I want fire for more than just looks

[iwantfire]

We just bought a house, and it has a gas fireplace that produces no heat. The previous owner left an instruction manual, and it looks like these are vented gas logs (u-burners). We want something that will produce heat.

You have to turn the logs on using a nob on the inside of the fireplace.

We would like something that is hooked to thermostat, and possibly can be controlled with a remote. Is it possible to convert to something like this? We do have a chimney and have a feeling it was initially a wood burning fireplace, since the house was built in 1969.

Any suggestions?
I don't really know much about gas fireplaces, I just know I love to sit in front of a warm fire

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Tiffany

 

[RoosterBoy]

ill just tell you what id do if it where my house. i take that log lamp and throw it right out to the dump. then id bring in a nice new wood insert this way here you will have the nice view of a fire with the warmth of wood and the nice smell of a wood burning stove on a cold night

mmmm boy i cant Waite till cold weather

good luck
Jason

 

[wg_bent]

Hi Tiffany,

Around here most people have wood burning stoves. I've had 0 clearance gas fireplaces in houses in the past and they do produce a lot of heat. As much as a small wood stove running full out, but will do it hour after hour. The flames don't look much like a real fire, but they are convenient.

I believe you can get gas inserts, and I know you can get gas stoves. A Woodstock soapstone gas stove is very sweet.

I'd look into the gas insert route. Something like this: (broken link removed to http://www.lopistoves.com/product.asp?dept_id=9&sku=100)

 

[suematteva]

Not sure of the size, if they are looking for gas stove, check Brother Barts, in the classifieds sale/wanted had a couple new Jotuls for great deal.

Might be a good option if fits their install.

 

[Toolman]

You could also consider a good pellet insert. I just installed one in a masonry fireplace, and it does give you an excellent amout of heat!

You can get gas inserts. The logs you have sound like vented logs, which are good for looks, but as efficient (or less) than a wood fire in a conventional fireplace... they will suck more heat up the chimney than they will put out in the room.

A Pellet insert can be controlled by a thermostat, just like a gas insert.

 

[wg_bent]

You could also consider a good pellet insert. I just installed one in a masonry fireplace, and it does give you an excellent amout of heat!

You can get gas inserts. The logs you have sound like vented logs, which are good for looks, but as efficient (or less) than a wood fire in a conventional fireplace... they will suck more heat up the chimney than they will put out in the room.

A Pellet insert can be controlled by a thermostat, just like a gas insert.

Yes, but given her post, she wants looks AND convenience ( a knob) Sounds like pellet bags wouldn't be the answer here. Plust all the pellet stoves I've seen running (quadrafires) look like a blow torch. Maybe the logs help or other MFGs are better.

 

[Toolman]

Yes, but given her post, she wants looks AND convenience ( a knob) Sounds like pellet bags wouldn't be the answer here. Plust all the pellet stoves I've seen running (quadrafires) look like a blow torch. Maybe the logs help or other MFGs are better.

Yes, but she said that she wanted MORE than looks. That runing "blow torch" looks like good heat to me!

I would stay away from the logs, however, unless you really like to clean. They just seem like another place for ash to gather.

 

[wg_bent]

Yes, but given her post, she wants looks AND convenience ( a knob) Sounds like pellet bags wouldn't be the answer here. Plust all the pellet stoves I've seen running (quadrafires) look like a blow torch. Maybe the logs help or other MFGs are better.

Yes, but she said that she wanted MORE than looks. That runing "blow torch" looks like good heat to me!

I would stay away from the logs, however, unless you really like to clean. They just seem like another place for ash to gather.

I should have qualified. If you add fake logs to a quadrafire or purchase a stove that's not a quad pellet stove (Harmon?, brekwell? Lopi etc..) maybe the flame looks better.