Gas Fireplace Maintenance Guide

Annual inspection

While it’s true that gas fireplaces are relatively cleaner and easier to take care of, any appliance can become a nuisance if neglected.

Cleaning and inspecting your fireplace and chimney will put your mind at ease when you choose to start up the appliance when it gets cold.

Your fireplace works hard to keep you and your family warm.

If you don’t inspect and clean your chimney, you can expect that you’ll have some sort of build-up — could be dust, soot, or some other type of debris.

Improper airflow can cause even more buildup of soot, which will stick to the walls of your flue. Soot and creosote are highly flammable and not restricted to wood-burning fireplaces.

Creosote and soot build up in your gas fireplace can also cause a chimney fire.

Improper airflow can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. As the gas lines are clogged, gas could leak out in other places, aside from where it’s supposed to exit.

This means that you could have gas leaks in your home.

Debris In Your Home

Debris likes to hang out in your vents, flue, and all around the chimney.

Debris needs to be removed, since, as I mentioned earlier, it can restrict airflow. You’ll find the following types of debris:

Deteriorating Logs:

Ceramic log inserts eventually deteriorate with use. Little pieces will break off and cling to the sides of the insert.

Dirty Glass Doors or Frames:

Chipped or scratched glass can become a hazard over time.

Believe it or not, this can mess with the heat output of your fireplace. And I’m certain that you don’t want that.

Residue:

The inside and outside of your gas fireplace need to be cleaned.

After all those fires, it’s bound to get dirty at some point, right?

You’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for instructions and approved products for cleaning.

No Daily Upkeep Needed

Wood fireplaces require a lot of maintenance. But many people don’t want to part with their wood stove.

While there are a lot of people that still love their wood fireplace, the trend is moving very quickly in the direction of gas fireplaces.

Rightfully so, too.

There’s no ash left behind. No soot. Less debris. This means less day-to-day clean up.

You get the fireplace, but you don’t have to worry about bending over and scooping up the ashes, getting your hands blackened and dirty.

Keep It Clean

What’s cool about gas fireplaces is that you can keep it clean yourself.

If you have a vented gas log set, a professional chimney sweep can clean your flue. But the actual appliance is something you can do yourself.

NOTE: Before you attempt to clean your gas fireplace, be sure to read the manual. Also, make sure you turn off the gas because you don’t want to accidentally ignite anything in the process!

Periodically check the logs and rocks for any signs of breakage, wear or tear, and replace them right away.

Also, make sure your fireplace is not warm. You’ll want to wait several hours after your last use before you start cleaning.

What You Can Expect

During an inspection, your technician will take a look at the exterior of your chimney.

This includes making sure the glass isn’t chipped, cracked, or dirty. It’ll also include checking if the framework is holding up as it should.

Your technician will also take a look at the interior gas ignition underneath the log structure. The purpose is to make sure it is lighting perfectly.

At Patriot Chimney, we also always make sure your log set isn’t deteriorating.

We may need to take the face of the unit off to inspect the valves and connections underneath your fireplace or insert.

A big part of the inspection is to also make sure your fireplace’s heat output is correct. We’ll celan any residue that has started to block any ports or vents.

We’ll make sure you have properly working carbon monoxide detectors and make sure you are aware of any repairs your gas fireplace may need.

How to Hire, What to Look For

1. Can the company provide references? 
2. Does the company carry a valid business liability insurance policy? 
3. Does the company ensure that a certified chimney technician will be on the job? 

If they guarantee all three of those, then you are in a good spot. The technicians don’t necessarily need to be certified by the CSIA, but I do recommend putting in a bit more due diligence before accepting a certification that’s not by the CSIA. 

This is because certifications are a tricky thing, especially in an unlicensed industry like ours. Any company can craft a list of job-related questions and sell them as an exam and certify those who pass. 

Certifications

I recommend you take a few extra minutes in your research before making your hiring decision to learn more about the certification the company has. Here are a few tips to make sure the certification is reputable:

• Is the word “certified” just part of the business name or is it an earned designation?
• Is the certifying body a for-profit business or non-profit?
• Does the certification need to be maintained and renewed through continuing education as the industry evolves, or is it well enough to be certified through a one-time exam?
• Is the certifying body well-established or are they relatively new to the scene? New doesn’t mean “bad” but you should make sure the requirements for certification are more or at least equally stringent as those of more established certifications
• Is the mission statement of the certifying body focused on educating and protecting homeowners or is it more focused on making it easier to earn a certification?
• Does holding the certification require following a code of ethics?

If you can answer all of these questions, then I think it will be safe to allow the company in your home to work on your chimney.

Please note that If you are hiring a chimney company to install a cap for you, most of the time, they will need to buy the cap themselves. This is primarily for liability and insurance purposes. 

Besides, it’s probably cheaper for them to buy a cap at the dealer discount than for you to buy one at retail cost.

It doesn’t matter if you are in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Blacksburg, or some other city anywhere in the USA — if you have any questions about the safety of hiring a chimney company, please don’t hesitate to email me at mitchell@patriotchimney.net or call me at 540-225-2626. I’m happy to help!