For questions generally relating to devices or implements in which fuel is burned in a controlled manner for aesthetic reasons in addition to heat production.
9
votes
2answers
4k views
How can I prevent the mantel above a gas fireplace from getting hot?
When I moved into this house, the unvented gas fireplace had no mantel or hood. It worked OK, although I thought the tile above the fireplace (and the sheetrock behind it) got rather hot. When I ...
8
votes
3answers
11k views
How should I run wiring for my above-fireplace mounted TV?
I'm going to mount my 47" LCD above my fireplace. I'm not looking for arguments against this decision. I'm looking for wiring solutions. The diagram below should help explain the situation.
...
7
votes
6answers
10k views
How can I seal the large gap around my fireplace in a way that is safe and prevents air inflows?
I've got a spot by a fireplace that lets cold air in. Unfortunately its right where the metal of the fireplace meets the wooden framing/molding of the fireplace on the inside. This seems like ...
6
votes
3answers
6k views
What could be wrong with gas fireplace that turns off when I turn it on?
Pilot light is lit. When I turn it on, it starts up, normal amounts of flame. Then it turns a blue flame, and slowly disappears until even the pilot light goes out.
This was working not even 2 weeks ...
6
votes
2answers
322 views
Is a special outlet or wiring needed when replacing an electrical outlet under a gas fireplace.?
The outlet under our gas fireplace that runs the blower fan has a short in it, and needs to be replaced. I have replaced a few standard wall outlets and was thinking of doing this one myself too, but ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What is this knob on our fireplace?
Dumb question, probably, but you guys have come through for us in the past...
Our house has a fireplace installed by the previous owner with two sliding knobs. Our question is, what are these?
...
5
votes
3answers
568 views
What is this knob for on my fireplace?
I have the pictured "knob" beside my gas fireplace. Can anybody tell me what its purpose is? I also have an on/off switch beside the fireplace. I'm guessing this is for the gas. Is there any harm in ...
5
votes
3answers
528 views
How can I eliminate the smell of gas and smoke when burning my new gas fireplace?
Yet another question in my long running series of new house questions. I closed recently on a newly constructed house and in my final walk through with the project manager he demonstrated how the gas ...
5
votes
1answer
210 views
What precautions should I take when burning pine firewood?
I've heard that burning pine in your fireplace can cause creosote to build up in the chimney. If I get my chimney swept at the beginning of the season should i be safe to burn pine for the rest of ...
4
votes
3answers
200 views
How can I clean the glass door on my fireplace?
I tried crumpled up newspaper but that was a joke. Are there any good techniques for doing this? Mine is totally covered with creosote right now and I can barely see through it.
4
votes
2answers
766 views
What type of paint should be used to paint a brick fireplace?
The brick color is hideous. Additionally there are some missing bricks that will be replaced first and would be hard to match.
Is there a particular type of paint that should be used on brick?
4
votes
1answer
381 views
Why do I have a reduced flame in my natural gas fireplace when the furnace or water heater runs?
I have a natural gas fireplace, furnace, water heater and barbecue.
This year I've noticed that my barbecue blows out occasionally when it's on low, even in the slightest wind. I figured the burner ...
4
votes
3answers
379 views
What to do with this fire place?
We moved into a flat built in the 1940s and have been busy renovating since a month.
In the living-room is a nice fireplace which was covered up. We got rid of that, filled the holes and repainted it ...
4
votes
2answers
644 views
Where can I find fireproof caulk backer?
A while back I asked this question and got a lot of great responses.
I've been able to locate fireblock caulk, but one thing I didn't think of is the backer. I need some kind of fireblock/fireproof ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I add a quiet blower or fan to a gas fireplace?
I have beautiful fireplace in my family room, although it is gas rather than wood burning, and it vents strait outside. Due to the nature of how it is vented, I don't really get much heat from it, and ...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
What kind of wood is around this fireplace?
Take a look at this picture:
Could any one tell me what kind of wood that is around the fireplace? Is that just skirting board, or Dado rail or what? I don't know what to look for. Judging by the ...
3
votes
1answer
314 views
Does my wood stove pipe have to be chrome to be safe to use?
