24 -0700, "
wrote:

I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott

Art wrote:
I would look around for instructions. Lighting the pilot light is a bit
confusing the first time, even with instructions. You don't want to blow up
your new house and it is possible if you don't know what you are doing. The
glass wool is to make glowing embers and gets replaced every few years.


"Jim McLaughlin" jim.mclaughlin wrote in message
. ..

Sounds like your seller either did not keep appliance instructions /
manuals
or give them to you.

As to the gas logs, please don't fuss with them until you have first
identified the manufacturer and gone to its web site to see if you can get
a
manual instructions. Almost everybody these days has a PDF file on line
of
every manual for their products.

A bright flash light and a lot of close inspection of the unit will
probably yield a manufacturer name and a model number stamped or cast
some
where into the logs set.


wrote in message
groups.com...

I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott

I recommend that you get a 4 inch 3 ring binder and a bunch of heavy
duty
plastic sheet protectors from an Office Depot type place. The sheet
protectrs are three hole punched, and fit into the binders.

Once you get the manual / instructions from the manufacturer, put the into
a
sheet protector in the binder and keep forever, or until you sell the
place. Deliver the binder to the whoever buys from you. They will
bless
you.

Then go to the web site of the manufacturer of every appliance (stove,
microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, electric
coffee
pot, hot water heater, furnace, AC or heat pummp, thermostat, etc.) you
have, get to your appliance's model number, and download the manual /
instrctions if you don't already have it. Store the manuals /
instructions
in the binder.

I have binders for all household appliances; all electronics (TVs, stereo
components, VCRs, DVDs; phones); outdoor yard equipment (really good at
this
time of year for looking up the lawnmower spark plug number and the oil
gas
ratio mixture on the weed wacker); all shop tools; computers and computer
components) and 1 or 2 others I can't remember right now. Raelly a big
help t have the stuff in binders, protected in plastc, on a book shelf in
the wokshop.

- - Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.





Hi,
Basic instruction is usually on a metal plate and left underneath the FP
hang on a chain. That insulation looking material is one making the
amber flame(to imitate log burning) Without it all you see will be blue
gas burning flame.

Wow...that was fast! Thanks to everyone for the quick and very
detailed responses. This definitely looks like a retrofit situation
since the fireplace has a standard damper and everything on it. I'll
poke around in there tomorrow and see if I can't find a mfg name and
model number and take the advice of searching for a pdf online. I've
already had to do this for the sprinkler system and thank goodness I
found it. I would have never figured out how to program that thing.

Living in Texas, fireplaces are more for show than anything else since
it just doesn't get very cold for very long down here. Heat output is
not too much of a concern. We just want it to look nice and make us
feel cozy while sipping on coffee and reading a book.

Everyone's comments were extremely helpful and have given me some
direction to move in.

Thanks again everyone!

Elliott

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 02:40:39 GMT, Paul M. Eldridge
wrote:

Hi Elliott,

Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! If this log set is
installed in a masonry chimney with a flue then, yes, most certainly
it is vented. Here in Canada, our code requires all log sets to be
outside vented and any existing damper to be removed. They do operate
on a standing pilot (at least, I'm not aware of any that use
electronic ignition) and the material you describe as looking like
insulation does, in fact, glow as it heats up.

Most gas appliances don't require much in the way of maintenance but
it would be a good idea, nonetheless, to have it checked out by a
qualified gas technician, just to make sure everything is working
properly. And, if you don't have a CO2 detector in your home, now
would be a good time to buy one, if just for your peace of mind.


That's CO (no 2). My gas logs are installed in an old fireplace and
do set off the CO detector if the damper isn't opened.

Now the bad news... these log sets use 60,000 to 100,000 BTUs, even
more, so they're not exactly cheap to operate. Keep in mind they're
also not intended to heat your room; rather, they're designed to heat
your entire neighbourhood. :-)

Now the **really** bad news.... conditioned air is literally being
sucked out of your home 24 hours day, 365 days of the year. You're
losing a tremendous amount of conditioned air up your chimney because
we're not just talking about a "loose fitting" damper.... we're
talking NO damper! If you're not exactly married to the idea of a gas
log set -- and, admittedly, they really are very beautiful -- I would
highly recommend you replace it with a gas insert. This would save
you a considerable amount of money and provide you with a proper heat
source in the event of an emergency (e.g., furnace breakdown or
extended power outage).

Hope this has been helpful.

Cheers,
Paul


On 15 Apr 2006 18:56:24 -0700, "
wrote:

I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

On 15 Apr 2006 20:44:33 -0700, "
wrote:

Wow...that was fast! Thanks to everyone for the quick and very
detailed responses. This definitely looks like a retrofit situation
since the fireplace has a standard damper and everything on it.

