Gas Fireplace Logs

A-37 · #1 10-13-2018, 10:10 PM

Finally have a natural gas line along our road and have gas supplied to the house.

We have a Franklin stove vented through a thick steel plate covering the fireplace opening. We'd like to do away with burning wood and get a vented gas log system. It would go into the Franklin stove.

Would like some recommendations on top quality gas logs.

Golddollar · #2 10-13-2018, 10:24 PM

Now that you have natural gas service I would like to recommend another addition to the house. I put in a Generac home generator that is powered by natural gas. It is big enough to power the entire house and everything in it. I grew up in the snow belt of NE Ohio so to me it seems like a good idea to provide against power failures.

Big E3 · #3 10-14-2018, 12:46 AM

Back when I wanted to install a gas log system in my wood stove, I was talked out of it. I was told it is very dangerous to have gas inside a metal container in your house. Gas can escape, build up and create a bomb. I went with an older style natural gas free-standing stove in place of the wood fire box type. Just something to think about, good luck and be safe.

alwslate · #4 10-14-2018, 06:10 AM

I'm going to be downsizing to a new smaller home pretty soon. I'm not
up to dealing with wood and ashes any more so my new house will have
a direct vent zero clearance gas fireplace that will use propane since
there's no gas line out where the house is. Anyone have any insights to
share about gas log fireplaces? Brands, good or bad? Not trying to
hijack the thread, just seems like the OP and I have similar needs.

ExRanger714 · #5 10-14-2018, 07:51 AM

Your new gas co. probably sells and installs appliances. I saved a lot by buying a set of non-vented lpg logs someone else ordered and then refused over a cosmetic issue. A remote control is nice.

BigBoy99 · #6 10-14-2018, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-37

Would like some recommendations on top quality gas logs.

I always thought that you had to go the gas forest to get the gas trees which were made into gas logs!

A-37 · #7 10-14-2018, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big E3

Back when I wanted to install a gas log system in my wood stove, I was talked out of it. I was told it is very dangerous to have gas inside a metal container in your house. Gas can escape, build up and create a bomb. I went with an older style natural gas free-standing stove in place of the wood fire box type. Just something to think about, good luck and be safe.

Thanks for the tip. I found this:

Gas logs cannot be installed in wood burning stoves or gas burning stoves. Wood stoves are designed to use far less air than wood burning fireplaces, so in most cases they have a 6" diameter vent that is not enough to properly exhaust the fumes given off by gas logs. Wood stoves generally tend to get hotter inside (because that is what they are designed to do) so the heat build-up can destroy the safety pilot assembly of a gas log.

Re the Generac tip: The new interior gas lines will have a "T" and shut-off valve ready for a Generac installation. I'm using a Honda 6.5 kVA (110/220) back-up generator and can almost power the whole house by tripping unnecessary CBs. Still, a Generac is the way to go. I'd still keep the Honda just in case some natural disaster cuts my NG supply. Nothing like a back-up for a back-up.

S&WsRsweet · #8 10-14-2018, 10:34 AM

The way to go would be get an on demand gas water heater if yours is an older tank version. Find out if your gas company charges a minimum bill in months you don't use gas if they do you will pay a mi imum bill just for being hooked to the line whether you us any gas or not .In that situation you need to have appliances that burn gas 12 months such as water heater ,range for instance. Right now as a new customer you can probably get great deals replacing any electric appliances with gas I ha e even known gas companies to give free water heaters you just pay for installation costs. Personaly I like propane better as I like having my energy supply on property and we keep two 500 gallon tanks topped off .In extreme shortages I have seen gas companies either restrict or even cutt off service to non essential residential customers during times of as I said extreme shortage ( which is very rare ) . I might would keep my wood stove as a back up to my back up back up and opt for a freestanding vent free heater or fireplace which could serve heat and looks of fireplace .Empire is a great brand and American made by tne way. Explore you possibilities and think long term before you commit .

A-37 · #9 10-14-2018, 01:09 PM

S&WsRsweet,

I feel secure from the Zombie Apocalypse with everything I need for survival right in the home: Well water, oil heat, propane kitchen range, big generator, wood stove, a cache of drinking water, and a freezer full of food.

