RS18VFTNG Vent Free Dual Burner Log Set for Natural Gas Fueled Fireplace, 18", Riverside Oak

We really do love this fireplace log set. I looked high & low for a set to meet my needs as to size (smaller "footprint" than most), non-venting, propane, and most importantly, thermostatically controlled, while still falling in a price range we could afford. While there are certainly others out there that fit this description, I couldn't find any that were near the price Amazon.com sold these for. An added bonus was the "life like" or "natural" look of the whole set up as compared to several I've seen that just, plain, look "phony". Amazons' packing on this item was great, getting the set here with no damage to the logs, or any other parts (which, to me, was quite a feat, considering everything). Came with easy to read instruction manual. We had it up and running in no time. While it produces enough heat to warm our entire first floor, my wife loves being able to set the thermo real low, even on warm nights, just for the "effect". Hey, it puts her in a "romantic" mood!

HAS NEVER WORKED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE. NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HAVE TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT REGULATORS, DIFFERENT PROPANE TANKS, CLEANED AS INSTRUCTED IN BOOK. JUST NOT HAPPY WITH THE THERMOSTAT PART OF THE LOGS. WILL NOT COME ON AND OFF AS IT SHOULD. HAD A HEATING COMPANY LOOK TO MAKE SURE IT WAS HOOKED UP PROPERLY AND HE STATED, CHEAP SET, CHEAP THERMOSTAT SYSTEM, WHAT DID WE EXPECT!!! WISH WE HAD NEVER PURCHASED.

Gas log (NG) works OK. But there are issues. The gas control works backwards (in my opinion.) Counterclockwise for more heat and to start pilot light. There is no index mark for a first-timer to know quite how it works because it is counterintuitive and instructions are sketchy on this.The control has a cheap feel to it. Inconsistent rotational tension as one rotates the knob. At first it felt like I might break it. It's not as smooth as our gas range. Nonetheless, it all works as advertised. The REAL problem was THE SMELL and the thin smoke from the logs. The smoke seems to be from the paint they use--and the thickness of the coating. It set all the surrounding rooms' smoke alarms off. It was a bit scary at first. I hope it wasn't toxic. Even after nearly two hours, the stench and the smoke continued. (I temporarily disabled the smoke alarms.) Finally, I just decided to take the logs out and "cook" them in the outside grill. It didn't really do much good. Less smoke now, but it still stinks. I'm now going to try to have the logs sand-blasted. I'll follow up let you know if that worked. I've thought about calling the company for replacement (unpainted) logs, but after my earlier experience with their tech support, I decided not to try this. Besides, the cost of shipping concrete logs would be more than just sandblasting them myself, or finding some closely matching used ones at one of the local fireplace shops. (My earlier call to them resulted in a about an hour wait on the phone and though the tech was a good person with good information, he was pretty non-committal about my changing the direction of the elbow. My gas supply comes from the left, and he said that most homes are built with the supply on the right. I changed it anyway. He also told me that the index mark -- which didn't exist on mine -- was at the three o'clock position. That helped, since the heat numbers are sideways, and unless you know how this gas/pilot control works, it's not obvious where the clicks and the numbers are supposed to go.) Even without the logs, the system works and puts out plenty of heat. In my opinion, the pilot is too bright and strong, and in the wrong place. I'd rather have it hidden rather than be so obvious right up front and center of the fireplace. But that's just me, I suppose. But to prove this point, when my wife first started using it, she asked me why she couldn't get it to completely "stop burning" even when it was thermostatically cycled off, or even with the knob in the minimum position (less than "1") and why it continued to burn a bit. I had to explain that she was seeing the pilot light! That's how obvious the light is is!

I received the product, put it together, and there were obvious differences between my unit and the picture. The most important difference is there is no fan. I talked to the manufacturer and they said they've asked Amazon to change the description, but it has yet to happen. There is a probe and dependant upon the distance it's placed from the heat source will determine when the unit will shut off. If you want to control the temp yourself with the knob on the front you can bury the probe under the small pebbles they provide to basically deactivate the probe. None of this is explained in the documentation. I'm giving three stars because the lady at the manufacturer was nice and I'm optimistic it will work fine this winter. That's really all I care about and I'll update the review this winter. Update 8/9/12 After further investigation & communication with the manufacturer I've determined that this unit has no thermostatic control what so ever. It is totally manual and you control the temp with the knob on the front. It is not even the same part number. If you want thermostatic control you must go up to 24" and buy it at Home Depot. I'm just going to live with it because it's way too much hassle to return. The wizzard behind the curtain at Amazon is giving me a small credit for the mix up. I've now used the product for a full winter season & it performed very well. We use it to supplement our central heat. In central Texas we get a lot of 30s in the morning & 70 in the afternoon weather. It takes the cold edge off in the morning w/o having to turn on the central heat. We use it a lot in the winter. I bought a 50 gal propane tank that when empty I can lift and transport myself to get it refilled. I guess all that really matters is whether or not it works for you and it does what we need it to do.

One of the logs was broken upon arrival. I called Sure Heat and they sent a replacement log, without any problems. We have an open concept house, we used the logs with propane and have no problems heating our house. I would definitely buy these again! We do have an open concept living room, kitchen, dinning room and a bedroom that's off the living room and these logs heat it with no problem. Ours did come with a thermostat, we usually leave it between 2 or 3 and it heats our home without any problems!

Looks good. Easy to start.