[macgeek]

A gas fireplace came with this house, no one knows how to operate it
(yea, I know, turn on the gas, stick a lit match in it, Instant fire)

There is a vent - should it be open or closed?
There is some lever that says "open" is it a heat control?

It's pretty ineffective at heating the living room, so I added some 12V fans
to increase air flow, anyone do this?

I notice a black 'soot' on the fake logs, is that bad?

any comments?
anyone? anyone?
buller? buller?

[Buzz123]

First of all the vent should always be open.

I have a gas fireplace. It has the standard gas control valve which is always on. Then all we have to do is flip the switch on the wall and it comes on. It looks like a light switch next to the fireplace.

There is no soot on the gas logs, but the glass in front is getting foggy. I need to remove it and clean it up.

Maybe somebody burned real wood on top of your fake logs. That's a no-no. I hope if they did, it didn't leave any resin in the flue. Might catch fire. Better stick you head in there and look if you can.

We've thought about adding the fan but never got a round tuit.

[ScoopLV]

I have black "soot" on the fake logs as well -- carbonized dust.

Like most people, our fireplace is just for show. It doesn't throw out any heat at all. I turn it on for Christmas, and that's it. The rest of the time, the gas is shut off and I shove a towel up the flue to cut down on the draft. (I leave enough towel dangling to remind me to remove it when I light the fire for the annual "check to see if the damned thing is still working" event.

[aitchem]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

First of all the vent should always be open.

I have a gas fireplace. It has the standard gas control valve which is always on. Then all we have to do is flip the switch on the wall and it comes on. It looks like a light switch next to the fireplace.

There is no soot on the gas logs, but the glass in front is getting foggy. I need to remove it and clean it up.

Maybe somebody burned real wood on top of your fake logs. That's a no-no. I hope if they did, it didn't leave any resin in the flue. Might catch fire. Better stick you head in there and look if you can.

We've thought about adding the fan but never got a round tuit.

I think I have exactly the same type of gas fire as you have described. Do you know if you can add a fan to that fire and how much it could cost? It definitely doesn't throw out as much heat as one I had in a previous home that did have a fan. Thanks

[tiger08]

The vent MUST be open when you run it, carbon monoxide is the silent killer.

I found that using the gas log ran the bill up quite a bit, so I removed them and burn real wood instead. Dont everybody freak out, the house was built in 87, it's a real fireplace.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by tiger08

The vent MUST be open when you run it, carbon monoxide is the silent killer.

I found that using the gas log ran the bill up quite a bit, so I removed them and burn real wood instead. Dont everybody freak out, the house was built in 87, it's a real fireplace.

Whew. Eyes afraad u'd burn da cabin down Lukie.

You should be grandfathered in for burning wood. The rest of us would pay a fine...and burn the house down, since gas fireplaces ain't got no reel chimnee.

[bayview6]

Originally Posted by macgeek

A gas fireplace came with this house, no one knows how to operate it
(yea, I know, turn on the gas, stick a lit match in it, Instant fire)

There is a vent - should it be open or closed?
There is some lever that says "open" is it a heat control?

It's pretty ineffective at heating the living room, so I added some 12V fans
to increase air flow, anyone do this?

I notice a black 'soot' on the fake logs, is that bad?

any comments?
anyone? anyone?
buller? buller?

The gas fireplace I have is just for show, not real heat. Plan on taking out the logs and putting in a very small gas infrared heater. Doesn't need a vent so I can keep the existing vent closed. It's close to 100% efficient.

[forestgump]

So, lets re-cap:

It seems what the OP has is a "show" fireplace (not for heat, but for show).

You don't know how to operate it?

Ok, on the wall near the fireplace there is a silver looking dial and possibly a tool that comes with it (if not you might have to go to Home Depot to buy it). Basically you turn that dial with the tool (you are opening the gas line to the fireplace).
Then, there's a switch (like a light switch) that is on the wall to actually turn on the fireplace).
But I suspect the gas line is off, so you turn it on, then you actually have to turn on the fireplace pilot light...then it will work. Get a match and strike it, thus turning on the fireplace.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by forestgump

So, lets re-cap:


But I suspect the gas line is off, so you turn it on, then you actually have to turn on the fireplace pilot light...then it will work. Get a match and strike it, thus turning on the fireplace.

Mine won't light unless I go through a Rube Goldbergesque series of tasks to get the pilot light on and KEEP it on. Lighting a match won't do it with my vanity fireplace. So keep that in mind, if you're having trouble.

[macgeek]

Yea, It's basically a trophy fireplace (big logs baby)
But the tightwad jew in me, wants to MAXIMIZE the efficiency of it
and actually get some useful heat out of it.

I compromised and close the vent halfway, and added a carbon monoxide detector in the room as well, as a safety.

They have these tube mounts that you use instead of the metal grill
that the fake logs sit on, and they add heat as well.

Since my fireplace was also this Rube Goldberg procedure of turning on the gas (with a old skate type key) then opening the glass door,
pulling the chainmail screen apart, sticking the LIT match into the right corner of the log, and hoping the puff doesn't singe your hair

I added a BBQ (push a button to make a spark) lighter
a lot safer and easier



Thanks for all the advice

Jonathan