Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - I Have a question...

We recently had a new on/off valve installed in our nat gas fireplace. It does not give off the heat that it used to. Our HVAC contractor installed it for us. He said we should get more silica sand to put in fireplace. Not sure what it looked like prior to him working on it but when finished the pan was filled with silica sand however when I went to purchase more silica sand the instructions on the bag were specifically not to put in the pan just around it. I took all the sand that the contractor had put in the pan and transfered to the outside of pan however when I turned on fireplace it definetely did not look like it did prior to work. Too many flames coming out of bottom. Just for the heck of it I turned on fireplace to see if heating was back to original and it was not. So now I put sand inside pan but not quite as much.... still not back to original. What is the correct way to do? Sand in or out? Why do you think not as much heat coming off fireplace as before?

Thanks!::confused:

It sounds like you have a vented set of gas logs. Vented logs are decorative and do not give off much heat.....it is just the design of that type. Without knowing the make and model, I cannot tell you much about where/if you need sand. It sounds like you need a fireplace professional, not a HVAC guy.

Thanks for your response....Prior to him replacing valve they gave off tons of heat so they must not be vented logs. I believe they are Hargrove WP518LL/18AKEB58.

Is it possible the valve has reduced the flow? Less flow would mean less heat? I think the logs need a certain amount of flow to obtain maximum heat. You may have to put in a larger supply line with a shut off valve to get the same amount of heat. Or the valve may not be a full flow type valve. Any reduction caused by the valve will reduce the flow.

thanks... I believe he did replace the supply line.

I have not been able to find much info on that unit, but the Hargrove WP518LL are vented logs. Contact Hargrove to find more information. (800) 725-4166

If they are vented gas logs, the damper must be open when burning them and that will result in a heat loss of about 85%. If you burn vented gas logs with the damper closed, you will get sooting in your home and your family could have serious health issues from carbon monoxide poisioning!!!

If the burner is triangular in shape, from the side view, and it was filled with sand, then it is a vented set of gas logs. Vented gas logs are decorative and you will not get much heat from them.

Silica sand is used inside the burner pan, lava rock is used as a garnish around the pan as decoration.