Gas fireplace valve

[rkenney]

During the inspection today the client inquired about this valve.

It should have something to-do with the fireplace it is adjacent to (above), but I honestly don't know.

What is it?

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[Marc]

Duhh. Let me wake the little gray cells...gas valve?

Marc

[hausdok]

Yeah,

It's a gas shutoff valve for a fireplace. Was there a log lighter in the fireplace or a ceramic log set or perhaps a pipe stubbed out at one side of the firebox?

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[John Kogel]

Dante makes valves for gas fireplaces. Sometimes the valve requires a key.

http://danteproducts.com/gas_valves.html

I wouldn't touch it, so one way to know if it is still in service would be to have a gas heating contractor check it out.

[Inspectorjoe]

It's a floor plate for a gas valve. It shouldn't be installed in a wall unless the valve is accessible, and even then, the manufacturer may not approve of wall mounting.

[rkenney]

Well That's what I figured, and indicated as much, but I told them I'd check it out and confirm.

It's in the ceiling, and not only out of reach (about a foot), but no key.

Owner is recently deceased, so its quite possible the adult children (not present) took the key to prevent use.

[Jim Katen]

Well That's what I figured, and indicated as much, but I told them I'd check it out and confirm.

It's in the ceiling, and not only out of reach (about a foot), but no key.

Owner is recently deceased, so its quite possible the adult children (not present) took the key to prevent use.

Any gas key will work. They can get one at a fireplace shop. If the valve is in the ceiling, they might want to get one of the long 15" ones.

[hausdok]

Hi Joe,

I've seen them mounted in floors, in walls, in bookcases, even in the brickwork of fireplaces surrounds, and now heard of one used above a ceiling.

Begging your pardon, but nowhere in Dante's instructions does it say that it must be installed in a floor.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Inspectorjoe]

Mike:

I didn't read Dante's installation instructions. I said only that they "may not" approve of wall mounting. I based that on their description of it as a floor plate, assuming that if it could be mounted elsewhere, they would simply call it a mounting plate.

[Nolan Kienitz]

They must have used good "stick-um" to hold it in place in the ceiling ... many of those are simply loose in the wall and just quickly pushed into the sheetrock down here.

[hausdok]

They must have used good "stick-um" to hold it in place in the ceiling ... many of those are simply loose in the wall and just quickly pushed into the sheetrock down here.

Depends on how deep they're placed. Most of the one's I see have the bottom of the floor plate threaded so that it can be screwed onto the valve.

It works great when the valve is where it's supposed to be, but when it's too deep in the wall they just kind of hang there. I've never seen one in the ceiling myself; but I bet some silicone or acrylic caulk allowed to dry just long enough to make it tacky but not skim would hold one.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike