NG Fireplace Help

[D45]

I would like to get my gas fireplace up and running

Bought and moved into the house about 3 years ago, used it 3 times because it was a PITA to get working

From my view, it looks like a wood burning fireplace that was converted into a NG fireplace

The flue opens and closed fine, so vents is not an issue

In my old house, which was MUCH newer and NICER, I just let to gas run on the pilot year round and then flipped a switch on the wall for flames

I am not sure I want or need a complete new insert, but maybe I can be talked into it also.......

The current fireplace is set into the wall corner, so the inside is oddly shaped, not a rectangle and not a V

I cannot get a spark to light the gas

Bad ignition or what?

I took it all apart......is this pressure activated or should there be a battery on there for spark?

Pretty similar to a gas grill....right?

When I push the ignition button it doesn't pop

 

[D45]

Re: NG Fireplace

Every time it will have to be lite with a match or lighter?

Turn the knob to pilot, push in the red button and light it with a match?

Put it back together, turned the control knob to pilot, held the red button in for 30 seconds and used a lighter to ignite the pilot

After holding the button in the pilot stayed lite

Then turned the control knob and it fired up

 

[D45]

Re: NG Fireplace

I found a new thermocouple in the basement and installed it

The pilot flame is still pretty large and loud

I found this screw on the bottom of the valve and tried tightening it.....which, to me, should have decreased the flame. Same

 

[D45]

Does this all look homemade and pieced together?

Worth getting all new guts, like the valve, burners, etc?

Or fix it and run it?

 

[Ironhorse74]

That is not a gas fireplace. That is a gas logset in a wood burning zero clearence fireplace. You have a thermocouple to keep the pilot on. Then a valve to turn on the main burner. There is a piezo igniter that provides a spark. It is probably somewhere between 60 and 100,000 BTU and a net heat loss to the house. Don't forget to make sure the damper is open. By law there should be a clamp to keep the damper partially open.

Throw the whole mess away and go get a gas insert or turn it into a planter.

Just my .02

 

[D45]

Ok........so will a completely new gas insert fit into this oddly shaped setup?

 

[gungatim]

any insert should fit, just measure the width. they are made to fit newer pre-fab's as well as older built in place masonry units. I imagine that whole metal unit comes out, and there is fire brick behind it. it is a REAL fireplace right? not something a DIY'er made?

 

[D45]

Well inside the fireplace, behind the metal chain screen everything is steel. I cannot see any exposed fire brick

The steel is in there TIGHT, and appears to have been built first and then all the masonry built around it?

I will do some more digging inside tonight and get more pics.........I will take back out the "fake logs" and look around

 

[D45]

Inside the fireplace, its all lined with steel, all the way up to the flue

Is it possible it was never a wood burner and was always used for gas?
Here is the setup:

The logs weigh like 30 pounds each

Here is the grate:

 

[D45]

Here are misc inside shots:

 

[D45]

Here's the inside looking up

 

[D45]

Everything looks like a hack job inside there..........so, how hard would it be for me to remove all the 1970s fake rock wall, all of it

It is just dated and dark, and I think something newer would really help the room look more modern

It runs floor to ceiling, including a nice cedar beam on the mantle

 

[Ironhorse74]

Looks like an old Preway to me. Is there a piece of steel that looks like a funnel on the cap?

No big deal to tear it out. Me I would still put a gas insert in it. I don't like Gas logsets like yours.

 

[D45]

That would be my plan, to put in a nice new gas insert

But if I am going that far I would also like the brown rock with black mortar torn out

 

[Ironhorse74]

Take a picture of the cap. I am curious.

 

[D45]

Take a picture of the cap. I am curious.

The cap outside on top of the chimney?

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

Looks like an old Preway to me. Is there a piece of steel that looks like a funnel on the cap?

No big deal to tear it out. Me I would still put a gas insert in it. I don't like Gas logsets like yours.

Hopefully I'm not thread jacking, but I was considering getting a gas insert also to replace my current gas fireplace similar to the OP. What I have in there is a joke and is just a waste of gas. Only provides heat if you're next to it but my wife insists that it's always on.


Any tips on what brands to get for gas inserts?

What do these conversions usually cost?


Thanks

 

[Ironhorse74]

The cap outside on top of the chimney?