Mine is like that. If you don't open the damper, the CO alarm goes off
quickly.

I'll
poke around in there tomorrow and see if I can't find a mfg name and
model number and take the advice of searching for a pdf online. I've
already had to do this for the sprinkler system and thank goodness I
found it. I would have never figured out how to program that thing.

Living in Texas, fireplaces are more for show than anything else since
it just doesn't get very cold for very long down here. Heat output is
not too much of a concern. We just want it to look nice and make us
feel cozy while sipping on coffee and reading a book.


I'm in Texas, and really needed the gas logs one December when it was
freezing and the electricity went off (central heat wouldn't work) for
2 days. That's how I found out I had gas logs in this house.

Everyone's comments were extremely helpful and have given me some
direction to move in.

Thanks again everyone!

Elliott
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

Hi Mark,

Yes, you are, of course, correct and, indeed, that was the sound of me
wacking the side of my head.

I'm rather surprised your code doesn't require the removal of the
damper (that is stipulated here in Canada). I guess the assumption is
the homeowner has enough sense to open the damper himself (true for
most of us but perhaps a leap of faith for others). Is there an
oxygen sensor on these logs?

Cheers,
Paul

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 09:06:49 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

That's CO (no 2). My gas logs are installed in an old fireplace and
do set off the CO detector if the damper isn't opened.

You might want to call your gas company and ask them inspect and adjust
your gas appliances. They'll also show you how to light them. I believe
many utilities will do this for free.

wrote:
I've recently bought my first house and the fireplace has gas logs in
it. I don't really know anything about them but have doing some
reading and I think I probably have the vented type since the logs are
loose and can be repositioned.

I notice in the bottom of the grate, underneath the logs there is a
material there that looks like insulation or something similar. Is this
normal? I'm guessing that this glows and gives an ember effect but I'm
not sure and I have no frame of reference to fall back on. I don't see
this material in any of the pictures of gas logs that I've seen
online. I see the sand looking stuff on the bottom of the firebox, but
not this insulation looking stuff that I have.

Also, do I have to light these off or do all gas log systems have a
pilot light? Are these something that need regular professional
maintenance?

Thanks in advance for any insight for new homeowner.

Elliott

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 15:04:53 GMT, Paul M. Eldridge
wrote:

Hi Mark,

Yes, you are, of course, correct and, indeed, that was the sound of me
wacking the side of my head.

I'm rather surprised your code doesn't require the removal of the
damper (that is stipulated here in Canada). I guess the assumption is
the homeowner has enough sense to open the damper himself (true for
most of us but perhaps a leap of faith for others). Is there an
oxygen sensor on these logs?


Unlikely. There seems to be no electrical connection of any kind, just
gas.

Cheers,
Paul

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 09:06:49 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

That's CO (no 2). My gas logs are installed in an old fireplace and
do set off the CO detector if the damper isn't opened.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

Well, I took the whole shebang apart today. No mfg name on it anywhere.
Nor do I see any provision for a pilot light. The gas comes into the
fire place, it goes in the tray where all the sand and gravel is and
makes a couple of s-bends. I end up with two rows of pipe on the front
that have holes in them for the gas to come out (burners). I have to
assume that I'm just supposed to turn on the gas and light the thing
with a fireplace match in front of one of the gas outlet holes on one
of the burners. shrug

Wow.

Before I lit that off, I get either the local gas utility or a gas furnace
service person to come in and look at it and show you how to light it off.

If I was a gambling fellow (I'm not), I might shut off the valve at the
unit (it does have a valve, right ?) and disassemble the unit frm the
valve. Then I'd use a lot of high pressure air from my cmpressor to blow
out any crap and stuff which might have collected in the unit. Spiders are
notorious for building ness in gas lines in barbeques, etc, and what you
have sunds a lot like the functional equivalent of a barbeque.

Remember taht threadig in gas fitting turns the opposite of water
fttings.

But rather than do that myself, I'd get a servivce person in to clean it out
and test it.

I like gas heat, I like gas srtoves, and I like propane barbques. but I
don't fuss with gas appliances. I hire folks who both know more than me
and who have liability insurance.
-- Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.
wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, I took the whole shebang apart today. No mfg name on it anywhere.
Nor do I see any provision for a pilot light. The gas comes into the
fire place, it goes in the tray where all the sand and gravel is and
makes a couple of s-bends. I end up with two rows of pipe on the front
that have holes in them for the gas to come out (burners). I have to
assume that I'm just supposed to turn on the gas and light the thing
with a fireplace match in front of one of the gas outlet holes on one
of the burners. shrug

Thanks Jim, that sounds like good advice that I plan to take. I'm not
one for messing around with gas or high voltage.


