Our Process
How gas fireplaces are installed in Wagner
Vent caps near porches, decks and soffits
A cap under a porch or deck is allowed only in limited cases. Table 503.8 permits it 12 inches below a veranda, porch, deck or balcony that is open on at least two sides, and prohibits it where only one side is open. One direct-vent manual adds that termination in a screened porch is not permitted.
Roof overhangs matter too. The same manual asks for 18 inches below a ventilated soffit and 30 inches below vinyl soffit material. Our installers check every overhang near the planned cap on your Wagner home against the manual for your model.
Running gas fireplace vent pipe through attics and insulated walls
Where a vent passes through an insulated wall, ceiling or attic, the insulation has to be held back from the pipe. Section 502.4 of the code requires a steel insulation shield no thinner than No. 26 gage that ends 2 inches or more above attic insulation, with clearance kept to the vent maker's figure.
Many vent systems include their own listed shield, installed as the maker shows. Our installers fit it where the vent enters the attic in your Wagner home and keep the clearance around the pipe empty.
Checking gas pressure at a newly installed fireplace
Each unit is built to run within a pressure range printed in its manual. One maker's manual stresses that the minimum inlet pressure has to hold while the other gas appliances in the house are running, and warns that high pressure can cause overfiring. Its valve is preset at the factory and is not to be adjusted.
Once the supply is connected, our crew checks the inlet pressure with a gauge under the conditions the manual describes. The readings for your Wagner fireplace are written on your record.
Keeping a new gas fireplace dry
Gas fireplace controls do not tolerate water. One maker's manual says to keep the appliance dry because water may damage its controls, and a B-vent manual says not to use a fireplace if any part has been under water, and to call a qualified service person instead.
During installation the unit stays covered until the vent is sealed and the chase or wall is closed. If your Wagner home ever takes on water near the fireplace, leave the unit off and call us before relighting it.
