Expert: James Ball - 3/1/2009

Question
James, I have a wood burning fireplace in good condition on my main floor. I would like to install a vented gas log set. There is a "trap door" in the bottom of the fireplace, presumably so I could push ashes down it and clean them out through a door in my basement. I have a gas line in the basement that is just outside the clean out door. Can I run the gas line up through the "trap door? Everything I see about gas fireplace install talks about coming through the wall on the side of the fireplace. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hello Kevin, I would have a person that installs gas lines (plumber, gas man, wood stove store) install the gas line you might not be able to install it through the ash trap in your home town ( check your local building department). I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have they should be able to tell you if the fireplace chimney is safe to use for gas or any thing.
James