We built our has and had a gas line installed to the fireplace if we ever decided to install gas logs. I think we're getting to the point to install them (husband doesn't want them, but I'm working on it!). Any suggestions on what to get and is this something we can install ourselves? If not, who do you call to install? A plumber?

It's something you can do yourself if you're comfortable working with gas. The ones without pilot lights are the easiest to install. You can get kits from Amazon in the sub-$150 range. It's easy to install, just have to plumb the line from the opening to the log set. Most of the kits come with bendable tubing so it's not hard to do at all.

So looking on Amazon, it looks like the log kit can be bought for $150. What else do I need? Burner? Fireplaces Etc starts at $600...so I feel like I'm missing something!

Im at the same point. Why are the Amazon ones so cheap compared to the ones at home stores and specialty places?

Come on people. Buy cheap, expect cheap.

And comeby, dammit, you know I do fireplace stuff! Damn son.

Two types of gas logs, fiber logs (lightweight) and ceramic (heavy weight). Fiber will not radiate heat at all. Ceramic will. But overall, you will still only heat a small area around your fireplace. And as the heat mostly goes up the pipe, your fireplace is pulling cold air in through your windows and doors to even out the air.

I urge each of you, if you don't mind spending some money, get a gas fireplace insert. They are expensive, but you will be much happier than if you buy a set of ceramic logs.

Bonfire, talk to me about installing a blower.

I have a Superior system the builder installed.

My old gas fireplace put off a ton of heat but this one for some reason doesn't and it's really annoying to see a fire but feel very little heat.

Direct question, is a blower simple to install and will it generate more heat into the room?

Guilty.

You know, I looked at the site you told me and the prices got upwards of $1k quickly. I didn't want to spend that much. I guess I don't know the difference between an insert and buying logs. I thought they were one and the same.

I'm looking at it again now. I don't like the black outside trim in those. It looks exactly like it sounds. I want it to look just like a stone fireplace that burns wood...

Big nasty - ill check on your question. Do you know what brand your fireplace is? If you don't, who built your house and when?

Come by - go to casual living at 35 and Frankford. They have affordable ceramic logs and charge around $70 for entire install, which is cheeeeeeap. You may also try Yard Art in grapevine. I'm not sure if they have a store closer.

We are expensive, but offer the highest quality stuff.

Sorry big nasty, I glossed over that you have a Superior system. I don't jmknow if you can install a blower or not. Call a chimney sweep and just ask that exact question, make sure you mention the brand.

So the manual has a section for a blower, I assume I can install one.

I guess the question is more along the lines of will it result in a significant increase heat in the room?

If it's worth it, is it a DIY thing or a PITA?

If PITA who installs these things!

Blowers are worth it. Since the builder screwed you with a cheap wood burner, it is making the best of a bad situation. Just be patient with them, they take a while to heat up enough to put out heat.

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Blowers are worth it. Since the builder screwed you with a cheap wood burner, it is making the best of a bad situation. Just be patient with them, they take a while to heat up enough to put out heat.

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As Bonfire noted, blowers are worth it! As he also noted, you got screwed with a cheap wood burner so most all of your heat is going up in smoke, up the chimney; while fresh cool air is drawn into the house where ever you have a small opening, crack or crevice! An added blower would at least blow some of the heated air into your room versus up the chimney.

I learned this lesson with my very first house with a regular wood burning fireplace to which I eventually spent a few bucks and installed a rather cheap blower to get some heat into the room.

Since then, our second house also had a regular wood burning fireplace so when we renovated the living room area, I installed a return air grille in the ceiling directly above the fireplace about 5' from it. Then we procured a Quadra-Fire 5100i wood burning insert in that huge fireplace opening and walla, an extremely efficient wood burning machine that actually heats the room as well as the entire house. I turn the HVAC unit on low speed, build a fire and the whole house, approximately 2,700 sq ft, is maintained at a very comfortable 70 degrees. Load the sucker up with a few logs and it will provide heat for a good 12-14 hours before reloading!

http://www.quadrafire.com/Products/5100i-Wood-Insert.aspx

They're a little pricey, but with this setup and their awesome efficiency, it's paid for itself in short order considering the reduced amount of wood costs saved over time. Especially since we've been able to get the wood free from our property.

Fireplace talk

Very interested in this thread as well! I personally prefer the look over gas logs instead of an insert. I like being able to have the fireplace open and flames exposed. Just curious since I've never used gas logs, but could you pinch back the damper slightly to help retain heat since they don't release much smoke? I know CO would still be a concern, which is why I say "slightly".

Against most advice like that above, we recently had a large isokern wood burning fireplace installed in our new family room addition. And we love it! And no matter what conventional wisdom says, it provides a lot of warmth in the family room where we're hanging out. When the fire is really going, I can feel it 10 - 12 feet away on the couch/chairs, etc. I understand that it may cause the rest of the house as a whole to be colder (although I don't notice that at all)....but we're not in the rest of the house. And all of the bedrooms are upstairs, which is on another HVAC unit and always plenty warm.

Now the downside is that it takes a lot of work, cleaning, maintenance, etc. But it has been well worth it for us. We didn't get it to heat the whole house. But to me, there's just nothing like the smell, sound and warmth (even if only in the immediate area) of a wood burning fire on a cold night.

Just wanted to stick up for the wood burners!

Had an issue with my gas fireplace that Atmos had to come & check out.. The guy told me that gas fireplaces are a great money maker for gas companies. Way less efficient than just turning up your central heat.

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Had an issue with my gas fireplace that Atmos had to come & check out.. The guy told me that gas fireplaces are a great money maker for gas companies. Way less efficient than just turning up your central heat.

