Using Your Gas Fireplace Safely and Correctly

Gas fireplaces continue to grow in popularity every year. Many homeowners opt to have gas fireplaces installed, as they are wonderful appliances to add heat and beauty to the home. However, to get the most out of a gas fireplace, you have to operate and care for it properly. Here are some tips to follow.

Keep a safety zone around your fireplace

Teach children that the fireplace isn’t a toy and give them a boundary to observe around it. Three to six feet is a good space. For very young children and pets, it’s up to you to keep a close eye on them. A fireplace screen is an effective way to prevent accidents, so consider investing in one of you have kids and pets.

Install carbon monoxide (CO) monitors in your home

CO monitors will tell you quickly if your gas fireplace is sending deadly carbon monoxide into your home because of a leak or some kind of malfunction. Install and maintain the monitors according to the monitor’s manual.

Have your gas fireplace inspected once a year

While you can spot obvious problems with your fireplace, things may be happening within the system that you can’t detect. It’s a smart move to schedule annual safety inspections for your fireplace, performed by a licensed gas fireplace technician.

Never burn anything in your fireplace

Just because there’s a flame in your fireplace, it doesn’t mean the appliance is made for burning wood or any other type of material. If your fireplace isn’t producing enough heat, speak with a technician – don’t try to add stuff to make the fire hotter.

What to do if you smell gas

If you detect the odor of gas in your home:

• Turn off the appliance if it’s safe to do so
• Get everybody and all pets out of the house
• Call 911
• When the danger has passed, contact a gas fireplace repair company for an inspection

If you have a non-vented gas fireplace

Vent-free gas logs deplete oxygen in your home. When using your fireplace for more than 30 minutes, make sure a window in the vicinity of the fireplace is slightly open.

If you have a vented fireplace

Safe use of a vented gas fireplace or log set includes keeping the damper fully open to allow carbon monoxide to escape into the outside air. Always ensure your damper is open before starting up the fireplace to prevent smoke from back.

Have your vent system cleaned and inspected

While gas fireplaces don’t create the same level of buildup as wood fireplaces, you still need to have your gas venting system cleaned periodically. Particulate matter from combustion can slowly accumulate and cause drafting obstructions, which will send carbon monoxide into your home. After the first cleaning and learning your usage patterns, your technician will be able to tell you how often cleaning will be necessary.

When in doubt, consult the owner’s manual

Your gas fireplace manufacturer has included either on paper or by Internet access a detailed manual with lots of useful information for your specific appliance. Familiarize yourself with this info, and refer to the manual any time you’re not sure about something.

Keep your gas fireplace running right

Fire N’ Stone of Tilton, NH, is on call year-round to help with any issues you may be having with your gas fireplace. We provide complete inspections, vent-system cleaning and all necessary repairs. We’re family-owned and family-operated and do all our own work – we never use subcontractors.

Call the experts today at (603) 293-4040.