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As it warms up outside, and your gas fireplace becomes dormant until the fall, it’s the perfect time to conduct yearly maintenance to ensure your unit continues to work effectively for years to come. You should contact a licensed gas service provider to inspect your fireplace at least once per year, and you should never perform maintenance yourself. Today we’ll be going over the steps required to increase the lifespan of your gas fireplace.
Annual Inspection
Gas fireplaces require less upkeep than their wood counterpart, but they still require maintenance. The equation of gas and fire should be routinely checked simply because anything flammable requires yearly inspection. Hire a professional inspector to clean your unit and search for any gas leaks. This entire inspection should take roughly an hour, so there’s no excuse to not have this scheduled on an annual basis.
Clean the Glass
You can clean the glass yourself, but it’s important that you read the owner’s manual and follow all the steps correctly. Most fireplace doors are removable for easy cleaning. Remove the glass and place it on some old newsprint or a large plastic bag to protect the flooring or table underneath. Wipe the glass gently but firmly with a cloth sprayed with a household cleaner. Dry it with paper towels and wait at least 30 minutes before using the fireplace again.
Warning Signs
You should keep an eye out for any damp patches on the surrounding walls (interior or exterior), crumbling bricks, cracked paint, and damaged mortar joints. All of these signs indicate that there’s something wrong with the working parts of your fireplace and that you shouldn’t use it. Valves and other connectors can erode over time, and since gas is involved, this is a risk you don’t want to take. Consult a professional immediately.
Clean the Logs
Gas log sets require a little bit of cleaning to keep in top condition. If soot begins to build up and discolor your logs, follow the instructions in your owner’s manual. Remove the logs and carefully brush the soot from the logs with a paintbrush. Vent-free gas logs should never be moved or cleaned by anyone but a qualified service technician.