I am trying to gather an estimate of an avg flat rate to charge my tenants because this is covered in my HOA fees that total 0. There is a gas fireplace but no logs in it, however, we are still be charged a percentage of the HOA fee to cover unlimited usage.

I bought some pretty good size pieces of wood (about 14" long by about 5" thick) and they are pretty hard (maybe alder?). Anyways, I always have trouble getting the wood to burn. It’s DEFINITELY not as easy as people say it is.

People say: "Oh it’s easy! Just put some newspaper, and kindling (firestarter) underneath the log and burn it!"

Well, in real life it’s not that easy and I’ve done this half a dozen times and come up empty each time. My dad got the fire to burn, but it took a little bit of time. I don’t know what he did, maybe I should talk to him instead. I even used charcoal fluid and put it all over the log and it still wouldn’t burn!

Do I need to buy one of those air blowers (accordion looking things)? Will this help to put more airflow and increase my chances of making a fire?
Hello thank you for your answer everyone. Yea my wood is a little green. When I bought it the guy said I need to season it a few more months. I think it will be ok. You can still use it if it’s a little moist. I bought my wood mostly for emergency purpose but right now I’m just trying out the smaller logs to see if I can get it to work. Hey, if I can’t get it to burn in practice, what happens when the real thing happens?

My gas fireplace flames don’t get very high. The flames barely reach the top of the logs and there’s hardly any yellow flame so you can barely tell that it’s on–so much for creating a cozy atmosphere. The gas line is turned up as high as it goes and comes directly from the main pipe. There are no other valves outside of the firebox that can be turned and the fireplace valve is turned all the way up. Any ideas? Do I need to buy a new insert? How can I get more yellow flame?
The air control lever…Does a sealed unit have this also–one that draws its air for combustion from outside?

ive made traps by putting maple syrup, peas, and potatoes under fallen trees or logs. I thought that they wouyld go down to eat it and hit there antlers against the log. But i havent got nothing. Ive also found trails and tracks leading me to oak trees with rubs on it. I would love to own a antler or two i love hutning.

We have a gas log fireplace. Do they sell anything that can be put on the logs or into the fire to make it smell like real wood burning?

rather than by lighting the logs?

I have an existing normal household fireplace that burns logs, it has no door or cover, we just have a screen we sit in front of it … is there a cover or door that you can buy that will fit into the opening or over it and also blow the arm air into the room more? Where can i get one? Will I neeed electric to plug it into for the fan?

Our home is all electric but has a wood burning fireplace. If we had a fire burning, let it go out, and then go to bed, would the carbon monoxide stay in the air? Or does it filter out?
We use the Pine Mountain logs and they are supposed to burn cleaner. But we are still wondering. Perhaps we should have a window open during/after burning? But this does defeat the purpose of trying to warm yourself with a fire.
Thoughts anyone?
Yes, they are manufactured logs. "Pine Mountain" is the brand name. We bought them at Home Depot.

mantle of the fireplace. it looks like the pilot light is buried pretty well under the logs, if something fell in could it catch fire?

also, is it risky to have something dry too close to the fireplace? could a pilot light ever shoot a spark?

Ok, 20 years ago, and maybe they are still around, I don’t know the name of it, so I will try to explain how it worked. Take a fireplace grate one that sets in a regular brick fireplace, but make the whole grate out of hollow pipe, on the outside of the fireplace sets a little blower that connects to one end of the hollow pipe so when you are burning logs, the logs heats up these pipes and the blower, blows the heat into the room. Can you name this grate or set up. I bought it as a whole unit, I did not make this up. Thank you….