is it bad to burn wood in a fireplace that is equipped with gas?

jrod questioned:


my fire place is equipped with gas but i don’t know if it is just a gas starter or if it is fully gas. how would i know and is it possible to burn wood in it?
it has the shut off valve in the floor next to the fireplace and a black knob in the fireplae.

Roberta
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12 Responses to “is it bad to burn wood in a fireplace that is equipped with gas?”

  1. Troy says:

    Janet

    You cannot burn wood in a gas fireplace. You will ruin it.

  2. Jeanette says:

    Clinton

    If its a proper fireplace then you should be able to burn wood in it.

  3. Tamara says:

    Brett

    Get an expert to look at it and tell you. Piling wood onto a gas fire could result in an explosive situation.

  4. Barbara says:

    Josephine

    The best advice i can offer is to question you to carefully read the instructions before you burn the house down!

  5. Juanita says:

    Joshua

    I reckon I would have it inspected and make sure it was substantial enough to take wood. I chimney sweep or some fire departments will do the job for you.

  6. Ricardo says:

    Leroy

    Not only is it terrible it is very perilous. Ashes from the wood can clog up the gas openings. Not a risk you want to take. My house burned down 15 years ago, you don’t want to live through that.

  7. Josephine says:

    Eleanor

    before doing anything I`d contact your gas company and have them inspect the fireplace for leaks and have the local fire dept inspect your chimney and have that cleaned

  8. Jeff says:

    Charlene

    If it has burners that go under where the wood goes,then it is fully gas.I wouldn`t burn wood in it as I would be affraid the gas line would get too hot and blow. You should call around and question someone who installs them. Better to be safe than sorry. It would **** to blow your house off the foundation trying to stay warm.

  9. Darrell says:

    Tyrone

    If there are no gas logs and it is just a burner what you have is just a fire starter. All you do is place some small and larger wood in the fireplace turn on the gas but have a long stemmed match lit next to the burner. Then leave on the gas and let it burn until the wood catches fire.

  10. Catherine says:

    Ellen

    The fireplace that has a nat gas supply to it, the flue is what goes out side up or horizontal is only rated for those temperatures from nat gas and not wood or paper that burn at much higher temp dont burn any thing organic inside that fireplace, just gas or u will have a house fire, period.

  11. Claude says:

    Kristin

    I’m not sure what the knob is, but I have a gas hook up in mine,and it is used to start the firewood with. A fire starter pipe? is connected to the valve running into the firebox. The pipes are 1/2 inch black pipe,running different lengths with holes drilled into them. They are sealed on one end of the pipe,and have a thread on the other end. Mine is connected using a black 1/2 elbow from the valve,then down using a 1/2″x 3″ nipple,another 1/2″ell,then the starter pipe. You can use any length ****** to run it further back. You might not have to divert it,I have to because the gas inlet is towards the front of the firebox. Did I make any sense? On yours but, it might not be a actual wood burning fireplace. They have been outlawed to place into a new home in California. Or so that is what I have heard. They are now only installing gas log fireplaces in new houses,and you can’t burn real wood in them. Check to see if your chimney has a metal lining, or is all brick. When I see them building new houses,they make all of the chimneys using just a metal lining,or flashing.Mine is solid brick.Hope this helps. Merry Christmas, Byee