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    Emily Fazio

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Playing With Fireplace Gas Lines

July 6, 2011

Oddly, the best photo I have of the gas log insert is this one, from May 2009, taken within the first 10 days of moving into my house. I was in the middle of painting the living room, the fireplace, and polyurethaning the floors. It’s also glaringly obvious that I had already painted the dining room it’s first color, a lively coral pink. Fun, and so ahead of Pantone in embracing the Honeysuckle. (I still wish I could have made it work.)

Living room in progress, circa May 2009

There are small stones you see at the bottom of the fireplace; they were removed (probably shortly after this picture was snapped), and I left the fake logs and mechanism hooked up directly on the brick floor.

I guess the fact that I have no other recent photos that highlight the fireplace insert so clearly just further evidences how much I disliked it. I’m surprised it took 25 more months to remove it.

Did I ever use the fireplace? Not even once, even though it was fully in working order (it was on and functional when I did my first walk-through ever). I never turned it on myself to revel in the happiness that comes with a working fireplace, even though I do love a nice working fireplace in the fall and winter. And I can start a real wood fire just fine, but the gas-powered log system freaked me out.

So recently, we removed it. Naturally, we planned for the worst and assumed that there was going to be all kinds of capping and investigation involved, but it turned out to be pretty easy. See, the gas system just pulls forward in the fireplace itself to expose it’s gas hookup:

Gas pipe exposed behind the fake logs. Upon further exploration, we found that the pipe extended down the hole for ashes in the floor; just within the hole but out of the camera’s line of sight was a gas valve, turned off:

Hole for ashes in the floor of the fireplace. The gas line was run up through this trap door.

The good sanity-ensuring news is that there was a second valve in the basement on the back of the fireplace; it was also turned off already. And after double checking (and triple checking) that neither were going to start spewing natural gas in our face, we unscrewed the logs from the gas line in the living room.

Living room fireplace, sans gas logs. The doubly-sealed-off gas line was tucked carefully into the hole, but not before making some safety tags using some on-hand envelopes for us to reference in the future (or alert future homeowners and inspectors):

Gas line warning tags. The second tag was attached to the line and valve that are more readily visible and accessible in the basement.

Flagged: Gas Fireplace Piping Exists Here.

With the pipe carefully tucked away, I’m busy investigating the best paint to use inside and on the fireplace base, since I do want it to be a functional fireplace for myself or someone else someday. Suggestions based on experience appreciated.

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Basement  / Living Room

Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. You can find me writing for HGTV and DIY Network, follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

11 Comments


amber perrodin
July 6, 2011 at 9:14 am
Reply

No experience at all with this one my dear. You are a brave one Emily. Good Luck, I can’t wait to see what solution you come up with!



Brian Doles
July 6, 2011 at 10:57 am
Reply

Kudos on getting those logs out of there. I look forward to your posts on FaceBook everytime I see one!

Just one more thing as far as safety goes with that gas line. If you haven’t already, I would cap that line with a plug. You can do it at the flex line or even better, cap it where the union is after the valve in the basement. You can never be too safe when it comes to gas lines.

For painting I would use a “high heat” paint. The box stores carry it. Not sure if there are a range of colors, I’ve just always used black. Make sure to open a window cause the high heat paint is a little strong.

Look forward to all your posts…!!



    Emily
    July 6, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Hi Brian! Thanks for your nice comment! I will certainly take your advice and cap the end of the flex line. To do the union would involve disconnecting the pipe and we really did want to keep it nice and easy for someone to rehook at some point, but I agree about being safe when it comes to things like this. Thanks for the advice about the high heat paint – I believe I’ve seen it (in not very many colors) but will check it out again.

Cait @ Hernando House
July 6, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Reply

I have zero experience with gas fireplaces (though Robert’s parents have one), but capping the gas line sounds very smart. Gas lines freak me out.

As far as paint goes, I second what Brian said about high-heat paint. I was going to suggest it if no one else had. Good luck!



Holyoke Home
July 6, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Reply

I am TOTALLY with you on the ‘gas in the stove=FREAKY’ thing. Mr. Man wants one of those, and I’ve pulled out my ‘VETO’ card.



    Emily
    July 6, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    High five. What are your thoughts on the full-on metal inserts that are closed off?

Gin
July 6, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Reply

Your average big box store should have high-heat paint for wood stoves–I’ve seen both spray and brush-on paints. You’re right about the lack of colors, and you might get a better color selection online, unless you want standard black.



Patti
January 21, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Reply

After checking other sites, your description, explanation and photos provided me with knowledge. I am removing my gas fireplace and replacing with electric insert. That means I only need electrician to connect it to nearby outlet.

Thanks!



    Haroldine Williams
    December 5, 2017 at 2:38 am

    I am having a hard time finding an electrician to help set up for the electric fireplace HELP!!! as well as help removing the gas insert!!! I’m not brave enough to do it myself.
    not connected to a gas line, never was should be easy right lol

    Emily
    December 14, 2017 at 7:53 am

    If you’re uncomfortable or uncertain, definitely contact a professional. I suggest that you contact a fireplace installation company who can remove and swap with more familiarity than an electrician.

Ken
December 9, 2016 at 3:41 pm
Reply

I would suggest disconnecting and capping the gas line just past the first shutoff valve. You can leave the pipes in place for a reconnect if you want. It doesn’t appear safe in case there is a leak years from now and having a gas buildup in the closed-in cleanout chute. Even turning on a flashlight to see down the hole could be disastrous if there is a buildup of gas there. Never assume that gas cannot leak in the future.



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