Tom since you are in the business let me pick your brain for a moment.
How do you feel about the safety of these gas log lighters that utilize a key for gas ignition,I mean they have no thermocouple and shoot gas at a rate equvolent to your turning a loose key.It seems as if this should be a huge issue especialy around children.What would you say to your customer if you see them?, or maybe you install them without concern.Anyway I would appreciate your opinion on this matter
Hi Bob. I am in agreement with you on this one. I do consider it a big issue, with not only children in the home but some adults as well! Just imagine the result when a homeowner decides to get a nice fire going: He turns on the gas, tosses in a match to ignite the gas and get the logs started with the help of the gas, but he forgets to open the flue first. Not good. This type of system has been around for years and is certainly not the most secure setup.
Whenever we see something in a customer's home that would be a natural concern in our own homes, we take whatever time is needed to fully educate our customer on the risks involved, appropriate use, and safety practices. We often see this kind of setup in homes where the homeowner (or previous homeowner) had converted an exitsing gas log setup back to a wood fireplace, but decided to leave the gas line in place to aid in getting their wood fire going. One important thing to look for in your inspections is what type of gas pipe is being used. Keyed gas log lighters require a solid pipe, and not a flex pipe, such as gas-tite. The bottom line on this issue is that it is up to the customer, but it is up to us in our repective industries to educate the customer so they can make the best informed decision. -Tom
Thanks DJ...It's great to be here!
Bob, thanks also. Quite to the contrary, we very often get calls from new homeowners because of the diligent job their home inspector did. So, I applaud you all for the good work you are doing in helping to educate homeowners. Not being an inspector myself and not know exactly what is on the standard inspection list, I will comment on what I think are important things to look for regarding chimney/hearth related inspection. Most likely, these are probably obvious items and are already on your list. I would check things like the structural integrity of the firebox, at least what you can see or get to. Ensure proper operation of flue dampers and check gas lines/fittings for gas hearth appliances. Look for evidence of water leaks in and around the fireplace.
When doing your roof inspection, after checking the flashing at the chimney chase/roof line, try to get a good look at the top of the chimney. For pre-fab applications, check for rust and deterioration of the chase cover and chimney cap(s). Once rust begins, it will eventually lead to water leaks inside the chase and will damage the wood structure of the chase, as well as lead to damage of the firestops (if present) and the firebox. Galvanized metal, when used in a chimney chase cover application, will rust within 4 to 7 years of installation. Stainless and copper chase covers work best in these applications.
For masonry chimney applications, check the integrity of the chimney crown. Water penetration into the porous masonry material will lead to cracking after enough freeze-thaw cycles. Left un-corrected, this will lead to a breakdown of the masonry chimney materials. We actually use the same chase cover concept, or in this case, a crown cover, to provide a lifetime solution for our customers. Here is an example: Masonry Crown Cover Solution. Here is a picture also. 
Hope this information is helpful! -Tom
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