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All Seasons Chimney Truck

1083 Little Britain Rd
New Windsor, NY 12553

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Company Blog

Common Gas Fireplace Repairs

There are many things that would draw a person to installing a gas fireplace. It offers the charm, warmth, and aesthetic appeal of a fireplace – just without the regular cleaning of soot and ash or the purchasing of fuel that a traditional wood-burning fireplace requires.

With all the benefits of a gas fireplace, it can be hard to imagine that anything could ever go wrong. However, like any complex appliance, your gas fireplace is susceptible to operational glitches and failures. While these problems are almost always minor, they can cause quite the headache if not dealt with promptly.

Fortunately for you, All Seasons Chimney are experts at pinpointing problems and solving them, so that you can fully enjoy your gas fireplace to the fullest. And while our techs will leave your fireplace clean and working efficiently, we thought we would provide you with a few things you can do to troubleshoot some of these problems before asking us for a visit. 

Common Gas Fireplace Problems to Watch For

  • close up of flames in a gas fireplaceIgnition Failure: Problems with the ignition in gas fireplaces are among the most common. These switches are necessary to initiate the process of combustion. As gas is supplied to your fireplace, the ignition provides a spark that should ignite the gas and cause your fireplace to cleanly burn and supply heat. Without this spark, all you have is a gas place without the fire.
  • Uneven Flames or Soot Accumulation: While gas fireplaces are designed to mimic a wood-burning fire, the flames should be relatively even and the gas should burn cleanly. If the flames are abnormally uneven and soot residue begins accumulating, it probably means that your burners are dirty, your air to gas ratio is off, or your fire is not being ventilated properly.
  • Unpleasant Odors: For some, the absence of smell is among the things that are appealing in a gas fireplace. The gas in a gas fireplace has an additive that gives it an unpleasant odor, so that it is noticeable when it leaks. If you smell an unpleasant odor (and your un-showered teenager isn’t in the room), it could mean that you have a leak in your gas line. 

Troubleshooting Problems – Keep Your Gas Fireplace Working

So, what’s to be done if your gas fireplace is giving you issues?

✔ Gas Supply Inspection

If you seem to be having a problem in the gas supply, the first thing to do is examine the supply line. Look for cracks, debris buildup, an unobstructed and fully open valve, and anything else that might hinder your supply line to do its job effectively. If you notice the unpleasant smell of leaking gas, turn off the gas supply, leave your home, and call appropriate authorities immediately.

Then, reach out to us at All Seasons Chimney, so we can spot and fix the leak before you put your system to use again.

✔ Clean Ventilation Passages 

Your chimney or ventilation system is a key component in making sure your gas is burning cleanly. Unfortunately, debris and other obstructions can collect within the ventilation system which limits airflow and causes problems within the fireplace. Always make sure these passages are clear and clean. 

Cleaning and maintaining chimneys and ventilation systems is one of our specialties at All Seasons Chimney. Many obstructions within the ventilation of a fireplace happen in dangerous and hard-to-reach places. It is important that you have your chimney or ventilation professionally serviced and cleaned on a regular basis. Call us today to make sure the vents and chimney to your gas fireplace is clean and clear.

✔ Thermocouple Inspection

A thermocouple is an electrical junction between two dissimilar electrical conductors. A working thermocouple is dependent on temperature. If it’s not working or if it’s malfunctioning, it will cause other components of your fireplace to not work, as well. Over time, this important but inexpensive tool can become faulty which turns into a variety of problems within your gas fireplace system.

Regular maintenance will help make sure your thermocouple is working. However, when things start to malfunction, repairing the thermocouple is a great place to start because if it isn’t working right, it will cause other things to get wonky.

Hazards of Gas Fireplace Malfunctions

Even though most malfunctions in your gas fireplace are minor and easily fixed, unaddressed problems can cascade into big issues for your home and its residents. Here are some risks that regular maintenance by professionals can help you avoid:

  • a rectangle-shaped white carbon monoxide alarm detectorGas Leaks: When gas leaks into the house it can begin to mix with oxygen and turn your home into an explosion waiting to happen. Unaddressed leaks can mean that any spark or leak within your home could ignite a combustion reaction that, at minimum, causes a fire within your home. The more the leak is ignored, however, the bigger the explosion can become.
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: When gas is being supplied (but not completely burning), or when burnt emissions aren’t able to vent out, then breathable oxygen is replaced with carbon monoxide. This poisonous gas is invisible and odorless. It causes headaches, dizziness, nausea, cognitive confusion, and even death. Each year more than 100,000 people in the United States visit the emergency room because of carbon monoxide, and it causes more than 400 deaths. Often these symptoms are mistaken for the common flu.

