Expert: James Ball - 10/11/2010

Question
ok, we have a 1920's old mansion, three fireplaces originally wood burning, converted to gas.There is a little dangling thing up above the wood log things that looks like a centaur and it controls a lever or door or something up the stack.not sure what it is but not sure what to do with it either. ok, now there is a gas pipe with a lever type thing on it kinda looks like a wide angled triangle , don't see and pilot or anything definitely no auto start thing. i plan to get a chimney sweep to check, but does that flew thing that is attached to the hangy guy need to be open when we burn???? and do u just turn on the gas and put a long lighter in there to light it? or put the lighter in there first and then turn on the gas? and if it's just for pretty will it really give the rooms some warmth too? i can't imagine it would if the thing going up the chimney is open, kinda seems like a waste of gas. (?)Well anyway thank you for you're expertise i really would like to light them, no one knows the last time any of them were lit.                                           Jill

Answer
Hello Jill, I have some one that works on Gas Logs look at them to be sure they are working properly (check you local wood stove stores) and 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 help.
Hope this helps
James