Here is a guide on gas fireplace operations; how they work and how to use them safely.

Gas fireplaces are known to be efficient heating systems that offer lots of advantages.

With a growing number of users, there’s a clear need to understand gas fireplace operation. In other words, there’s a need to understand how a gas fireplace works.

Such understanding is key to safety.

Gas Fireplace Operations: How To Use Them

So, do you have a gas fireplace or plan on buying one? You’ll need to be knowledgeable about its operation. This article offers a ready guide on how to go about putting it to good use.

Of course, this will prove handy to persons having little to no understanding about its use.

It Starts and Ends with Safety

One thing that stands out with gas fireplace use is the need to stick to all safety guidelines.

With these heating devices, safety comes first to help prevent injury or danger of any kind. Not only are you concerned with your safety, but you’ll also have to keep members of your household safe.

Certain safety tips will need to be followed to limit the risk of a fire incident.

Some clear-cut safety tips to adopt include not leaving your fireplace unattended, using it for shorter periods, providing adult supervision, turning it off when not in use, and keeping kids and pets at a safe distance.

Now there’s a possibility of not fully understanding each of these safety tips.

So, let’s take a brief look at each for more clarity.

  • Never Leave Your Fireplace Unattended

Although gas fireplaces won’t need to be frequently attended to like their wood-burning counterparts, they still need to be checked. One area that seems to draw the most concern is the pilot.

Should you leave it on or turn it off?

The pilot is designed to be on especially in winter when the gas fireplace needs to be frequently used. However, a warmer climatic condition might require putting off the pilot lights.

The ultimate advice should come from your professional.

  • Use for Shorter Periods

Gas fireplaces are best designed for relatively shorter usage at a time. What does this mean? Does it simply mean that a gas fireplace should only last for hours at a time and not exceeding a day or more?

In other words, your gas fireplace shouldn’t be on for extended periods exceeding a day.

  • Provide Adult Supervision

There needs to be adult supervision when it comes to gas fireplace use. This way, safety is guaranteed.

Your kids shouldn’t be allowed to operate this heating appliance in your absence.

  • Turn off when not in Use

There are times when optimal heating temperatures are reached.

During such times, you’ll have to put off your gas fireplace because further heating is no longer required.

  • Keep Kids and Pets at a Safe Distance

Kids and pets are the most vulnerable when it comes to gas fireplace use.

As such, you must keep an eye on them and ensure they’re at a safe distance away from the fireplace. An acceptable distance will be around three feet away.

You might also want to place barriers to keep kids from touching the heated fireplace glass or door. These doors can heat up to hundreds of degrees, thus creating a burn hazard.

How Do Gas Fireplaces Work?

Have you ever cared to ask or find out how gas fireplaces work?

These are efficient heating devices that use gas as combustion fuel. Now, gas is considered a clean fuel in the sense that it gives off very little combustion byproducts such as carbon dioxide and water.

This is why you’ll find vent-free gas fireplaces in the market. Now, combustion needs to occur in the presence of air. So, a vent-free fireplace for example uses the oxygen present within a room.

This creates an argument for its safety because oxygen levels within the room are depleted.

Asides from oxygen depletion, moisture levels are also increased thus creating moisture concerns that are known to promote structural damage.

A safety measure incorporated into vent-free gas fireplaces is the presence of an oxygen depletion sensor. This alerts the user when the oxygen levels are blow safe levels.

For vented fireplaces, oxygen supply is drawn from the vent that connects outside and not from the room. This won’t deplete the oxygen levels within your living area.

  • Sealed Combustion

Sealed combustion is common with gas fireplaces, especially with vented models or designs.

Here, the doors installed have tight gaskets that prevent warm air from escaping. Because no air needs to be drawn from within the living room, the main supply is from outside the room.

The gas fireplace doesn’t need to be open for heat to reach the living room.

Heat is transferred through radiation into your room.

Basic Components of the Gas Fireplace

The gas fireplace has a list of components without which it won’t function effectively. Now, the type of components included will depend on whether the fireplace is vented or vent-free.

Vented fireplaces tend to have more components that include the vent among other things.

Basic components include the hearth, chimney parts or venting system, fireplace fronts, ignition, gas line, firebox, and fireplace blower & fan. What more?

There’s the gas fireplace media and fireplace liners.

These are some of the basic components among several others in a gas fireplace.

Here are some gas fireplace inserts with blowers.

How to Guaranty Safe Operation

Several actions need to be taken to guarantee the safe operation of a fireplace.

First off, it shouldn’t be installed by you. Only a pro should get the job done. Also, purchase one (fireplace) with all the safety features written.

If you’ll be using an existing chimney for venting, have it cleaned first.

A carbon monoxide detector will need to be installed to alert you to excess carbon monoxide emissions. What more? Consider sticking to routine maintenance.

Dampers in direct vent gas fireplaces should be kept open during use.

Other safety measures include correctly placing gas logs and also opening up your window a little to let in fresh oxygen from without.

Before cleanup, the gas fireplace must be turned off first.

These are the basic workings of a gas fireplace.

We’ve discussed key areas to consider before putting your fireplace to use. Sticking to these guidelines is key.

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