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
Ignition 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:
Gas 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.