Does anyone know anything about gas fireplaces

[mhortsch]

Ill post my question after I know someone does.

 

[tdog]

I sold them for about 2 seasons. I know a little. Post your question and I'll do my best.

 

[hornetguy]

do you mean do we know how to build them? work on them? light them? What kind of expertise are you looking for? I grew up in West Texas where nearly ALL heaters and water heaters are natural gas. Most fireplaces have natural gas plumbed into them. I am a licensed professional home inspector.
Ask away.
If I don't know, it doesn't hurt my feelings to TELL you I don't know.
:whistling:

 

[mhortsch]

Just hooked ours up this weekend. Wondering if my flame is normal, since it was a floor/demo model. I basically have one main centralized flamed that over powers the rest... Im starting to feel more comfortable about it. But if I turn it up past medium, the flame hits the top of the inside of the stove. Is this normal?

 

[AVB]

I've had a gas fireplace for about 8 years now have never seen the flame get that high even when almost maxed.

 

[tdog]

What type of unit is it?

Gas Logs, Blue Flame, Ceramic Plaque?

Also what type of gas are you on?

Natural or Propane?



Edituh, you said fireplace. Sorry. Are they gas logs?

 

[mhortsch]

I dont think they are gas logs. Its a direct vent natural gas freestanding stove.

Heat N Glo Mission-Bay II

The logs are a sort of foam material.

 

[tdog]

I dont think they are gas logs. Its a direct vent natural gas freestanding stove.

Heat N Glo Mission-Bay II

The logs are a sort of foam material.

[snapback]246829[/snapback]​

Yeah that is a gas log set. They are a direct vent. If they are direct vent then the size of the flame doesn't matter. If they are a vent-free unit then the flame cannot touch anything, not even the logs.

Normally a vent-free unit has the foam logs and a vented unit has concrete logs.

Do you have an open stove pipe exhaust?

 

[AVB]

Really? I have a vent free and my logs are some hard material and when I was looking at a bigger one at Lowes their logs were a solid material for the vent free fireplaces. Is there any reason for the use of foam logs instead of concrete ones?

Normally a vent-free unit has the foam logs and a vented unit has concrete logs.

Do you have an open stove pipe exhaust?

[snapback]246834[/snapback]​

 

[Wurm]

Just the thought of Foam + Fire scares the hell out of me.

 

[Ekans]

Just the thought of Foam + Fire scares the hell out of me.

[snapback]246923[/snapback]​

I had the same thought..

 

[IgwanaRob]

Just the thought of Foam + Fire scares the hell out of me.

[snapback]246923[/snapback]​

I had the same thought..

[snapback]246938[/snapback]​

Foam is what is used to put out the big fires (think airports, etc.)

 

[mhortsch]

I dont think they are gas logs. Its a direct vent natural gas freestanding stove.

Heat N Glo Mission-Bay II

The logs are a sort of foam material.

[snapback]246829[/snapback]​

Yeah that is a gas log set. They are a direct vent. If they are direct vent then the size of the flame doesn't matter. If they are a vent-free unit then the flame cannot touch anything, not even the logs.

Normally a vent-free unit has the foam logs and a vented unit has concrete logs.

Do you have an open stove pipe exhaust?

[snapback]246834[/snapback]​

Im not sure what an open stove pipe exhaust is, but I do have the black pipe coming out the top of the stove that goes through my wall, with a termination cap on the outside! But the logs are indead a foam like material. I just want to make sure that there shouldn't be more then 1 main flame, cuz that could mean that's a problem with my burner. But also, if I want to turn it up past medium, that its ok for the flame to hit the top.

 

[BrownDevil]

All I know about gas stoves is that is the only way to go when making tortillas :love:

 

[tdog]

Then the size of the flame should be inconsequential if you have a vented unit. Any impurities will be lost out the flu. Traditionally 60% of the heat is sent out the pipe which means you should have a higher BTU rating on the unit. Vent-free units cannot have more than 40k BTU's. If you are still concerned then you might want to get the burner blown out.

I would e-mail the company if your are uncomfortable.

 

[tdog]

Really?  I have a vent free and my logs are some hard material and when I was looking at a bigger one at Lowes their logs were a solid material for the vent free fireplaces.  Is there any reason for the use of foam logs instead of concrete ones?

Normally a vent-free unit has the foam logs and a vented unit has concrete logs.

Do you have an open stove pipe exhaust?

[snapback]246834[/snapback]​

[snapback]246916[/snapback]​

Concrete tends to hold up longer which is beneficial in a vented unit where the flame touches the logs. If you notice in your vent-free unit the burner and logs are designed so that the flame comes up in between the logs without touching them. If the flame touched the logs or anything else then it would put of impurities such as carbon monoxide. The only benefit of the foam logs that I am aware of is aesthetic. The foam logs tend to look more real than the concrete. The foam logs are actually technology designed by NASA, it is the same material on the space shuttles used as a heat shield for re-entry into the atmosphere. There is a fool proof safety system on the vent-free units that will shut it down before the oxygen level gets too low and the carbon monoxide level gets too high. They are very safe units.


Edit: There has never been a recorded death due to the failure of the safety system.

 

[AVB]

The flames do touch the front of the logs and it is supposed to. There are some flake things on the logs that glow like embers in the flame. No flame, no glowing embers. I guess there are a number of ways to go about a vent free fireplace log.

 

[mhortsch]

Then the size of the flame should be inconsequential if you have a vented unit. Any impurities will be lost out the flu. Traditionally 60% of the heat is sent out the pipe which means you should have a higher BTU rating on the unit. Vent-free units cannot have more than 40k BTU's. If you are still concerned then you might want to get the burner blown out.

I would e-mail the company if your are uncomfortable.

[snapback]247217[/snapback]​

Can I use my wet/dry vac to clean out the burner? If I use the soft brush attachment

 

[tdog]

The flames do touch the front of the logs and it is supposed to. There are some flake things on the logs that glow like embers in the flame. No flame, no glowing embers. I guess there are a number of ways to go about a vent free fireplace log.

[snapback]247233[/snapback]​

Let me back up. There are different colors to the flames which are different temperatures. a blue flame is okay to touch the logs which is what you have touching the logs to create the embers look. A yellow flame cannot touch anything. Sorry I forgot about that.

 

[tdog]

Can I use my wet/dry vac to clean out the burner? If I use the soft brush attachment

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I am not real sure about how to clean the burners. I think it needs to be blown out.