Gas logs are beautiful and add warmth and ambiance to your home, but they also require regular maintenance. Like wood-burning fireplaces, gas logs can become clogged with debris and develop burner problems. If you’re concerned about your gas fireplace, it’s important to contact a professional for inspections, cleanings, and other repairs.
Before you start any work on your gas fireplace, make sure that it’s completely cool. Turn off the pilot light and gas valve, and read your owner’s manual to determine what else needs to be shut off. It’s important to find the right way to shut off your specific model’s gas log fireplace so that you don’t accidentally cause a dangerous leak. Once everything is shut off, remove the fireplace glass panel. Set it on a soft surface like a drop cloth or an old towel, and take a picture to help you remember how to put it back together once you’re finished. Remove the lava rocks, as well (they’ll likely be held in place by screws or spring clips), and put them on a towel to prevent scratching the glass.
Vacuum inside the firebox, being careful not to suck up the grates or other decorative items. Be sure to vacuum behind the logs as well, where dirt can hide. You can also clean the lava rock by placing it in a bowl of water and adding some vinegar to loosen any sticky deposits. Once it’s clean, you can replace it in the fireplace.
Whether you’re a homeowner or landlord, you should perform annual safety and performance inspections to ensure that your fireplace is working properly. These inspections should include the fireplace’s gas supply and venting, the pilot light and thermocouple, and the gas logs. These inspections can identify potentially dangerous issues and can save you money by catching them before they become costly repairs.
In addition to annual maintenance, you should also schedule a chimney cleaning at least once per year. Even though gas fireplaces don’t give off creosote, they can still develop blockages that need to be removed by a qualified chimney sweep.
Some common problems with gas log fireplaces include:
-Flammable Gas -If you see or smell flammable gas, shut off the fireplace and call a professional immediately. It’s likely caused by an unsafe gas line or burner.
– Pilot Light Problems -If your fireplace pilot light won’t stay lit, it could be due to a faulty thermopile or thermocouple. In most cases, this will need to be replaced by a professional.
While fireplaces and their components are easy to maintain, some repairs can be a little tricky. Contacting a local Memphis fireplace repair professional is the best way to keep your gas log fireplace safe and in good working order for years to come. With a service plan from Cinch, you can get connected to best handyman in Memphis for all your major home systems and appliances.