Gas Fireplace
From firebox check to first flame
Every installation carries two promises, our workmanship warranty and our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Water vapor from vent-free logs
Gas combustion produces water vapor, and with a vent-free set that vapor stays in the room. One maker's manual warns that long periods of use can create moisture problems in a home and says to open the damper or a window if condensation starts to form. It also describes the set as supplemental heat, never the main heat source.
The Florida fuel gas code agrees that unvented room heaters are not to be the only source of comfort heating in a home. We explain how a vent-free set is meant to be used before you choose one. If you want a fire you can run for long evenings, a vented set may suit you better, and we price both where both fit.
Odors and a vent-free set
Vent-free sets react to what is in the air around them. One maker warns that candles, air fresheners and sprays near the fireplace create objectionable odors once the burner runs. Pet hair and lint can also build up on the burner and affect how it smells and burns. New sets also give off a manufacturing smell during their break-in period, which fades as the oils burn off.
A smell of gas is different, and it is not something to troubleshoot. Get everyone outside, phone the gas utility or 911 from there, and stay out until they say it is safe.
Carbon monoxide and a gas log set
Any gas fire can make carbon monoxide if it burns badly, and the gas has no color or smell. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises carbon monoxide alarms that run on batteries or have battery backup, placed on each floor of the home and outside the bedrooms. A set that is installed and serviced correctly burns cleanly, and an alarm is the backstop if something changes.
If an alarm goes off, everyone goes outside, and the call to 911 is made from there. One maker's manual also lists headache, dizziness and nausea as early signs and says to get fresh air and stop using the appliance at once.
Buying the set yourself
Some homeowners find a set they like and want it installed. That can work, provided the set is checked against the fireplace, the fuel and the room before you commit. A set that fails one requirement cannot be installed however good it looks. Online listings show the look of a set, but the manual is where the fireplace size, clearance and fuel requirements live.
Share the model with us before you buy, and we check its manual against your fireplace during the free inspection. You get a written price for the fitting and any preparation, and a clear answer on whether the set suits your home.
