If you’ve been using a wood fireplace and have advanced to a gas fireplace, you may have a false sense of security. While gas fireplaces are safer than their counterparts: no soot, smoke, or sparks, it’s not guaranteed that they are 100% safe. Here are seven ways to make sure your gas fireplace is working properly.
1. Conduct Regular Maintenance
If you are using your gas fireplace regularly, having it inspected once a year by a professional can help spot any potential life-threatening issues and address them before resulting in damage. For occasional usage, inspecting it at least twice a year is recommended.
2. Pay Attention to Clearance Recommendations
The fireplace contractor or manufacturer will give you expert advice on minimum clearance requirements – a spot around the fireplace where you aren’t allowed to place flammable items. This space, to be precise, is often 3 feet. Ensure you do not have furniture, books, boxes, or any flammable material within this distance.
3. Use the Correct Type of Gas Fireplace Fuel
While out purchasing a gas fireplace fuel, ensure you go for the right one as the manufacturer recommends. Wrong fuel can cause explosions, which may lead to loss of life and property. So, ensure you get the right fuel.
4. Test Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
Having your gas fireplace working doesn’t mean that something can’t go wrong. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are important pieces of equipment that homeowners should have in place because they can help avoid accidents. Consider checking your detectors to make sure they are working effectively.
5. Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions for Use and Maintenance
As a homeowner with a gas fireplace, you should go through the manufacturer’s instructions for usage and regular maintenance. It’s worth noting that instructions may vary from one manufacturer to the other, but the key is that you understand these instructions to ensure that your gas fireplace is in order and works properly.
6. Inspect Your Gas Fireplace Before Ignition
Be sure to check your gas fireplace before ignition to ensure that all the safety features are working as they should. This includes making sure that all the parts, including the vents, are debris-free. Furthermore, it would be best to look for any signs of damage or wear and tear. If there are any, call an expert to diagnose the issues before tragedy strikes.
7. Report Problems as Soon as Possible
If your gas fireplace isn’t heating or there is a shift in flame appearance and odor, cut the use and call a technician to inspect it as soon as possible. This may help avoid damages that may have occurred as a result of using a defective gas fireplace.
There you have it: seven simple ways to make sure that your gas fireplace is working properly. From reporting the problems as soon as possible and regular maintenance to using the right type of gas fireplace fuel and following the manufacturer’s instructions on use and maintenance, rest assured that your gas fireplace will work efficiently. It is also important to remember that gas fireplaces need good ventilation in order to work properly.