We’re Here to Help – Call Today

At All Seasons Chimney, we believe you can enjoy everything your gas fireplace has to offer – without having to worry about the dangers of it not working. Call us today to schedule your fireplace maintenance. We will leave you with a clean and working fireplace that will provide you with peace of mind all year long.

Give us a call at 845-552-1701 or book with us online today.

Common Brick vs. Fire Brick: What’s the Difference?

Bricks have stood the test of time as a construction material. As a matter of fact, at the dawn of recorded history, ancient civilizations had already been using brick for thousands of years. Durable, versatile, and able to be made from materials that are readily available in most places around the globe, the popularity of brick should come as no surprise.

Not all bricks, however, are the same.

What Is Common Brick?

bricks stacked with no mortar between themThe type of brick seen most commonly is aptly called “common brick,” although you may also hear it referred to as clay brick, building brick, or red brick. Common brick is classed according to the quality of the brick and uniformity of size and shape, with class one bricks being most suitable for permanent construction projects.

Common brick is durable, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing for a variety of design uses. It has excellent compressive strength, which is what it can be used for load bearing walls as well as facades, patios, fences, and many other uses.

While common brick is prevalent, however, there are other types of bricks that can be extremely useful for specific applications. One of these helpful species of bricks is firebrick.

What Is Firebrick?

True to its moniker, firebrick can take heat. Common brick has a small to moderate degree of heat resistance. Firebrick, also known as refractory brick, can withstand much higher temperatures and tolerate substantially more thermal shock without degrading.

What gives firebrick its super powers? It boils down to its composition. Made of refractory clay, which contains alumina and silica, firebrick comes by its heat tolerant qualities naturally. These materials provide firebrick with excellent heat resistance – and therefore structural integrity – when exposed to extreme temperatures. It can also withstand rapid transitions from cooler to very hot temperatures, and has limited heat transfer, making it an excellent insulator.

Which Brick Is Best for My Fireplace & Chimney?

While common brick serves well in general construction, firebrick is desirable in environments that involve intense heat, such as kilns, furnaces, and – you guessed it – fireplaces. That said, often the two types of brick will be used in tandem when it comes to these heating systems.

Take, for instance, your average home fireplace. Most likely, you’ll find that the firebox – the component of the fireplace system in which the fire is actually made – will be made from firebrick. The rest of the chimney will likely be composed of cement block or common brick, while flue tiles lining the exhaust flue.

Utilizing different types of bricks according to their strengths maximizes a property owner’s resources and the function of the construction project.

Red brick is relatively lighter in weight and more porous than firebrick. Firebrick is more dense (and therefore heavier for its size), has a smoother texture, and is more costly than common brick. Another difference is in color. While there are variances in hue and shade, common brick typically comes in warm, earthy colors. If you see firebrick in these colors, it’s been dyed – while it’s naturally white, pigment can be added to the slurry before firing to color it to fit a desired design.

Because firebrick can take prolonged exposure to intense heat, it makes sense to make use of it in areas in direct contact with flame. Placing it there also protects the surrounding structure. Where common brick may crack or transfer heat, firebrick will contain and insulate without breaking down, making it a worthy investment.

Common brick, while not suitable for this kind of heat exposure, can still find use in the outer layers of heat-related appliances, provide structural support, and act as a decorative facing material. Its lighter weight and lower cost, along with its durability, makes it a great supporting character in relation to high heat specialized structures, and in general masonry work where high temperature resistance isn’t required.

Schedule Masonry Repairs & Maintenance With Us

a masonry chimney that has experienced some brick deteriorationWhile brick is a long-lasting and hard-wearing material, it does require routine maintenance to ensure its longevity and functionality. Mortar can deteriorate over time, and the elements can erode brick or cause cracking and spalling due to exposure to the elements. Left unchecked, these conditions can worsen sooner than later. If initial installation is inadequate, this can exacerbate and accelerate problems.

As certified chimney technicians, we’ve seen masonry in all stages of disrepair and can identify – and help address – issues to protect and repair masonry.

Call Our Certified Sweeps Today

If you’re considering an addition to your property that involves masonry, be sure you know your brick types and how to use them to your advantage, especially if your addition will involve extreme heat. Looking to have a fireplace installed, upgraded, or repaired? Rely on a chimney professional with solid industry certifications and experience when undertaking this type of project. When done excellently, it can add years of enjoyment and value to your living space!

The Hudson Valley has been trusting us for their chimney care for over 25 years, and our satisfied customers will attest to our concern for the safety, investment, and comfort of your home. Call or reach out online today to get started.