I'm currently renting a house that has a wood stove, and figured that as it's used as a rental property, the stove would be safe to use. However a friend of mine today was telling me that if the ...
3
votes
1answer
690 views
Where can I find a cheap diamond stone-cutting blade for my Dremel Multi-Max?
I'm getting ready to place laminate flooring in a room with a brick fireplace. As per Mike's recommendation here, I'd like to use my Dremel Multi-Max tool to cut a space in the base of our brick ...
3
votes
1answer
357 views
Can I do anything with this gas fireplace? No gas service
When I bought my house (it was bank owned and empty for 2 years), the home inspector said that we had a gas fireplace insert, and not a "real" wood burning fireplace. We do not have gas service in ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
How far away must a woodstove be from walls?
I'm thinking of installing a woodstove in my cabin. How far away must I install it from the walls (which are surfaced with wood planks)? Should I cover the nearby walls with bricks? Is there any ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
What type of backer board do I need to use to attach a stone veneer around a fireplace?
I want to put up a stone veneer surround, around a gas fireplace we're going to install. I've seen everything from using 1/2" plywood and a metal lath, to putting the tiles directly on drywall. I ...
3
votes
1answer
375 views
Is this insulation supposed to be there?
I was adding some insulation foam into our fireplace as a way of stopping drafts from the chimney. It's obvious that it's installed so we won't ever have it there when a fire is lit (we have not yet ...
3
votes
2answers
384 views
Tips and advice for installing a chimney cap?
I have an older wood-burning fireplace that is missing a chimney cap. I'd like to install one prior to rain season here in California but would still like the ability to use the fireplace now and ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
What's the minimum distance for a mantle above a fireplace?
I'm wall mounting a flat TV above a mantle, above a wood fireplace. The mantle is quite high, so to get the right viewing angle, and because the mantle is hideous, I'd like to replace it and move it ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Is it safe to use a log burning stove in an old fireplace?
I'm renting a property which has a wood burning stove. Recently I've been investigating ways to make my house warmer (secondary glazing on sash windows etc) and started to wonder how much air could be ...
3
votes
2answers
634 views
Increase wood fireplace efficiency
We have a large fireplace and plenty of free or cheap wood and love having fires for warmth and entertainment. An open fireplace is not an ideal source of heat, but I wanted to know if there's a ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I insulate around a gas fireplace without tearing it apart?
My home has a gas fireplace that we do not use very often. It is in a "bump out" on the back of the house. In the winter, cold air flows through the vents under the fireplace and if you feel the ...
3
votes
1answer
220 views
How do I install this fire screen?
I bought this house with a gas fireplace we've never used. While cleaning up the attic, I found these doors. I'd like to install it as a deterrent to keep pets and children out of the firebox.
My ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Can I convert a gas log fireplace to wood burning?
My house currently has a gas fireplace with (as far as I can tell) a metal firebox and a metal flue running up a non-masonry chimney. Are there any options available to me to convert this fireplace to ...
2
votes
2answers
633 views
Where is the best place to store firewood outdoors relative to your house?
Is it true I should avoid storing firewood near my home (due to concern about termites)? Or is it perfectly fine to store firewood in a convenient spot just outside the door?
2
votes
5answers
6k views
How to prevent wall-mounted TV above fireplace from getting hot?
The place I just moved in to has a wall-mounted TV above the fireplace. However, I'm not sure how the previous residents dealt with the fact that the bottom of the TV gets very hot. Maybe the TV ...
2
votes
2answers
87 views
How do I protect the walls next to a 24 foot tall red brick fireplace when painting it?
What is the easiest and best way to paint a very tall brick fireplace? It is 24 feet tall old Chicago (red) style brick. I would like to use a sprayer but am afraid of the over spray when spraying ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I use Quikrete FastSet Repair Mortar to replace the mortar between stones in a fireplace hearth support?
My brick fireplace hearth is supported by large stones sticking out perpendicularly to my foundation wall in the basement. It forms a kind of shelf on top of which the hearth was laid. The stones ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I prevent my house from smelling of smoke after having a fire in my fireplace?
