Gas fire gas feed question

[Livingintheclouds]

Hi I’ve just bought a house with coal effect gas fire. I have a recent gas cert for it so I know it works, and the gas supply is on to the kitchen range.
I have downloaded the manual and we haven’t been able to light it. I think the gas to it is off as I don’t hear any when I turn the knob. Am I correct that the screw like things in the photo should both be horizontal? The fact one is vertical makes me think the gas is not getting to the fire. Thanks.

Ours is horizontal-however, ours leaks so is turned off at the mains which, weirdly, is in the garage.

Could you google the make & model & download the user manual to be sure?

I have done that and the picture they have doesn’t look the same - I guess how it’s connected to the gas is up to who installed it (the manual pic has a handle thing that I would have expected to see).

I would try it.
You can test for a gas leak by making an solution of washing up liquid and water and 'painting' over joints / taps etc and seeing any bubbles grow. THIS IS NOT A OFFICIAL METHOD!

If that's the feed pipe going into the fire (ie to the left of the picture, if the pipe heads off into the mains) then the screw appears to be a shut-off valve. Open it and see what effect it has.

There should be a host of other automatic shut off valves in the fireplace itself to prevent any leaks from it.

Just turn the screw and then turn the fire on without lighting it , the good thing about gas is you can smell it when it’s coming through.

@hannahcolobus
If a gas appliance is faulty doesn't a gas engineer usually attach a big 'DANGER DO NOT USE' label to it?

Although I suppose someone could remove have removed it.

@hannahcolobus
Excellent point!
I hadn't considered CO, and my earlier 'washing-up-liquid-mixture' suggestion wouldn't be of no use for this either.
Yes changed my viewpoint - get it checked professionally.

You can’t smell co, but any room with gas/ solid fuel appliance should have a detector fitted.