Hey if anyone knows...have a wood burning fireplace

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Sellers ( new old house) said hadn't used in 20 years. But has gas line and logs in now.

Chimney looks clean but having expert clean/inspect tomorrow.

So know I need someone (who?) To disconnect gas logs and cap off gas line to the fp.

Am I forgetting anything?

[Bayard]

1. So.....

You're buying the house, and don't want the fireplace? I think I'd call a licensed general contractor.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. No. Bought the house, which has a wood burning

Fireplace (but with gas line and logs) and want it back to wood burning solely.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Is it a single flue chimney or 2 flue?

My chimney is 2 flue. One for my oil burner funance. The other for wood burning. I have 2 locations for wood burning - cellar and living room. I don't think you want to mix the two sources..

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. No just one flue

[Bluethroughu]

3. Make sure you get the glass doors that have a vent at bottom, that open and closes to stoke or kill the fire.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. We'd have to add that for sure. I mean its just a regular fp

Last edited Fri Dec 22, 2023, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)

That they hooked gas to

[Bluethroughu]

17. When you have those glass doors with vent...

It's escential to good burning. You can stack your wood inside with kindling shut the doors, open the vent and the fire will burn good enough to get that flue hot enough to pull the air up and out, before you close the vent and open the glass doors to enjoy. It takes about 5 minutes. No need for gas.

This helps keep the smoke from dis-coloring the walls and mantle.

Stick to hardwoods like oak, walnut and maple, they produce less creosote, which is a cause of chimney fires.

When the temp got -60 one year, it snapped a crack in the road, power was out for three days. Our chimney was keeping the house 68-70 degrees. Enjoy!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Thanks for all the good tips! MINUS 60

Yikes where are you?

[Bluethroughu]

22. We were in Lake Geneva WI, I think it was 2014 or 2015.

It was said to be as cold as Mars...It was crazy, but the fireplace was a house saver.

I forgot to tell you, when you go to bed, make sure the vent at bottom of glass doors is snuggly shut, shut the glass doors. The fire will eventually go out, but just the smoke and fire heat will go out flue, but not the heat in your house. Later the next day don't forget to shut the flue, when everything is completely died out.
Happy Holidays Laura Pourmeadrink!

[RockRaven]

4. Any potential electrical stuff, i.e. does the gas logs thingy have a sparker?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Electrician ? Or thought plumber does gas stuff?

[RockRaven]

13. More just a question of understanding what the apparatus is and making sure

that whoever does the work knows what they are dealing with and doing, and creates a safe situation once they are done.

Even if there is any related electrical (and it was an IF) that doesn't necessarily mean you need an electrician -- competent non-electricians may deal with it just fine. I was just raising something to know about/watch for. But may be irrelevant. Depends on your equipment specifics.

[Bluethroughu]

18. Plumber.

[TeamProg]

5. Chimney sweeper first to make sure the flu is clear of nests. Chimney sweeper

will give you a brief inspection. Then get a plumber licensed to work with gas. Have them close the pipe end a good distance from the heat

Take out the fake logs and away we go!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Thanks. Exactly what i was thinking:)

[Bluethroughu]

20. We looked at a house a few months back, and a baby raccoon was nested in the flu.

My husband shut the flu and told the agent to tell the homeowner they had a squatter.

[marble falls]

6. Have plumber turn off the gas and vent the gas pipe from the valve to the fireplace. I'd wait until the chimny ...

... guy OK the flue pipe and the chimney.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. Thank you!!!

[moniss]

14. If

you are not completely familiar with using a wood burning fireplace I recommend that after you have the fireplace and chimney made right that you do the following. It is critical that you completely understand selecting different woods for fires. They are not all desirable. Proper local sourcing is critical for condition of the wood etc. Understand having a good place outdoors to store your firewood. Be wary of cheap firewood. Don't try to have lots of wood in your basement because of insects and mice. There are all kinds of videos of how to properly store firewood outside. Also understand that a wood fire in a fireplace in a house is a whole different matter than a campfire. Selection of size and quantity of wood etc. is important to understand in relation to what you want the fire to do and for how long per session. Many people starting out use the wrong wood, wrong condition, too big of logs etc. and then the problems start.

Finding someone who is completely familiar, maybe a fireplace firm, to show you the things to do or not do, how to build a fire for various purposes/length of burn etc. would be a wise move. Do not just start building fires without good knowledge and instruction. Be sure of what to do if things get out of hand. Have a good fire extinguisher for your house and a plan for extinguishing your firewood. Talk to your smoke alarm company about your alarms and understand if they are compatible with having a wood fire in the fireplace. Consider CO2 monitors also. Know what to do and how to do it to keep from giving your chimney problems and have an expert explain a maintenance schedule. Don't scrimp. Make sure that everybody in the house knows their escape route in the event of a fire.

Check with your insurance agent that has your homeowners policy and make sure there are no hitches there or if you need to add a coverage etc. A natural wood burning fireplace can be enjoyable or it can be a pain and a possibly catastrophic hazard. It all depends on how well things are constructed/maintained, the wood in the fire and how the fire is built and the knowledge of the people building and maintaining the fire. I've seen it done right and wrong. I've seen people sit in front of a fire for hours reading a book etc. and the fire was consistent throughout because it was built/sized correctly. I've also known of people calling the fire department because they went too big, wrong wood etc. and now the fire is roaring like a blast furnace or the wood was too green and is now smoking them out etc. Don't be that person calling the local FD because you got your chimney/fireplace out of control.

[Bluethroughu]

23. My step-dad shoved the christmas tree up the fireplace, and started the house on fire.

Yes, he is a real life grinch, with no heart.

[viva la]

15. After th gas line is capped,

Call the gas company and have them check. Just in case.

[hlthe2b]

16. Not sure where you are, but northern front range Colorado has enough "Air Quality" days restricting

such use that I'd find it hard to ever consider converting back to wood. Something I'd suggest you investigate if you have not already. Regulations can "burn" you (pardon the pun).

Can you use a wood burning fireplace in Colorado?
The use of woodburning stoves and fireplaces on an Air Quality Action Days is prohibited unless: The woodburning stove is the primary source of heat (greater than 50% of annual heating of a residence*). The stove is EPA Phase II/ Colorado Phase III certified. The stove is an approved pellet stove.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. Wow that's so interesting. Never knew.