December 4, 2018 – Appliances, Home Owners
Fireplace Maintenance Tips & Safety You Don’t Want to Ignore
Your gas-burning fireplace is a real convenience and, compared to wood burning, has a low maintenance factor. Like any other appliance, to keep it running safely and efficiently, we highly recommend it be serviced yearly.
Several potential problems can occur with any type of fireplace and chimney. The most common are:
Debris Buildup
Things like ceramic logs can deteriorate and clog vents. And 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. To be ready for another year of safe and pleasurable use, the entire fireplace should be cleaned, including any residue from the glass doors, inside and out.
Functionality
Never take for granted that the equipment in a gas fireplace is fully operational. Over time, valves and connections weaken and could develop leaks. Thermopile and thermocouple could be worn and/or need cleaning. The ceramic logs should be checked to ensure they are properly placed and in working condition.
Gas fireplaces are susceptible to explosions and sudden fires if there are any leaks or malfunctions. One problem that occurs is that the pilot light is on and the gas turned to the “on” position, but the fireplace isn’t operating. People have been injured by standing in front of gas fireplaces when broken glass is thrust outward due to a malfunction.
Ventilation
Falling debris and animals such as birds looking to build a nest, can get into your chimney and block proper ventilation for your gas fireplace. Even though gas fireplaces burn clean, the structure still needs to be inspected annually. Moisture problems can cause the chimney to deteriorate and fail to function properly. If air moves through the chimney through cracks, the ventilation system will not work properly, potentially exposing your family to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s essential that the chimney work properly to prevent dangerous fumes from entering your home.
Fires
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 annual cleanings and inspections.
Other Safety Reminders
The glass doors on your fireplace can get as hot as 400 degrees Fahrenheit which could cause serious injury if touched. And it takes about 45 minutes for the glass doors to cool enough to touch after the gas fire is out. Children should be informed about the danger and a screen with childproof barriers should be installed if there are small children in the house.
We can help you with your annual fireplace servicing. Simply contact your closest Paraco facility, call our toll free customer service line at 1- (800) 647-4427 Monday – Friday from 8am to 6pm, or email us at contactus@paracogas.com.
It’s interesting to know that things like ceramic logs can deteriorate your fireplace. My husband and I are thinking about installing a fireplace in our house, and we are looking for advice. I will let him know about the benefits of cleaning our fireplace regularly to keep it workingproperly.
A couple of days ago, my fireplace completely stopped working and I can’t seem to figure out what the issue is. I thought it was interesting when you talked about how the connections between valves become weak over time. It seems like it would be a good idea for me to contact a professional to come and figure out what is wrong with my fireplace.
I didn’t realize that animals and debris can block ventilation. My mom has been having issues with her fireplace for a few weeks. We’ll have to look at getting it inspected. http://home-scope.com/services/chimney-inspections/
I was looking for the possible reasons for the blockage in the fireplace at home. Your article helped me to guess the possible reasons involved in blockage. Thanks to your article, I decided to get my fireplace cleaned and hired the professionals to inspect and repair my fireplace. Thanks!
I’ll be moving into a house with a fireplace, and that’s also the main reason why I chose that house. I think having one adds a nostalgic and cozy feel to your house, and I look forward to inviting friends and relatives over so we could share a cup of hot chocolate and talk about life. I know I’m definitely going to treasure the fireplace a lot, so it’s good to know the basics of how I could properly take care of it. I like how you didn’t miss to have everything checked, even birds trying to build a nest over my chimney. I’d remember everything I have to check especially when it comes to ventilation, and I’d also call a professional to properly maintain it as well.
I appreciate your tip on making sure that your fireplace has the right ventilation and to make sure it is working properly to keep fumes from entering the home. My husband’s parents have been wanting a fireplace for a while now. I think they should get a fireplace and just make sure that their house is able to accommodate a fireplace to keep everyone safe.
I like how you mentioned that to use your chimney again, it should be cleaned before. My dad told me that he would like to use his chimney again because he has some time since he last used it. I will recommend him contact a professional company to come and properly repair it.
As you mentioned, falling debris and small animals can get caught in your chimney and block the ventilation. Is there a way to know if there is a ventilation issue? Our It may be time to get my chimney inspected, I can’t remember the last time is was done.
Shaylee, the safest option is to get the chimney inspected.
My mother noticed that the fireplace at her house looks damaged, and we are looking for advice about how to help her. I liked that you mentioned animals can block your chimney’s ventilation and cause problems. I will let my wife know about your recommendations to help my mother with her fireplace problems.
It caught my attention when you explained that a properly-working chimney is essential because it prevents fumes from coming into our house. My husband and I will be downsizing to a smaller home later this month that has a wood-burning fireplace in the front parlor. I’ll be sure to find a good chimney sweep in the area now that I know about the important role it plays in proper ventilation.
You made a great point when you explained that the entire fireplace needs to be cleaned in order to ensure safe usage. If I were to guess, I would imagine that this would include cleaning out the interior of the chimney that vents smoke. You could probably hire a chimney sweeper to handle this for you.
We are hoping to get a gas fireplace installed so that we can enjoy a warm and inviting atmosphere to read books around. Your information that we need to be mindful of our valves so they don’t develop leaks is really helpful! We’ll start looking into a fireplace installation service that can give us tips on how to maintain the new addition.
Great article !!
I agree with you that ceramic logs can clog our vents. I would imagine that we should be cleaning our vents regularly so that our fireplace is safe to use. My husband and I are going to install a fireplace in our living room and I will put a reminder in my phone to have my fireplace checked and cleaned regularly.
Thanks for the tips! Also I love the layout of your site. All in all, a good article!
This is a very informative site with a lot of great content!
It’s good to know that you should check the ceramic logs often to make sure that they’re in working condition. I’m thinking about hiring someone to come and inspect my gas fireplace. I’ve noticed that it only turns on about 50% of the time.
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