How To Properly Operate And Maintain Gas Fire Places
You finally have the gas fire places and you just love it. But you have lots of questions concerning the right way to run and operate your fireplace and where should you get the right gas fire places accessories. This article will attempt to answer some of these common questions about gas fireplaces.
How Does A Gas Fire Place Work?
Gas fireplaces are a direct vent fireplace or ventless appliances that basically are either free standing units or installed as a fireplace inserts. These fireplaces use either natural or propane gas as fuel. Ventless units do not require a chimney, flue or exterior venting ducts. Essentially these units don’t put out as many waste fumes as a more traditional wood or gas powered unit.
This means they can be run without the worry of venting or expelling harmful gases. Direct units on the other hand must have use a system of ducts and vents to release exhaust gases outdoor. They can either use a working chimney or flue or can use a special vent that passes though a side wall to outside.
How to Light a Gas Fire place
Gas fireplaces are normally ignited by way of pilot light (a tiny flame like the one in gas stove or water heater). Pilot lights burn continuously unless you shut them off to conserve fuel when the fireplace is not being used for a long period of time.
Many gas fireplaces use electric blowers to spread the heat out evenly in a room. But some models allow you to bypass the fan and run the fireplace even during a power outage which is better than with electric fire places.
How to Operate and Maintain a Gas Fireplace
Basically gas fire places don’t require a lot of maintenance or cleaning. But are some things you should keep your eyes on while the fireplace is in operation. Check the shape and color of your gas flames. A correctly adjusted gas fire place will create blue flames with yellow tips that are roughly the same size.
If you have mismatched flames or they are an odd color, you need to tweak the primary air controls. If this doesn’t work, then you need to call in an expert. At the beginning, end and half way through the heating season, you should turn off the power and the gas and carefully inspect your gas jets and ceramic log set.
How to Find Gas Fireplaces Accessories
The best place to find the proper fireplace accessories or fireplace supplies is either from the dealer who sold you, your unit or the manufacturer’s website. Some hardware and home centers also have a good supply of common name brand parts and supplies. But for specialty items, you will almost always have to return to the source.
How Do I Fix My Gas Fire place?
Some common problem areas to check when your gas fire place is causing you trouble: the draft spill switch (reset it so the pilot light stays on), check the pilot light (replace the thermopile generator if the pilot light won’t stay lit), check the main burner (check voltage and all wiring connections), and finally check for soot (adjust the primary air shutter control to reduce the air flow).
Now that you know the answers to some common problems with gas fire places, you should be able to take corrective measures when a situation comes up.
