[KonaKat]

I had a real fireplace and had gas installed, it gave just enough heat to take the chill off early morning or late in the evening in the winter. We really enjoyed it. Get your fireplace serviced because obviously it needs it no matter what your plans are. Better to be safe than wonder.

[irishspy]

Information on Gas Fireplace Inserts | eHow.com Here is a good site with a ton of info.

[tiger08]

Originally Posted by logline

DO NOT pull out gas logs and burn real wood in a fireplace designed to only burn natural gas. If you burn real logs in a gas fireplace, you will burn your house down. A pile of wood fully ablaze burns much hotter than a gas log.

I should have explained a little better in my post, yes make sure it is a true wood burning fireplace! Our house was built in 87 and has a true wood burner but most of the neighbors opted to have a gas log conversion, I however think it's pretty dumb to have a real fireplace and only run gas in it.

[Vegaschips]

...in addition to a wall (didn't want a short cue situation) and a blocked window (the sill became the cue rack base). My neighbor and I had a blast!

[kimba01]

Originally Posted by hotpa2d2

We had one of those in our living room...we ended up pushing it back in the wall, and drywalled over it. It was useless and took up valuable furniture space.

I saw many homes that did this when I was looking. I think it is a good idea. You are right, it's useless. I don't need the ambiance while wasting gas without getting any heat. Thinking about doing this too. I hate the coves in the homes and I hate the pot shelves. Waste of space and just a place to put junk that will need to be dusted. I would rather the living space. I would like to move the whole wall back that has the fireplace and the tv cubby so I can put what I want, not what will fit.

[ScoopLV]

You can get heat from one of those gas insert fireplaces. But expect to pay for it. Like a couple thousand. Google "Heatilator."

I have one of the useless "looks only" fireplaces. I turn it on once a year just to insure it's still working. There's no "drywalling over" it. It's too important to the way the room looks. If cold in Las Vegas was actually an issue, I'd buy a Heatilator.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by irishspy

Information on Gas Fireplace Inserts | eHow.com Here is a good site with a ton of info.

I have been considering these. My house is Spanish and the fireplace is sort of a design element I would hate to lose. I guess I don't want to waste the energy I use. I want the heat. The insert might be the way to go. My house was built in 74 so I am thinking the fireplace is 'real'? The gas logs were probably added later?

I also found a cheap man's fix for the damper. At least a temporary fix. You take a drawstring garbage bag and tear the drawstring so it is still attached but hangs down. Then you put an old throw pillow in the bag. Stuff the whole thing up in the flue right against the damper and let the drawstring hang down to remind you it's there. So you won't try to light the fireplace with the flue blocked... I'll just leave this in place till I have the money to get the insert done.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by KonaKat

I had a real fireplace and had gas installed, it gave just enough heat to take the chill off early morning or late in the evening in the winter. We really enjoyed it. Get your fireplace serviced because obviously it needs it no matter what your plans are. Better to be safe than wonder.

We did the same thing in a house we had several years ago, and for the same reason. We didn't run it for long periods of time (Phoenix and Vegas pretty much the same there), it heated the family room and kitchen enough to take the chill off, and it was a lot cleaner and easier to deal with than a wood fireplace. I have a regular fireplace in the house I have now, haven't used it in years.