What Do You Put Under the Grate in a Gas Fireplace?

Visual Appeal

• Wood-burning fireplaces create a visual effect by having multiple focal points. Large logs that snap, sending off sparks in all directions draw eyes to the hearth. Cheerfully burning wood pieces give a dancing rhythm to the fire, and the soft glow of embers lying underneath it all give thought to the final hours of the night. If your gas fireplace does not have artificial embers it might be possible to add them.

Adding Embers

• Some fireplace assemblies come complete with artificial embers but others do not. Over time, the existing embers may be vacuumed up or swept away. If your fireplace does not have them and you would like to add them, the first place to start with is the manufacturer. according to Jason Raddenbach of the Chimney Balloon Blog. They can tell you whether putting embers under the grate is safe and acceptable in their unit.

Space Clearance

• Adding artificial embers to a fireplace may interfere with the amount of air space available for the burners to work properly. Precise measurements go into determining just how big the logs should be, and if there is no room for the embers, it is better not to use them. If you want to try, watch the flames carefully when the burners are on to ensure a good, solid flame that burns blue.

Asbestos Embers

• Older gas fireplace artificial embers before 1977 contained asbestos fibers, which glowed when exposed to the heat. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of these embers because of the danger of asbestos coming loose and being inhaled. It is possible that some bags of these embers are still available stored away in garages or attics. If you do not know the age of any bag of artificial embers. it is best to err on the side of caution and discard them.