Yes the cap on top of the chimney.

 

[Ironhorse74]

Hopefully I'm not thread jacking, but I was considering getting a gas insert also to replace my current gas fireplace similar to the OP. What I have in there is a joke and is just a waste of gas. Only provides heat if you're next to it but my wife insists that it's always on.


Any tips on what brands to get for gas inserts?

What do these conversions usually cost?


Thanks

You have the gas line run and that is a major expense. Depending on what you buy probably 3-6k.

As far as what brands, I am fairly biased. I work for a manufacturer of gas inserts. Where do you live?

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

You have the gas line run and that is a major expense. Depending on what you buy probably 3-6k.

As far as what brands, I am fairly biased. I work for a manufacturer of gas inserts. Where do you live?

So my situation is the same as the OP, there's already a gas line, it's just a gas "logset" fireplace.

The gas inserts I've seen really do a nice job actually throwing out heat.

With a gas line already there, is it something a DIYer could handle to make a conversion?

 

[Ironhorse74]

So my situation is the same as the OP, there's already a gas line, it's just a gas "logset" fireplace.

The gas inserts I've seen really do a nice job actually throwing out heat.

With a gas line already there, is it something a DIYer could handle to make a conversion?

It isn't rocket science. Run a couple of aluminum flexible liners down the chimney and then assemble the insert and adjust it. What city and state? I used to be the training manager for a fireplace company. I may know someone local to you.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

It isn't rocket science. Run a couple of aluminum flexible liners down the chimney and then assemble the insert and adjust it. What city and state? I used to be the training manager for a fireplace company. I may know someone local to you.

Phoenix, Az area.

Not really "fireplace" country but my wife is always insisting on using it in the winter, I'd like to at least have a fireplace that makes heat and not just spin my gas meter.

 

[D45]

You have the gas line run and that is a major expense. Depending on what you buy probably 3-6k.

As far as what brands, I am fairly biased. I work for a manufacturer of gas inserts. Where do you live?

Yes, I already have a 1/2" NG line ran......which I would do myself anyways, not paying anyone

I just ran 50+ feet of 3/4" black pipe into my garage, for a heater

I live in Indiana

 

[Ironhorse74]

Phoenix, Az area.

Not really "fireplace" country but my wife is always insisting on using it in the winter, I'd like to at least have a fireplace that makes heat and not just spin my gas meter.

Yeah I knew some guys in Flagstaff but not anyone in your area. The problem you are going to have is overheating the room. I would probably try and find something fairly inefficient. Maybe a Valor?

 

[D45]

Here's two quick pics I took this morning

 

[Ironhorse74]

Is that steel, painted to look like brick?

 

[D45]

Is that steel, painted to look like brick?

Not certain......it looks like a faux brick from the ground and there are rust spots

I would have to climb up there to verify, which wont happen till better weather

If it is steel, what info would this mean?

 

[D45]

Is that steel, painted to look like brick?

Bumping this up as I was finally able to get on the roof and check

It is definitely all metal, no mortar or brick......what does this mean, that it was never setup to be a wood burner?

I am going to tear out the fireplace fake stone and put in something more modern, to update the room

 

[D45]

I am going to start removing all the old faux rock this winter, looks like a PITA process

Then I will look for a fireplace insert and make everything new

 

[gungatim]

Bumping this up as I was finally able to get on the roof and check

It is definitely all metal, no mortar or brick......what does this mean, that it was never setup to be a wood burner?

I am going to tear out the fireplace fake stone and put in something more modern, to update the room

hard to say, my pre-fab can do either/or and has double wall stainless chimney. it burns wood, but to add gas, there is a knockout in the pre-cast firebox for the gas line should you convert it. likely it can burn wood but I'm not an expert...

 

[D45]

Is that steel, painted to look like brick?

It is definitely steel.......with some sort of wrap or paint to look like brick

There is not a small diameter vent either going up, its a very large duct work with a flue that is pretty high up

 

[D45]

The demo job will be my winter project

Just helped a friend demo his and build it all new with a hearth, mantle, new insert, etc

 

[D45]

Demo will be started this weekend, to see what lurks behind the fake stone

Excited to get this updated and have a fireplace that works.......properly