It's a good idea to clean your gas grill to keep it working properly and free from spiders and insects. For a schematic, click here.

Before installing any gas appliance in a previously used fireplace, thoroughly clean the interior, including the smoke shelf, damper area, and the chimney itself. Cleaning is especially important before installing a vent-free log set as residual soot and creosote can produce odors when burned.

During their initial curing process, usually 4 to 6 hours, most gas appliances will emit some smoke and odor. If your fireplace is vented these odors will escape up the chimney. Vent-free logs should also be vented during their initial break-in period. A heat smell may be noticeable during normal operation of a vent-free appliance; also household cleaning products, painting or staining odors may be accentuated by vent-free combustion.

The heat generated by vent-free appliances tends to travel up the front of the fireplace and can effect mantels closer than 28" above the opening. A hood is required to deflect heat away from a wooden mantel.

A vent-free log should only be installed in a factory built fireplace which has been approved for use with vent-free products. Otherwise we recommend an 18" log with a maximum of 26,000 BTU's. This will eliminate excessive heat transfer when the fireplace is used without the damper open.

Gas logs, especially vent-free models, are subject to clogging from normal household dust. Airborne particles can restrict air mixers, burners, and even the ODS pilot assembly, causing changes in burn patterns. For this reason a "tune-up" before each burning season is recommended.

Bottled or L.P. gas is widely used to fuel gas burning logs. Tanks must be located outside, 3 feet from doors and windows and 10 feet from air conditioners and heat pumps. Service is provided by a local propane dealer.

Glass doors can be used to screen your fireplace, however extreme care must be taken to burn only with the doors open. Keeping the doors open is especially important when operating vent-free gas logs.

In general for vented gas logs, there are four dimensions.

1. The front opening Width.
2. The front opening Height.
3. The back wall Width.
4. The Depth of the fireplace.

For vent free logs, you also need the rough room dimensions including the ceiling height and how far over the top of the fireplace opening where the wood mantel starts and how far the wood mantel projects from the wall.

You will also be asked if the fireplace is a prefabricated metal fireplace or all masonry.