Gas Fireplace Logs

[JB4310]

I'm thinking of getting one for my formal living room.

More for effect than heating but it will be nice to feel it nice and warm in there when we want to hang out there. This room doesn't get used much (no TV) except in the colder months when we can't sit in our sun-room/porch.

There is a full masonry fireplace there now, but we're never in there long enough to make a wood fire, I do burn wood in another F/P in the family room.

Started looking at Cheap ones at Lowe's to start. I don't have natural gas so I would have to get a 100lb propane bottle min. all the ones I've seen are dual gas so that's not a problem. also since I have a masonry chimney I could go with the vented unit, though most I've seen are vent free. I do want one with a remote, some I've seen don't have one.

Anyone have any opinions on these gas logs? using propane? and vent free vs vented etc.????

Thanks, JB

 

[ragkar]

I've got vent free with remote propane logs. The remote is on/off and it's easier to just bend over and press the on switch on the log base as it is to find the remote.
There's some horror stories about propane suppliers on this site. Search for 'propane'.
Vented log flames lick the logs and are more realistic than the vent-free.

 

[JB4310]

I've got vent free with remote propane logs. The remote is on/off and it's easier to just bend over and press the on switch on the log base as it is to find the remote.
There's some horror stories about propane suppliers on this site. Search for 'propane'.
Vented log flames lick the logs and are more realistic than the vent-free.

Thanks, do you get any smells from burning propane vent less?

How long would a 100 lb tank last for occasional use?

JB

 

[clemsonfor]

Thanks, do you get any smells from burning propane vent less?

How long would a 100 lb tank last for occasional use?

JB

Vent free produce a huge amount of heat! You will not need any other heat source in the area or possibly your house depending upon the level you run a vent free set at. Of course if you have your chimney open and not in one designed for vent free you prolly wont notice it as much.

My dad has 3 sets of vent free logs and i never smell anything, just get dry heat. My cousin and his wife would burn through 200lbs in no time, claiming to only use it in the cold mournings. I think they were keeping it over 80 degrees in their modern house though, they have vent free. I think the man came every month. But personally if you have a set run on medium say a few times a week id think the 100lbs would last all winter? I dont know cause i had cheap gas logs in my masonry fireplace when i bought it. FIrst thing i did was rip them out and throw them away and start burning wood. I get it free, now i have a wood stove in there and there is no way i would burn gas when wood is basically free, you get as much heat and dont pay $5 or whatever a gallon. Even if you live in a city there are free sources of wood for occasional fires. You can burn construction debris, pallets or have a tree service drop wood they dont want or they may charge you a small fee to dump it as many split firewood to sell as well.

 

[forgeblast]

I have a jotul lp stove, vented. Love it, heat goes right where I want it, there is a remote for it and it looks like a woodburning fire.
Plus I didnt have to cut trees all summer long.

 

[JB4310]

I have enough wood, heck around here the tree guys will give you all the premium hard wood you want in logs. I burn wood down in my man cave when I know I'll be down there for a while watching football etc.

I actually have a decent old good quality wood stove I could put in that living room F/P if I ever needed it, especially in an emergency.

But I just want to be able to go in there for short periods of time and enjoy the fire and warmth.

Went to a high end stove dealer today, they had several gas logs on display.
I'm still not sure which would be better for me, the vent free or vented.
The vented burns 2 times the fuel and gives off less heat, but has a very nice looking flame, the vent free has a smaller flame as they are limited to 40K btu. right now I'm leaning towards the vent free for it's better efficiency.
If it gets to hot I can always open the damper a little.
I Also learned I don't really need a remote, since I have glass doors that need to be opened when I use the gas log it's easy to just flip the switch, cost a little less and is simpler.

So I'm learning a little.

I need to find some mid price range units, this stove shop had high prices around $800.-1,200. Home Depot had some cheapos for $250.

JB

 

[clemsonfor]

Id still go wood, just leave the doors open and start a fire with some precut construction boards for kindling, and throw a few dry hunks on and instant low work fire. If your in there for a while just close doors and load her up! You may move the TV in there and the wife might want to stay in there for the warmth.

Edit: Heck i just realized you have a masonarry chimney. Just put wood in there and have a fire as is. But yea i know you want easy.

 

[JB4310]

Edit: Heck i just realized you have a masonarry chimney. Just put wood in there and have a fire as is. But yea i know you want easy.

It's not just easy but fast, sometimes maybe just long enough to enjoy a cup of coffee or read a newspaper.

JB

 

[kenmac]

Depends on what you want... Vent free= heat. vented= not so much heat. More like burning real wood without the mess. Propane or NG. they operate the same

 

[JB4310]

Depends on what you want... Vent free= heat. vented= not so much heat. More like burning real wood without the mess. Propane or NG. they operate the same

I'm leaning towards vent free, not cause I need the heat, I'm actually worried about to much heat, but I could at least open the damper a little if it puts out to much.

I saw the vented ones make a better/ bigger flame, but burn alot more gas.
The vent free ones made a decent flame with NG on high but someone told me the flame is not quite as nice with propane?

If I could figure out the usage at 45-50,000 btu's that the vented uses on low, if it was not gonna use a 100 pound tank in a week then I might look closer at the vented unit.

Anyone know how to figure the usage per hour at 50K btu's, how many hours I would get out of a 100 pound tank??

JB