What are Gas Logs Really Good For?

What are Gas Logs Really Good For?
By Karen Duke

Suggested Uses for Gas Logs

Vented gas logs are designed to mimic a wood burning fire in an open fireplace, offering the same realism in both looks and performance they re best chosen simply for decoration and ambience.

Vented Gas Logs are not meant to heat your home - they are designed as a substitute for an open burning wood fire. Vent-free appliances of any kind - including vent-free logs - are designed to be used for short periods of time as a supplemental source of heat. Since vent-free appliances (also known as ventless or unvented) actually “vent” into your room, side effects of long-term use can include excessive mold, mildew and poor indoor air quality. Again, not an appliance that s really designed for regular, day-to-day heating use.

Just like you wouldn t try to heat your house with wood in your open fireplace, gas logs are not meant for this job, either. Gas logs are intended as a means of having a beautiful fire at the touch of a button, and to save you the trouble of toting wood and cleaning up ashes. Vented gas logs use a lot of gas to give you this pleasure at little to no efficiency. If you require or expect a substantial amount of heat, then please consider retrofitting your fireplace with a gas fireplace insert. A gas fireplace insert can heat just like a woodstove but with all the convenience of gas, and use FAR less fuel than gas logs to do the job. (We use a gas insert as a primary source of heat in our own home.)

If you have multiple fireplaces consider gas logs in smaller rooms or rooms that are used less frequently. On a really cold night a gas insert will keep you toasty warm, while gas logs may actually remove heat from the house while the fire burns with the damper open. A gas insert is also an excellent source of emergency backup heat as they can be used without electricity.

Can I put gas logs in my wood stove?
No.
Wood stoves are meant to burn “airtight” or with controlled combustion. Gas appliances actually need excessive amounts of air in order to burn the gas properly. Failure to provide adequate combustion air can result in an explosion.

Can I put gas logs in my prefabricated metal fireplace?
Maybe.
If there is a gas line knockout, commonly noted as a dimpled depression in the refractory “firebrick” then you can install gas logs and perhaps even a gas insert. Check manufacturer s instructions for both the fireplace and the gas logs or insert before installation. Never drill holes through the firebox in an unspecified area to run a gas line - use only the knockout access provided. If there s no knockout then don t install gas logs into a prefab fireplace!

Prefabricated wood burning fireplaces were designed to be used to burn wood and with the damper open, which dissipates the heat. Closing the damper and keeping all that continuous heat in the box may cause excessive heat transfer to the walls behind your fireplace, so installing vent-free gas logs into prefab wood burning fireplaces is not generally allowed unless the fireplace has been safety listed for this use.

My chimney sweep says my chimney is unsafe to burn a wood fire in. Can I install gas logs?
No. Vented gas logs require an operational chimney and fireplace that are suitable for burning wood. Vented gas logs can produce tremendous amounts of soot and fumes and with a faulty chimney they may not exit your home properly. Soot is the least of your worries with a faulty chimney soot makes a mess but fumes (including carbon monoxide) can kill you. Don t take this lightly! The chimney is very important in the functionality and safety of your gas appliance.

The chimney in my old house was knocked down and only the firebox remains.

The Benefits of Gas Fireplace Logs
The Benefits of Gas Fireplace LogsBy Eric Morris Everyone loves the sound of crackling logs and the red glow of golden embers. Not everyone wants to deal with the headaches of a wood-burning fireplace, though. In this era of endless multi-tasking, who has time to chop wood and kindle flames? ...

The Reasons Why Gas Fireplace Logs Heat Your Chimney Better Than Your Room
The Reasons Why Gas Fireplace Logs Heat Your Chimney Better Than Your RoomBy Carl Herkes Natural gas is on the rise. It is predicted to double in cost this year. Are you afraid to use your gas fireplace because you know those gas logs don t throw enough heat? Are you frustrated because the...

Choosing the Right Gas Fireplace for Your Home
Choosing the Right Gas Fireplace for Your HomeBy Randy Myers One of the most beautiful and practical ways to spruce up your home s dcor is with the addition of a gas fireplace or fireplaces, if your budget allows. Today, gas fireplaces are available in every style and size imaginable to fit ...

Natural Gas Grills
Natural Gas GrillsBy Richard Romando Natural gas grills are all the craze in outdoor cooking, and it isn t surprising why. Read on to find out it is and what benefits you can get from it to decide if it is right for you. The advantages of using a natural gas grill Natural gas grills are ext...

Alternative Heating Through Gas Log Fireplaces
Alternative Heating Through Gas Log FireplacesBy Riley Hendersen For some, the fireplace is the focal point of the home - a place where the family gathers for quiet time, and where visitors congregate for conversation and cocktails. But when it comes to wood burning fireplaces, much of the he...

Even vent-free gas logs require a chimney to be present, except in specially made vent-free zero clearance boxes. Occasionally you may find a building inspector who will specify construction of a masonry firebox and allow this, but do so only with his careful supervision this installation won t be advised by the appliance manufacturer.

My new home was built with a gas fireplace in it, but I like the looks of an open fire. Can I remove the glass?
No. If your system has a fixed glass pane on it then it will malfunction if you remove the glass.
Can I change the logs that came with it my prefab fireplace?
No. A different set of logs may perform differently and adversely affect the performance of the fireplace and/or the way the burner is designed to operate.

Can I convert my prefabricated gas fireplace to wood?
No. The construction design of the firebox and the heat rating of the chimney are quite different. The chimney requirements are much different! A house fire or explosion can occur if you attempt this conversion.

Can I add a blower grate to my gas logs so that I get more heat? Not a good idea. Air movement within the firebox chamber may adversely affect the operation of your logs, putting soot and fumes into your house, and most gas log manufacturers specifically state in the installation manual NOT to do this. If you need more heat, consider installing a vented gas insert. These units are specially designed with a glass front to keep heated air from escaping up your chimney convective chambers and blowers combined with a smaller venting system means most of the gas is used to provide usable heat back into the room.

*Article reprinted with permission of Victorian Fireplace Shop

Karen Duke is a fireplace, chimney and hearth industry expert of over 25 years in both the retail and service sectors. She is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and has numerous hearth industry certifications. She is the founder and webmaster of http://www.TheFireplaceChannel.com and she is the co-founder and webmaster of http://www.TheVictorianFireplace.com , which is one of the largest online fireplace retailers in the world. She makes her home in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Karen s contact information can be found on either of the above sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Duke
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-are-Gas-Logs-Really-Good-For?&id=282993

.

Tags: fireplace gas logs, vent free logs, vented gas logs, gas fireplace insert, mold mildew