Fireplace question

[nightrythm]

We have a gas fireplace with cement logs. The tubes run under the logs, not through them. It looks like the logs can be removed. Can I take the fuckers out and burn real wood in my fireplace?

Comments

[deviantgrrrl.livejournal.com]

Generally not. In my experience, the gas fireplaces don't have a working chimney.

[jeremyseip.livejournal.com]

Just to be a pain, possibly, verging on probably giventhe age of the house. The Carbon monoxide from a unregulated flame has to go somewhere. Stick your head into the fireplace and look up. Regardless you should get a chimmney person out to look at it, and clean whatever you have for a vent -- What ever that is will determine what you can do.

It was stylish for awhile to drop fakey logs over the gas pipe which was used to help start the fire. If that's the case you will be fine.

-j

[ebenbrooks.livejournal.com]

I agree with this guy.

I my case, I can't, because my fireplace was designed as a gas fireplace, but many older fireplaces were designed to burn wood, but had a gas "starter system" to get them going. Definitely get a chimney guy out to look at it first, but I'd be willing to bet you're okay, if your house is older than, say 30-40 years.

[nightrythm]

The house is over 100! *grin* God I love old houses.

[nightrythm]

Ah, I must hire a professional, got it. Better safe than sorry with something like that.

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

(yeah, we need a pro to come check ours out before we light it up, too, and we KNOW ours was used for wood recently. We just need to make sure it doesn't need repair/cleaning first...)

[nightrythm]

It's the research into finding someone affordable and reliable I have no interest in doing.

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

::chuckle:: same here...

[nakeygirl.livejournal.com]

Hmm that makes me want to use the pot belly stove again soon!I love fire.

[nightrythm]

What's stopping you?

[nakeygirl.livejournal.com]

not sure really.But we do always wait til its reeeeeally cold, because damn, does that thing heat up the house!

[nightrythm]

Want one. The heater at home is not working well. Which reminds me, must contact roomies.

Items one two and three...

[thesaruswrex.livejournal.com]

Ok my friends.

Item one. Buy a Carbon Mondoxide detector. Buy two. Place one, per directions in the room that it will be used. Place the second nearby, just outside of the room. Change batteries every 3 months, not 12. Near a babies room/bathroom in the hall is not a bad idea... Date the front of the detector with the "New Batteries Installed" date. If Memory serves CO1 flows downhill, but can leak from the top of an attic if there is a high leak in the chimney.

Item Two: Hire a professional to look over your chimmney type flues. Put a little note with sticky type lables that says, Pull to Open, Push to close, just in case people are stupid, or guests are using the fireplace.

I have been at a party where someone thoughtfully "opened" the flue, causing a total evacuation of over 100 coughing/spluttering/pissed off people, most of whome forgot their clothes and car keys, but one of whom thoughtully called 911, reporting a fire. It was entertaining for the firemen, who suddenly couldn't find their rescue blankets. Thankfully it was 42 degrees outside and not 17.

Item Three: ALthough she wants to keep some, My mom has approximately, one british "Fuck-ton", (equals approximately 15 Cords) of Hardwood (35 year old Chinese elm), and another 3 cords of softwood (45 year old Pine) that is Air Dried, and ready to burn. You may have to split the pieces that are larger than 2 feet in diameter. There is also 18 foot high "stump" which could come down if someone has a chain saw, and that would be appreciated. (Hire a registered tree person next time mom)

You load the truck, I will help, if I am nearby. Jacuzzi available afterwards... She is in Palos Verdes.

With Natural gas projected at 39-45% increases this winter, wood is a good thing.

Re: Items one two and three...

[nightrythm]

Gracias.

[mountain-spirit.livejournal.com]

i see you have lots of advice on this one.

first, i used to live in Tahoe and my ex sold fireplaces and woodstoves there.

that said-

call an expert. they need to inspect your chimney to make sure its 1. clean (so you don't have a chimney fire 2. can draft properly

then you need to figure out if when they converted it to a gas fireplace if they screwed anything else up. also you don't want to throw wood in there and have the gas lines explode (duh)

i'm sure you can get this working, but it will likely require some professional assistance.