Some things will change when I convert to gas next week.

wundudnee · #10 10-14-2018, 06:15 PM

I don't remember the brand of our propane insert. It's an 18 inch and puts out some fair heat. I had had my flu skimmed, but just wasn't comfortable with a roaring wood fire. I didn't get the remote, however it's a simple quarter turn instant on with a standing pilot light. We think it looks pretty good and no ashes to carry or wood to cut.

mtgianni · #11 10-14-2018, 09:17 PM

Gas logs are listed as an "illuminating appliance". They are particularly made for aesthetics only, ie just to look at. The damper must be in all cases permanently fixed open. There is no case that any heat gain will occur with that type of product. I would bite the bullet and get a gas fireplace installed if you want heat. Your wallet will thank you. If you don't need to look at the flame check out Rennai space heaters.
Retired 37 yr gas pipefitter, 25 years in service 12 in measurement. PM if you want more specific information.

A-37 · #12 10-30-2018, 07:35 PM

mtgianni,

I like the idea of a vented Rinnai gas heater for my upstairs family room and still keep the Franklin stove as a back-up.

The pipefitter who ran my interior lines installed "T"s for a clothes dryer, a hot water heater, furnace, the kitchen range, and a planned exterior line running up the back side of the house for a possible Rinnai. He added a "T" and a plug at the meter for a planned Generac.

I installed the lines for the dryer and the kitchen range and hooked up both
Everything was pressure checked okay. I converted the range from propane to gas according to the instructions.

Purpose of this post:

1. Will a 1/2" pipe provide sufficient gas for an upstairs Rinnai or should it be a larger diameter? If so, what size?

2. I can run the lines but should I have the heating guy install the Rinnai?

Thanks for your help.

Drm50 · #13 10-30-2018, 10:12 PM

I've just gave away a fireplace inserted complete with logs and
glass screen. They are better than nothing but not to efficient.
I have been buying Ventless gas heaters from Tractor Supply.
They put out the heat and are available in different sizes. They also have dual separate gas systems in them. Will run off NG or
propane. Lowes has a gas log in Franklin Stove outfit, it also runs on NG or propane, but it is vented. I can't quite trust ventless gas
heaters. I always put in CO detectors with them. When I built my
house in 1975 you couldn't get on gas and put in electric forced air electric furnance. Now I have Tempstar gas Furnance that I
originally run on propane, finally got NG and changed furnace to
that. Living in rural area we have power outages in bad weather.
No power, your HI-E gas Furnance is useless. I have a Ventless
heater that I rig to cold air return of Furnance and back feed heat
though house. I have a flex gas line to hook it into Furnance gas line.

mtgianni · #14 10-31-2018, 12:28 PM

http://www.endot.com/OpenFile.aspx?p...&Type=1&pid=34
This should be a PDF for gas pipe sizes. It is dependent on the size of the heat load in thousands of BTU and the distance the line runs from the meter. In the table shown, a 44 thousand btu heater can run 50 feet with 1/2 in pipe with nothing else on that pipe.

The Rennai is fairly simple to install with a 2 1/2" hole in the exterior wall and the gas line connection the main tasks. The others are minor assembly and attaching it to the wall to prevent movement. Venting and air intake is through a flexible hose.

Jeff423 · #15 10-31-2018, 07:32 PM

I have a Lenox gas direct vent fireplace that puts out a lot of heat. It has a 30,000 BTU/hr input. With the ceiling fan in reverse it is adequate to heat the kitchen and living room. It brings in outside air for combustion so we aren't putting previously heated air up the flue.

Muley Gil · #16 10-31-2018, 08:34 PM

"Living in rural area we have power outages in bad weather."

Ain't that the truth! I'm on Appalachian Power and it seems like all it takes for the power to go out is a cloudy day.

I have a 5000 watt Champion (Chinese) gasoline generator. It almost always starts on the second pull of the rope. I have a separate line in the garage that plugs into the generator and it powers three 120v outlets in the house. I can run the heater, the ice box, coffee pot, microwave. I really need to have a 220v line run to the well.

A-37 · #17 11-22-2018, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtgianni

Gas logs are listed as an "illuminating appliance". They are particularly made for aesthetics only, ie just to look at. The damper must be in all cases permanently fixed open. There is no case that any heat gain will occur with that type of product. I would bite the bullet and get a gas fireplace installed if you want heat. Your wallet will thank you. If you don't need to look at the flame check out Rennai space heaters.
Retired 37 yr gas pipefitter, 25 years in service 12 in measurement. PM if you want more specific information.

I took your advice and bought a Rinnai 21K BTU direct vent heater. Overkill BTU for the 400 sq ft. room but it sure does the job.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rinnai-E...2CTN/306653484

Ran and pressure-checked the lines and installed the heater myself. Worked perfectly right out of the box. High quality, too. Probably because it's made in Japan and not China.