Gas log fireplace (city hall, house, inspections)

[Bigfoot424]

Anyone here use or have had a gas log set up installed in your fireplace? We have a fireplace but rarely use it any longer, at least using wood. It's not very efficient except for heating the one room it is in. I might have one installed for the wife who hates being cold while in this room watching TV. Any company in the NOVA area you'd feel comfortable recommending? Was it difficult going through the process with permits and inspections?

[sullyguy]

I do not have personal experience with these guys but, anecdotally, have heard good things about them - especially the fact that their showroom has a gajillion working fireplaces: gas fireplace retailer. I'm sure, however, that any permits/etc would be handled by them, not by you.

[awhile back I had a gas stove installed - that required a new branch off an existing gas installation. The gas fitter installed a "manifold" that will allow future gas devices, such as a conversion of our wood-burning fireplace - if we choose to do so. During all that I do not remember any separate inspection, probably because the gas fitter was properly licensed]

[7 VII 7]

Have you thought about a blower being installed in the fireplace? There are also inserts that you can install. Focuses the heat to be blown out into the room/house. Cheaper and wont have to deal with a rising gas bill.

[Fallout Zone]

Just so you know, most gas logs don't actually throw out a lot of heat. They are great for ease of use and aesthetics. If you are really looking to warm up a room, I'd go with an insert like the poster above suggests. It'll be more expensive, but also more efficient and more useful.

[GCPA]

We converted our fireplace to gas about 3 years ago. My husband ran the line around the outside of the house to the fireplace himself (with the guidance of the Loudoun County permit office) since the quotes to do this were extreme. We then purchased the set from Lawn and Leisure in Sterling. They hooked us up with a guy that installed the set. County came back out after installation to double check. Really no hassles at all.

This is our main source of heat in the winter time....plenty to keep our 1700 sf house quite warm and toasty.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by 7 VII 7

Have you thought about a blower being installed in the fireplace? There are also inserts that you can install. Focuses the heat to be blown out into the room/house. Cheaper and wont have to deal with a rising gas bill.

The existing blower died several years ago. Any wood fire, using the blower, would run you out of this small room. I like the idea of being able to use a gas log fire that you can control.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by sullyguy

I do not have personal experience with these guys but, anecdotally, have heard good things about them - especially the fact that their showroom has a gajillion working fireplaces: gas fireplace retailer. I'm sure, however, that any permits/etc would be handled by them, not by you.

[awhile back I had a gas stove installed - that required a new branch off an existing gas installation. The gas fitter installed a "manifold" that will allow future gas devices, such as a conversion of our wood-burning fireplace - if we choose to do so. During all that I do not remember any separate inspection, probably because the gas fitter was properly licensed]

Thanks for the info.

[South Jersey Styx]

Mmmm, we did the opposite --- converted a gas log fireplace back to wood-burning. We hired a local HVAC guy since he needed to cap the lines and check everything.

As far as permits, it differs per city/county. A phone call to the county or city hall -- they can tell you.

[Carlingtonian]

We had a wood-burning fireplace in our old house and have a gas fireplace now. The gas is definitely simpler, and my wife *thinks* it's safer--but there is no substitute for the hiss, pop, sizzle, and aroma of a real wood fire. And it did put out some serious heat to about 3 feet away.

As to the safety, if you have a glass door or chain-mail screen, the sparks don't get out of the front. And if you have the chimney cleaned every so often, you don't have to worry about creosote buildup. That said, the ceramic chimney liner in our old house was shot, so we had to have it replaced with a titanium one, to the tune of about $5000. (This also included installation of an easy-access cast-iron cleaning door on the exterior of the chimney outdoors.)

The gas fireplace we have now is lower maintenance and will probably be cheaper to run over the years--but we find it such an undersatisfying substitute for the real thing that we hardly bother turning it on.

I would bet that no permit is needed to retrofit back to wood, since the chimney is already there.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Carlington

And if you have the chimney cleaned every so often, you don't have to worry about creosote buildup. That said, the ceramic chimney liner in our old house was shot, so we had to have it replaced with a titanium one, to the tune of about $5000.

Just curious: what is the longevity of the titanium liner vs the clay liner and cost?

This is a good point to keep in mind -- the venting for whichever system the OP chooses.