Gas Starter Installation
If you’ve ever crouched in front of a firebox wrestling with damp kindling and a dying match, a gas starter fixes that problem for good. Also called a gas log lighter, it’s a simple gas pipe installed under your grate that gives you a full row of flame at the flip of a key — enough to catch even stubborn or slightly green hardwood.
The Chimney Sweep has installed and serviced gas starters in Dallas-area fireplaces since 1980. It’s one of the most requested upgrades we do, because it solves a real problem without changing how your fireplace looks or feels. You still burn real wood. You still get the crackle, the smell, the whole point of having a wood-burning fireplace — you just skip the twenty minutes of coaxing it to life.
What Is a Gas Starter (Gas Log Lighter)?
A gas starter is a cast-iron or steel pipe with a row of small ports drilled along the top, mounted beneath your fireplace grate and connected to a natural gas or propane line. Turn the key valve, and gas flows through the ports and ignites into a low line of flame — enough heat, spread evenly across the grate, to light your firewood from underneath. Once the logs catch, you shut the gas off. The pipe’s only job is to get the fire started; your wood does the rest.
It’s a retrofit, not a replacement — the starter installs into your existing masonry or prefabricated wood-burning fireplace as long as it’s already properly vented. Homes with gas log sets sometimes have a similar-looking pipe, but a true gas starter is sized and placed only to ignite wood, not to burn continuously or produce ambient flame on its own.
(If you’re looking to convert to a gas-log set that burns on its own — no wood required — that’s a different install; see our gas log refurbishing page instead.)
Why Dallas-Fort Worth Homeowners Add a Gas Starter
No more fighting with kindling.
One turn of the key gets even damp or poorly-seasoned wood burning reliably — no newspaper, no fire starter cubes, no ten-minute production every time you want a fire.
No lighter fluid in the firebox.
Accelerants are the most common cause of fireplace flare-ups we get called out for. A properly installed gas starter removes that risk entirely.
Even ignition across the whole grate.
Because the flame runs the width of the pipe instead of coming from one corner, your logs catch more evenly and burn cleaner from the start.
A safer setup, done right.
Installed to code with a proper shutoff, a gas starter is a controlled, professional install — not a DIY gas line running into your firebox.
Our Gas Starter Installation Process
Straightforward and code-compliant, from evaluation to final leak test.
Firebox & Gas Line Evaluation
Before anything gets installed, our technician inspects your firebox, flue, and existing gas supply to confirm the fireplace can safely support a starter and that everything meets current code.
Gas Line Connection
We run and connect the gas supply — natural gas or propane — using properly rated fittings, shutoff valves, and connections sized for your fireplace.
Starter Pipe Placement
The UL-listed log lighter pipe is set beneath the grate and positioned for even flame coverage and proper airflow, so the fire catches from ignition through the first few minutes of burn.
Key Valve Installation
A key-operated control valve is installed in an accessible, code-compliant location, giving you simple on/off control without exposed gas lines.
Leak Test & Final Walkthrough
Every installation is pressure-tested for leaks and checked for proper draft before we call the job done. We'll walk you through how to use it safely before we leave.
Need gas line work beyond the starter itself — a new supply line, a relocated shutoff, or repairs to existing fireplace gas piping? That’s covered separately on our fireplace gas line installation & repair page.
Signs Your Gas Starter Needs Repair or Replacement
- The flame is weak, uneven, or only lights on one side of the pipe — often the first sign a gas starter repair is due
- You smell gas near the fireplace, even faintly, at any time
- The key valve is stiff, hard to turn, or won't shut off fully
- The pipe looks rusted, pitted, or has visible corrosion — usually a sign the log lighter pipe needs replacing, not just cleaning
- It's been more than a few years since it was last inspected
- Your gas starter isn't working at all, or won't stay lit
Any of those are worth a call before you use the fireplace again — a gas starter is one of the few chimney components where “wait and see” isn’t the right move. We handle gas starter repair and replacement the same way we handle new installs: inspected, tested, and signed off before we leave.
Fireplace Safety Tips for Gas Starters
- A gas starter is for ignition only — it's not meant to run for the length of the fire. Shut it off once the wood catches.
- The damper needs to be fully open before the starter is ever lit.
- Have the chimney swept and inspected annually, gas starter included.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector in any room with a gas appliance or wood-burning fireplace, and test it regularly.
- Burn only seasoned hardwood — no trash, no treated lumber, no wet or green wood.
Why Choose The Chimney Sweep for Gas Starter Installation in Dallas?
For over 45 years, The Chimney Sweep has installed and serviced gas starters for wood-burning fireplaces across Dallas–Fort Worth. Here’s why homeowners trust us with the job:
Licensed & Insured Installers
every gas line connection is handled by a trained, insured technician.
Code-Compliant Gas Work
proper fittings, shutoff valves, and pressure testing on every job.
Upfront Pricing
no hidden fees, no surprise charges after the quote.
Full-Service Chimney Care
inspections, maintenance, and repairs alongside gas starter installation.
Guaranteed Satisfaction
quality craftsmanship and service on every job, since 1980.
Gas Starter Installation Questions, Answered
Does a gas starter work with any wood-burning fireplace? Most masonry and factory-built (prefab) wood-burning fireplaces can support a gas starter, as long as they're properly vented and structurally sound. Our technician confirms compatibility during the initial evaluation — it's a quick check, and it's the first thing we do before quoting the job.
Cost depends on how far the gas line has to run, whether a new gas supply needs to be tapped, and your fireplace's setup. We give firm, written pricing after an in-person evaluation — no surprise line items after the fact.
We'd strongly advise against it. Running and connecting a gas line incorrectly is a fire and carbon monoxide risk, and most municipalities in the DFW area require a licensed technician for gas work of this kind.
No — you'll still burn real wood, and you'll still get a real wood fire. The starter is only there to ignite the logs quickly and evenly; it's not a substitute for a gas log set and isn't meant to run continuously.
Yes. If your existing gas starter is sluggish, uneven, or you've noticed a gas smell, we inspect, repair, or replace log lighter pipes and valves as part of our regular service calls.