We have a wood-burning fireplace in our family room. Fifteen feet from the fireplace is a large cold air return. When the fireplace is stoked, nice and cozy, everything is fantastic. When I shut it ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
Gas Fireplace Pilot
I have a Heatilator NB4842I gas fireplace. When I turn on the switch on the wall, the pilot lights the burner. When I turn off the switch, the burner goes off but pilot is staying on until I tap on ...
2
votes
3answers
254 views
What are my non-gas alternatives to a wood burning fireplace?
Our house has a wood burning firplace that we want to convert to something else but we have no gas lines in the area. What are our options for heating benefits and esthetics?
2
votes
1answer
129 views
How long can a fireplace go without cleaning/inspection if it's never used?
I have a gas fireplace that I have never used, nor planned to use. Then we lost power on the coldest day I've ever seen here (gas furnace - check, electric blower - oops) and I'm kicking myself for ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I remove a fireplace insert without damaging the surrounding wall?
I have a fireplace (factory-built) that requires replacement. It is in an interial wall in the house. How do I detach the flue, detach the gas line and remove the existing fireplace? Is it possible to ...
2
votes
1answer
176 views
Why won't my natural gas fireplace light when it's cold?
I installed a Heatilator Caliber, natural gas fireplace, model CNXT4236 a couple of years ago in my basement. When the outside temperature gets below 32°F or so I have to heat the area where all ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
Should I replace an existing gas fireplace with electric?
Does it make sense to replace my existing gas fireplace with a newer electrical one? Would the new electrical one require less maintenance? Would it run more efficiently and in doing so cost less to ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
How can I seal a smoker door?
I am building a brick smoker and need to seal between the door (a small panel on the top of the firebox) and the bricks.
What kind of material is appropriate here? I was thinking some kind of ...
2
votes
1answer
250 views
Gas fireplace will not come on or it goes off minutes after coming on
When we turn on our gas fireplace switch it will sometimes come on, but typically doesn't. When it does ignite, the flame wil only stay lit for several minutes and then goes out. The pilot light ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
How do I install a manufactured stone surround on a zero clearance fireplace?
We just installed a new Napoleon NZ3000 fireplace and are prepping the area to install manufactured stone around it. I am concerned about how to install the stone to the metal firebox. I am not sure ...
2
votes
1answer
835 views
How do I cover one side of a two-sided fireplace with bricks?
EDIT: 1/21/13
We hired a professional mason to convert the two-sided fireplace into a single-sided fireplace.
We ended up interviewing about 5 people and getting bids from all of them. The guy we ...
1
vote
1answer
206 views
how do I increase natural gas pressure on outdoor fireplace
I just built an outdoor natural gas fireplace. After construction I found that the flame gave off hardly any heat. After checking the gas pressure I found that I have less that 1 pound of pressure ...
1
vote
3answers
203 views
Can a gas fireplace insert heat an entire house?
I have a single-story 1400 sq/ft house (4 bedroom). Here's a VERY rough sketch of the layout:
The house has blown-in insulation on the exterior walls but no insulation on the interior walls. ...
1
vote
2answers
192 views
Can a Wood Burning Stove use a stovepipe made of copper for a chimney?
Planning to install woodburning stove one day. The plan includes exposed stovepipe running up through a loft space, through attic, and out to roof chimney. I know the stovepipe comes in black and ...
1
vote
1answer
803 views
Should the flue always be open in a gas fireplace?
I have a victorian fireplace with a modern gas fire installed. The fire place has a hatch at the top to open/close the chimney, which the fitters have connected to a wire to force it to be fully open ...
1
vote
5answers
458 views
Electric Fireplace worth it
The wife is bent on getting an Electric heater for the living room. We opted not to purchase the gas fireplace when we built our home (through Ryan). She claims these things can cost up to $1000.
...
1
vote
2answers
226 views
What can I do to reduce cold infiltration by a direct-vent gas fire place?
My home has a direct-vent gas fire place on the ground floor, and each winter the area around the fire place inside the house becomes very cold (granite finish). On colder days, the carpeted floor ...
