If you have a gas fireplace, you may have bought it simply because it doesn't require as much maintenance as a wood fireplace. While that is true, there are still a few things you need to check every so often to avoid permanent damage to your fireplace.
In this article, we will review things you can do before every fire, before each burn season, and every year to ensure your gas fireplace stays in good working order.
First, what should you do before every fire?
You can start by looking for dust inside your fireplace or on the glass. Removing all dirt and debris is a good first step to prevent buildup in gas logs or the gas burner system. Next, check for any gas logs that may have shifted out of place while cleaning or burning. Your owner's manual will usually depict a photo of the proper log arrangement and most log sets have pins or recesses to guide their setup.
-
- cleaning a gas fireplace
It is important that they stay in the right placement so they aren't covering burner tubes or restricting gas flow. Finally, once everything is dusted and the door back in position, for direct vent fireplaces ), check for any looseness in the fit of the door and adjust as needed. The glass ensures cold air isn't pulled in through the opening of the fireplace, creating a vacuum that sucks heat out of your room. So, you will want to tighten any loose pieces and make sure cold air only enters through the venting system. Most models have spring clamps that hold the door tightly closed, but the threaded bolts or nuts that adjust spring tightness can become loose over time. Tightening them with an adjustable wrench or ratchet is an easy fix.
Second, what should you do before each burn season?
Before each burn season, it is important to inspect the chimney termination for yard debris or rust. Chimney terminations mounted to the side of a house, as opposed to the roof, are more likely to collect lawn debris since they are lower to the ground. So, it is a good idea to visually inspect them & remove anything stuck in the cap. Next, you can go to the firebox, remove all the logs then clean the inside of your fireplace. Gas fireplaces don't build up creosote like wood burning fireplaces can, but they are prone to serving as a home for spiders and can build up a layer of dust from outside air.
-
- Real Fyre Gas Fireplace Logs
Finally, when everything is clean and the logs put back in place, you can ignite the flame as you usually do and check for a steady flame pattern and smooth start-up. Checking these will tell you if the gas is flowing freely and the ignition system is working well.
Third, what should you do each year?
Once a year it is good to go a little deeper with the inspection of your gas fireplace. You should look over the condition of your chimney vent enclosures and flashings during this time. Remove the vent cap from your chimney termination and check for blockages within the vent.
Even though chimney caps are meant to block debris and animals from getting in, occasionally some things can sneak their way into the vent, especially if the vent screen is damaged. Depending on what it is, you may be able to remove it yourself. But if it is a huge mess, call a professional to help you get the junk out.
-
- Home Saver Guardian Chimney Cap
If you consistently do these things, your gas fireplace should continue to work great for years to come. We hope this was helpful and gave you a good guideline for maintaining fireplace health. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 800.203.1642
About the Author
Amanda Hurd is a native Memphian, lover of linguistics, and blues music. She has worked in digital marketing for nearly a decade and loves to move people to action with written words. She is the Content Editor for the eFireplaceStore and eCanopy online stores.
Amanda's obsession with writing extends beyond her professional career, bleeding over into her personal life. She has maintained a blog for nearly six years, regularly posts inspirational content online, and is working on completing her first fiction book!
If she isn't off somewhere writing, you better believe she has her nose in a book getting ideas about what to write next!
