Fireplace gas valve questions
I'm renovating and one project I have is to install a log lighter in my fireplace. Currently, there's a plastic-handled gas valve inside the firebox. Before I bought the house, I guess the gas company had come out to cap it. When I had my level 2 chimney inspection done, the guy told me that it wasn't safe to use it as-is. He said to either find the existing gas valve under the flooring or behind the mantel or get a new one installed. So I pulled the mantel off along with the flooring (I'm redoing it anyway), and I can't find the original valve. My questions are:
- What can I expect to make this fireplace log lighter ready
- Can anybody surmise what the story behind the original gas valve is?
- Why is there a plastic gas valve in the firebox?
- What is the concrete "box" around the brick? Is that original to the house? Is it possible that the original valve was sealed up underneath that?