Jim McLaughlin wrote:
Wow.

Before I lit that off, I get either the local gas utility or a gas furnace
service person to come in and look at it and show you how to light it off.

If I was a gambling fellow (I'm not), I might shut off the valve at the
unit (it does have a valve, right ?) and disassemble the unit frm the
valve. Then I'd use a lot of high pressure air from my cmpressor to blowt 'I
out any crap and stuff which might have collected in the unit. Spiders are
notorious for building ness in gas lines in barbeques, etc, and what you
have sunds a lot like the functional equivalent of a barbeque.

Remember taht threadig in gas fitting turns the opposite of water
fttings.

But rather than do that myself, I'd get a servivce person in to clean it out
and test it.

I like gas heat, I like gas srtoves, and I like propane barbques. but I
don't fuss with gas appliances. I hire folks who both know more than me
and who have liability insurance.
-- Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.
wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, I took the whole shebang apart today. No mfg name on it anywhere.
Nor do I see any provision for a pilot light. The gas comes into the
fire place, it goes in the tray where all the sand and gravel is and
makes a couple of s-bends. I end up with two rows of pipe on the front
that have holes in them for the gas to come out (burners). I have to
assume that I'm just supposed to turn on the gas and light the thing
with a fireplace match in front of one of the gas outlet holes on one
of the burners. shrug

This is just a side note on the topic of dampers and gas logs, but if
you have no damper or if you are not allowed to have one (Canadian law
on gas logs) you can replace it with an inflatable type damper like a
Chimney Balloon. www.chimneyballoon.us
That way if you start a fire without taking out the balloon, it just
melts and falls out. You can reuse a chimney balloon normally, but if
you start a fire under it you gotta get a new balloon.

Very interesting product and not unreasonably priced. The only other
practical solution to this type of heat loss is a set of tight fitting
glass doors and that will run you several hundreds of dollars and
potentially detract from the overall appearance of the fireplace. I
would prefer something like this simply because it's hidden from view.

Cheers,
Paul

On 17 Apr 2006 10:51:38 -0700, "German Jerry"
wrote:

This is just a side note on the topic of dampers and gas logs, but if
you have no damper or if you are not allowed to have one (Canadian law
on gas logs) you can replace it with an inflatable type damper like a
Chimney Balloon. www.chimneyballoon.us
That way if you start a fire without taking out the balloon, it just
melts and falls out. You can reuse a chimney balloon normally, but if
you start a fire under it you gotta get a new balloon.

On 16 Apr 2006 19:41:19 -0700, "
wrote:

Thanks Jim, that sounds like good advice that I plan to take. I'm not
one for messing around with gas or high voltage.


At that point, I'm reminded of my central heat, which is gas with
electric ignition. That thing looks like it uses high voltage (there's
a wire that looks a lot like the spark plug wires in a car).


Jim McLaughlin wrote:
Wow.

Before I lit that off, I get either the local gas utility or a gas furnace
service person to come in and look at it and show you how to light it off.

If I was a gambling fellow (I'm not), I might shut off the valve at the
unit (it does have a valve, right ?) and disassemble the unit frm the
valve. Then I'd use a lot of high pressure air from my cmpressor to blowt 'I
out any crap and stuff which might have collected in the unit. Spiders are
notorious for building ness in gas lines in barbeques, etc, and what you
have sunds a lot like the functional equivalent of a barbeque.

Remember taht threadig in gas fitting turns the opposite of water
fttings.

But rather than do that myself, I'd get a servivce person in to clean it out
and test it.

I like gas heat, I like gas srtoves, and I like propane barbques. but I
don't fuss with gas appliances. I hire folks who both know more than me
and who have liability insurance.
-- Jim McLaughlin

Reply address is deliberately munged.
If you really need to reply directly, try:
jimdotmclaughlinatcomcastdotcom

And you know it is a dotnet not a dotcom
address.
wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, I took the whole shebang apart today. No mfg name on it anywhere.
Nor do I see any provision for a pilot light. The gas comes into the
fire place, it goes in the tray where all the sand and gravel is and
makes a couple of s-bends. I end up with two rows of pipe on the front
that have holes in them for the gas to come out (burners). I have to
assume that I'm just supposed to turn on the gas and light the thing
with a fireplace match in front of one of the gas outlet holes on one
of the burners. shrug

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin