Why Your Gas Fireplace Should be Pampered

Most homeowners know the chimney of their wood burning fireplace needs a good cleaning every season. But gas fireplace owners are generally a little less serious about their annual fireplace cleaning. The gas fireplace burns nice and clean, after all. But it still produces some by-products, and wear and tear are always present. Here are 4 of the main reasons you should book a gas fireplace service today, before your family gets into heavy fall and winter use.

Build up of debris in the fireplace.

Gas fireplaces sometimes have a buildup of debris. For example, ceramic logs can deteriorate and clog vents. If the exterior chimney has a cracked crown or if the mortar joints are in poor condition, moisture can enter the chimney system and cause the flue tiles to break off and fall into the hearth. It’s important to have the entire fireplace cleaned and ready for another year of use, including cleaning any residue from the glass doors, inside and out.

Keep it the fireplace working well.

Your gas fireplace has lots of moving parts that degrade over time. They have to be maintained or the damage caused by use can spread to other parts of the fireplace.

• Valves and connections can develop leaks.
• Thermopile and thermocouple can wear or require cleaning.
• Ceramic logs can shift and inhibit the flow or air and gas.

Though very rare, gas fireplaces are susceptible to explosions and sudden fires. If the pilot light isn’t sitting properly when the gas begins to flow, gas may build up and explode. Regular checks of the pilot light are important to keep this from happening.

Airflow matters.

Birds, squirrels and other small animals can get into your chimney and build a comfy little home, blocking the ventilation for your gas fireplace. Even though a gas fireplace burns clean, leaving few deposits behind in your chimney, the structure still needs to be inspected annually. Gas fireplace chimneys face other problems, like moisture accumulation causing the chimney to deteriorate. Cracks in the structure of the chimney can also disrupt ventilation, exposing your family to deadly carbon monoxide.

Glass door safety

The glass doors on your fireplace should be cleaned every year. The glass can get hot enough to cause serious burns on the skin of anybody who accidentally touches it when a fire is on. If the glass doors are covered in gunk, kids might not realize the fire is on. An accident can happen quickly, so make sure your kids can see the fire behind the glass. You can clean the glass yourself, but we’re also happy to do it during our service visit.

Gas fireplace safety

Any type of open combustion system has the potential to cause house fires. Gas fireplaces should be treated with the same level of awareness and respect as wood-burning fireplaces, including being cleaned and inspected annually.

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