Gas Log Installation in Hastings Ranch for Fireplaces You Rarely Light

Gas log sets come in two types. Vented logs produce a tall, yellow flame that looks most like wood, and they send their exhaust up the chimney the same way a wood fire does, so the damper has to stay partly open whenever they are running. They give off some heat, but they are mainly about the look. Ventless logs burn more completely, with a bluer flame, and are designed to release their exhaust into the room. They put out much more heat, but they have size limits for the room, they add moisture to the air, and some people notice a smell. Some local rules restrict ventless units, so we check before we recommend one.

For most of the older masonry fireplaces we see, vented logs are the straightforward choice. The burner is picked to fit the firebox, the valve goes somewhere you can actually reach it, and a vented set gets a damper clamp so the flue stays partly open while gas flows. You can add a remote or wall switch so lighting it is as easy as turning on a lamp.

People sometimes assume that switching to gas means the chimney no longer needs attention. With vented logs, the flue is still carrying exhaust, including carbon monoxide, out of the house. If that flue is partly blocked by an old nest, leaves or a fallen flue tile, the exhaust has nowhere to go but the room. So before we install a vented set, we inspect the flue, sweep it if there is any creosote or debris left from wood burning, and check the top of the chimney.

If there is no cap, we recommend one. A gas fireplace that is used now and then leaves the flue cool and quiet for long stretches, which is exactly what birds and squirrels look for. A stainless cap with mesh keeps them out and keeps rain off the damper. After installation, we light the set, check the gas connections for leaks, take a carbon monoxide reading and show you how to use it.