Have a vented fireplace and a couple of questions: Fireplace has 1/2 inch oak top. Want to build shelving unit on it to house stereo and TV. Electrical equiptment will be about 11 inches from oak top and have a 1/2 inch plywood shelve supporting it. My speakers will be on the oak top. Can this work or is it going to get too warm? I can light the pilot and keep it going 2 out of 5 tries. When it does stay lit I can turn up the knob (behind the front drop down panel) from IGN to High and the flames start only if the decrotive flame valve on the decrotive front is turned on all the way. The flames stay for about twenty seconds and then the flame disappears almost like the gas supply shuts off. I can relight the pilot and do the process again and again but the pilot will not stay lit and the flames won't stay burning. Need help. Thinking it is probably dirty but don't know how to clean it. Thanks

Hi There - I'm thinking about buying a house that has a fireplace in which the backside (that in all other houses I've seen are on the "outside" of the house) is in the garage - how dangerous is this if a car is parked in the garage? Has anyone else seen a fireplace located in a similar place in the home? Many Thanks!