Hello Went to a restaurant today and sat next to a nice fireplace. I could see ashes and wood sitting on a great and it looked like a nice all wood fire. After watching it for a while, I though it was strange that the flame was still the same! So I had Togo in for a close look and saw a heavy metal rod under the wood grate coming in through the masonry providing the fire and the fire ports were on the bottom so the wood ash would not fall thru the grate and clog them up! I have never seen wood and gas together like this. I know being an open fireplace it is not very efficient. Is there any other draw backs to this setup? It is very pretty. Seee Pics
Kin of hard to tell form the pics, but could that be a log starter kit? Nothing more than a pipe with holes drilled in it controlled by a valve which allows gas to flow out those same holes and ignite the logs. Has to be lit manually and shut off once the logs ignite. The gas holes are turned so they are pointed downward so as not to fill in with debris.
I've seen it in two restaurants down our area here and I happen to get a good look at one. Yooperdave hit the nail on the head with his description and I asked a bartender about it and what he told me is they only use the gas to "light the fire wood" then shut it off after the fire is going. Some time they leave it going for the ambiance. He explained they can't have smelly smoke in the restaurant with trying to light it the normal way and this is a lot easier. The one place down here is a through view, "Big" fireplace. Some of the logs I've seen in there were 18" diameter, That gives them a long burn time. I really don't think is for heat as much as the view.
Yes Dave It is a Log Lighter bar ! Just like this one. 955-12 - Sioux Chief 955-12 - HearthMaster Log Lighter Kit - 2 FIP Inlets, 16 Flame Outlets Thanks
I lived in a house that my parents built in the 60's and they put in two fireplaces that were started with gas. Once the fire is going well, the gas is shut off.
