What kind of fireplace is this? (houses, floor, vs)

[GRNDHOG]

Do I have a gas fireplace or a gas starting fireplace?

Meaning can I just get some ceramic logs and have a fire with the gas alone?

Or is this thing just a starter and I should have wood on the grate?

The chimney has a normal flue and is clear all the way to the outside (meaning it is vented.)
FWIW, the fireplace was missing the grate when I bought the house. I just picked one up from Home Depot.











Thanks!

[bencronin04]

Just a starter. A pure gas fireplace would not have a chimney.

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by GRNDHOG

Do I have a gas fireplace or a gas starting fireplace?

Meaning can I just get some ceramic logs and have a fire with the gas alone?

Or is this thing just a starter and I should have wood on the grate?

Your first question makes no difference, a gas line run to the fireplace is the same for every chimney.

You can either cap the gas line and burn real wood, or you can get ceramic logs and use gas alone. You have a fireplace insert, so they are actually better suited to using gas logs vs real wood.

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by bencronin04

Just a starter. A pure gas fireplace would not have a chimney.

Yes, they do. It probably won't be a brick one, but it'll still have a chimney.

[ChristieP]

Get a ceramic log set and you are good to go. No cleanup, no messy ashes, and a fire whenever you want!

[the_nemi]

Also no need to clean thew chimney if you have one above it. Paid $125 to learn this lesson, lol

[GRNDHOG]

Originally Posted by MckinneyOwnr

Your first question makes no difference, a gas line run to the fireplace is the same for every chimney.

You can either cap the gas line and burn real wood, or you can get ceramic logs and use gas alone. You have a fireplace insert, so they are actually better suited to using gas logs vs real wood.

So, because the gas line is there (and that box thing) I CANNOT burn wood. Right? What would happen if I burned wood? I do imagine the ashes would fall into that sand box and cause a mess when trying to clean it up. And those carpet fiber things are supposed to mimic burning embers, based on research I've done.

What's the insert you're talking about? Is that the box thing on the floor in the center?

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Get a ceramic log set and you are good to go. No cleanup, no messy ashes, and a fire whenever you want!

I think you're onto something. But also no burning wood smell. :-(

Originally Posted by the_nemi

Also no need to clean thew chimney if you have one above it. Paid $125 to learn this lesson, lol

Good to know! There's definitely a brick chimney above it. But it looks clean already to my un-trained eye.

[ChristieP]

You could burn wood in the fireplace if you want to deal with the mess. Personally, I love the ease of use of my gas log fireplace. Yankee Candle sells a scented candle called "Fireside" if you really want the smell.

[GRNDHOG]

Thanks.

Sorry, fireplaces are just foreign to me. Not much of a need for them in Southern Florida (and no gas available at all). And when I was a kid we did have one but never had gas. It was just a wood-burning one and it was easy to figure out how it worked. hahah

[bencronin04]

Originally Posted by MckinneyOwnr

Yes, they do. It probably won't be a brick one, but it'll still have a chimney.

If it was built as a gas only fire place to begin with it wouldn't have a chimney. We've had multiple gas only and wood fireplaces built in multiple houses. Never once was there a full chimney for a gas only. Now can you "convert" a wood burning into gas only, absolutely.