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Depends on what you get. Cheap Builder gas fireplace....he is right. Higher end direct vent with a solid fan kit....he is wrong.

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Against most advice like that above, we recently had a large isokern wood burning fireplace installed in our new family room addition. And we love it! And no matter what conventional wisdom says, it provides a lot of warmth in the family room where we're hanging out. When the fire is really going, I can feel it 10 - 12 feet away on the couch/chairs, etc. I understand that it may cause the rest of the house as a whole to be colder (although I don't notice that at all)....but we're not in the rest of the house. And all of the bedrooms are upstairs, which is on another HVAC unit and always plenty warm.

Now the downside is that it takes a lot of work, cleaning, maintenance, etc. But it has been well worth it for us. We didn't get it to heat the whole house. But to me, there's just nothing like the smell, sound and warmth (even if only in the immediate area) of a wood burning fire on a cold night.

Just wanted to stick up for the wood burners!

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I agree, there is something about the sound, smell, and overall ambiance of a large masonry wood burner. However, I gladly traded that in for the low maintenance of a high end direct vent with a remote. I love clicking it on in the morning. I also love clicking it off in the evening before bed. And with the high end quality, I have a beautiful flame pattern.

If I build a house, there will definitely be both a wood burner on the patio and a couple direct vents inside the house. That is my ideal situation.

Agree...if I built a house from scratch I'd still want a large masonry wood burner in the main area/family room (and outside/on porch)...but gas in the master (and maybe elsewhere too).

I should also add that we have a gas line installed in our wood burner...which I wanted as a fire starter, but also in case I ever want to switch to gas.

Bonfire...what manufacturers do you recommend?

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Had an issue with my gas fireplace that Atmos had to come & check out.. The guy told me that gas fireplaces are a great money maker for gas companies. Way less efficient than just turning up your central heat.

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Depends on what you get. Cheap Builder gas fireplace....he is right. Higher end direct vent with a solid fan kit....he is wrong.

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There's something to be said for turning up the fireplace, laying out the bearskin rug and popping open a bottle of wine for the lady friend that can't be measured on your gas bill.

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I like being able to have the fireplace open and flames exposed

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I do too, that's when I just open the insert door and let it burn naturally during the day while I'm there to enjoy the smells and sounds of crackling wood burning, plus the added heat. Then at night or while gone, I just close the door and not worry about anything. Works great!

Great thread....we have two fireplaces....a Lennox wood burning fireplace in the living area, and a dud of a wood burning insert in our bedroom (not very efficient, and one I'd like to upgrade with some of the information mentioned on this thread).

One comment though...and not trying to be a bummer. But if it concerns gas, I would not DIY, but contact a plumber who is licensed in that specialty. Consider if there ever was a problem in the future, and one needed to file an insurance claim, the insurance company may want to know who installed the line...so that they could file a claim against the installer.

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Come by - go to casual living at 35 and Frankford. They have affordable ceramic logs and charge around $70 for entire install, which is cheeeeeeap. You may also try Yard Art in grapevine. I'm not sure if they have a store closer.

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Know any place in Houston that has similar deals? I'm not finding anything reasonable, even online. Thanks,

Sorry man, don't know Houston at all.

If in Houston, visit here.
We bought a kit from them and it was easy to install and looked great.

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Agree...if I built a house from scratch I'd still want a large masonry wood burner in the main area/family room (and outside/on porch)...but gas in the master (and maybe elsewhere too).

I should also add that we have a gas line installed in our wood burner...which I wanted as a fire starter, but also in case I ever want to switch to gas.

Bonfire...what manufacturers do you recommend?

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That's how my house is set up. We have a wood burning fireplace insert (now illegal in our region in CA) in the living/family room that heats 3,300 sq ft which is amazing. And we have a gas log in the master we never use.

It doesn't get terribly cold here in Northern Cal but we can go through a cord or 2 of oak per winter. We don't have to use our heaters.

Wood burning fireplace is just awesome.

I would like to see the links to the recommended direct vent gas inserts that are referenced above. I see references by Comeby to links Bonfire provided, but no links are contained in the thread. I am in Carrollton and have been looking to find somewhere to go see these things locally.

bWn - You can go see them at the Casual Living store at Frankford and I35. They don't keep them on, so they take a while to warm up. The difference in the flame from when they just start up to 20 minutes later is very different. It looks very wimpy at start up, but once the unit is hot, the flame looks a lot better.

You can also go to: fireplaces.com inserts

Thanks. I will go by and take a look. I have found that web site before but it is hard for me to tell what would be involved with the install and whether it is even practical in my house (electrical requirements, venting, etc.).

I can tell you.

1. Do you have a gas starter in your current fireplace?
2. Does your fireplace have a full masonry chimney or does it have stainless steel pipe located inside some finishing material through the roof?
3. Is it on an inside wall or outside wall?

It has gas and currently an old used up crumbling set of gas logs. It is all masonry and is on an outside wall. 41" w, 24" d, 25" high. I just had the mortar cap rebuilt and a new large full chimney cap installed.

We have a nice set of gas logs we bought at casual living during a sale. They are beautiful and look like they're nice and burnt on the top. Very realistic looking, unlike many of the cheaper sets you can buy that look like a 5th grade art project.

Installation via CL was about $65 and was half of what other stores charged, minimum.

I've got a gas log fireplace and want to convert it to a wood burner with a blower. However, I don't want to spend a couple G's on one of those nice blowers.

Has anyone done this or can recommend someone? I see all of these kits at home depot but I question anything that is only ~$100.