How to add automatic "turn on" button to old gas/wood fireplace & stop using a match?

Our OLD house was built in the 40's with a gas and wood fireplace that has a key in the floor and a hollow gas tube in the fireplace and nothing else. I have to turn the gas on with the key, then use a long match to light the gas tube where the holes are. It always creates a mini boom and scares me that I'm going to burn my face off.

How to add a device that I press a button and the fire goes on automatically? I still want it to be both a gas and wood burning fireplace.

Do I hire a chimney company? A plumber? An electrician? Or all three? I'm in Los Angeles and have no idea who to even hire. Most chimney companies here only do cleaning, inspection (which we did, it's in good condition), and repair. I even talked to a licensed contractor that we're hiring for a bathroom addition and he said he preferred not to touch the fireplace.

What do I do? Any recommendations of companies?

Thanks, Cathy.

You may be better of to buy a new insert, they have remote operated spark ignition models now days. It may not be possible or worth it to retrofit yours. I wouldn't call myself an expert so maybe someone else will chime in.

any REPUTABLE company WON'T!!!

too much involved to make this happen SAFELY.

anyone who does alter this becomes liable for any issues and those will be too great a risk.

I assume you're talking about a log lighter, 1/2 pipe with holes in it used to start the wood burning. If so then you won't find anyone to modify this the way you want.

Log lighters aren't designed to be used as the source of heat.

I 3rd that. they're only used to light the wood logs. So far as I know, they're not code anywhere anymore.

I'd recommend if you do use, have lighter next to lighter and then slowly open valve so gas lights as starts to come out, not after a cloud has started to form.

This was back when people were used to no safeties on anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxima9

Our OLD house was built in the 40's with a gas and wood fireplace that has a key in the floor and a hollow gas tube in the fireplace and nothing else. I have to turn the gas on with the key, then use a long match to light the gas tube where the holes are. It always creates a mini boom and scares me that I'm going to burn my face off.

How to add a device that I press a button and the fire goes on automatically? I still want it to be both a gas and wood burning fireplace.

Do I hire a chimney company? A plumber? An electrician? Or all three? I'm in Los Angeles and have no idea who to even hire. Most chimney companies here only do cleaning, inspection (which we did, it's in good condition), and repair. I even talked to a licensed contractor that we're hiring for a bathroom addition and he said he preferred not to touch the fireplace.

What do I do? Any recommendations of companies?

Thanks, Cathy.

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Replace it.
OR
light the match first, put it next to the burner, THEN turn the gas on.

Thanks everyone. It is a log lighter according to the gas company tech.

I put a grate over the log lighter, then fake (ceramic I think) gas logs on top. The gas logs are turning black and pieces of the black stuff are falling off, which I don't really care. It burns lots of natural gas that I see my gas bill goes up, and not a lot of heat, but we have central heat so it's mostly for ambiance. The flue is always open and no issues with smell or danger. I have 2 carbon monoxide detectors near by.

If there's no safe way to add automatic pilot "on" button/remote and still keep it as a wood burning fireplace, what's the best way to make it a gas fireplace only that actually gives heat? Buy a new insert? Who do I hire? A chimney company? How much should it cost?

Thank you guys. Cathy... next to the fireplace burning the fake logs right now, lol.

Go to a stove company and pick out a model you like, and have them install it.

Price is what ever they charge.

Pricing questions are not allowed here.

Cathy,

Here is an example page of gas inserts for fireplaces. http://www.heatnglo.com/Browse/Inserts.aspx
There are many manufacturers, styles, and decorative fronts available. Just google "Hearth Shop" and your zip code.

I don't really like installing gas logs but i do for my customers, i tell them to go pick out the one they like, buy it, and we install it for time and materials. Most people chose the "ventless" log sets which i DO NOT recommend and hate installing but like i said for my customers I will. Invest in a low level CO monitor, google nsi co detector, or low level co detector and get one. The ones sold in home improvement stores are not sensitive enough for my liking.

Hi Cathy you might want to check out hvac talk find a contractor. Some of us specialize in fireplaces and insert installations here in California.