Gas Logs Buyer's Guide — Fuel, Size, Vent Type, Ignition & Brands
Five decisions stand between you and the right gas log set: fuel type, size, vent type, ignition system and brand. This guide walks through each one in plain English — so by the time you browse, you already know exactly what to look for.
Natural gas or liquid propane?
There are two fuel types for gas logs: natural gas (NG) and liquid propane (LP). The right one is usually decided for you — by what your home is already plumbed for.
The choice also shows up on your gas bill every time you light the fire — see what a gas log set costs to run and compare both fuels with your own rates.
- Lighter-than-air gas that dissipates when released
- Doesn't burn as hot as LP — but costs much less
- Hard-piped to the appliance from buried gas service lines
- Already have a gas water heater, oven or dryer? You're set up for a log set
- Contains more carbon than natural gas — more heat per cubic foot
- Requires a tank positioned outside your home
- You contract with a local LP dealer for refills
- The answer when natural gas service isn't available in your area
No natural gas service? Check with your local natural gas company before purchasing a log set. If service isn't available in your area, you'll need LP gas logs — and a tank installed at your home.
Measure before you shop
Measuring your fireplace is the most important step. Four numbers — front width, rear width, height and depth — determine the best size gas logs (or how much fire glass) your fireplace takes.
Vented or vent-free?
This decision also depends on your jurisdiction — Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York City prohibit vent-free, California bars the sale of vent-free heaters, and Massachusetts allows it with a fire-department permit. Get the full breakdown, safety details and the code citations in Vented vs Vent-Free Gas Logs.
The brands we carry — and why
We're an authorized Real Fyre dealer, and every brand below earns its place in the catalog. Vented Real Fyre and Grand Canyon log sets carry a lifetime warranty.
How do you want to light it?
Every gas log set is lit through its ignition system, and most manufacturers offer several options per set. They boil down to five pilot and valve types — from a match and nothing else, to a full remote with thermostat:
| System | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Match Light | No valve or pilot at all — the gas line connects directly to the burner. Open the external gas valve, hold a long match or lighter above the burner, and it ignites. | Greatest realism, lowest overall cost, nothing to hide. Usually vented natural gas only. |
| Safety Pilot Valve | A brass control valve on the burner with a standing pilot and three settings: Off, Pilot, On. Turn the knob to On and the burner lights; if the pilot ever blows out, the valve closes and stops the gas. | Available on almost all vented and vent-free systems, NG and LP. Most are on/off only; some brands (e.g., Empire) add a 3-step flame height adjustment. |
| On/Off Millivolt Valve | Builds on the safety pilot: same control knob, plus a terminal block for a wall switch or battery remote, and typically a piezo push-button pilot ignitor. | Many models add manual flame-height adjustment via a built-in regulator knob. NG and LP, vented and vent-free. |
| Hi/Low Millivolt Valve | Adds automatic high/low flame adjustment on top of the on/off millivolt system, controlled from a special remote or wall switch. | Flame control is remote-only by design — manual adjustment can damage the valve. |
| Electronic Ignition | Replaces the standing pilot with an electronic spark ignitor — the pilot lights only when the fireplace is in use, saving gas the rest of the year. | Basic systems work like an on/off remote valve; advanced ones add multifunction remotes with high/low flame, timers and thermostatic control. Many include the remote. |
Quick pick: want set-and-forget simplicity at the lowest price — Match Light (vented NG). Want a knob and a safety cutoff — Safety Pilot. Want a remote — Millivolt. Want a remote plus no pilot burning all year — Electronic.
Grand Canyon control kits, decoded
Ordering a Grand Canyon burner and see a wall of SKUs? Here's what each quick-mount kit actually is. Kits ending in N are natural gas; LP are propane (LP kits include vermiculite).
| Kit | System | BTU rating | What's included & how it operates |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPQMKN / SPQMKLP | Safety Pilot Quick Mount | 90K | Valve, pilot assembly and bracket, black knob, heat shield, swivel connector, fittings and screws. Manual knob control with a standing pilot. |
| MVQMKN / MVQMKLP | Millivolt Quick Mount | 82K | Valve, pilot assembly, heat shield, swivel connector, fittings. Standing pilot for easy ignition; operates by the knob on the valve, or with the optional GCRK remote kit or GCWS wall switch. |
| MVKEIKN / MVKEIKLP | Battery Electronic Ignition | 82K | Valve, pilot assembly, module, wiring harness, battery pack with two D-cell batteries, two heat shields, swivel connector, fittings. No standing pilot — the compact system sits in the firebox next to the burner. Manual switch on the heat shield, or GCRK remote / GCWS wall switch. |
| EIS | 110V Electronic System | 200K | Valve, pilot assembly and bracket, module, wiring harness, AC transformer in a 4″ × 12″ × 12″ metal box, hard piping, 6-foot pilot lead. Direct-wire 110V ignition mounted within 3 feet of the firebox — ideal for new builds, remodels, Jumbo sets and larger front-view or see-through burners. Operates by GCWS wall switch or GCRK remote. |
NG and LP versions of each kit are available; the GCRK remote kit and GCWS wall switch are sold as related products.
Installation manuals & spec sheets
Five decisions down. One set to pick.
Answer three quick questions and the sizing tool matches a set to your firebox, your fuel and your state — or browse the full catalog with your four measurements in hand. A specialist double-checks every order.
Questions? Call (949) 619-7824 — our fireplace experts will find the log set that's the perfect fit for your fireplace.