How to Clean a Gas Fireplace

Important annual gas fireplace maintenance.

Time

An hr or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Free

Introduction

Every year you light upward the gas fireplace and wonder, what'south that awful smell? It's dirt, dust and bugs burning off the logs. To avoid that this twelvemonth, follow these piece of cake steps to go on your fireplace burning cleanly and efficiently.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Can of compressed air
  • Drinking glass cleaner

Project step-past-step (12)

Step one

Inspecting the Gas Fireplace

  • Bank check that the logs are intact and free of dust and debris.
  • Check that the glass is non cracked or loose.
  • Inspect the chimney and exhaust vent for loose bricks or blockages within the vent.
  • Start it up and check that the ignitor and burner are working properly.

Pace 2

Admission Fireplace Controls

  • Remove the front screen or open the bottom grate of the fireplace.
  • Remove the superlative grate of the fireplace (if applicative).
    • Note: Some of these grates are held on with magnets — simply elevator upwards and pull out.

Stride 3

Plough Off the Gas

  • Plow off the airplane pilot light (if applicable).
  • Shut off the gas valve.

Stride iv

Remove Glass

  • Release the lesser two spring clips, then release the summit two clips of the drinking glass frame.
    • Note: Some frames are held on with screws.
  • Tip the glass out and lay the drinking glass on a clean soft surface.
  • Inspect the condition of the perimeter gasket. It'due south commonly a woven rope.

Step v

Clean the Glass

  • Clean both sides of the drinking glass with a drinking glass cleaner and a soft cloth or paper towel.
    • Pro tip: For stubborn carbon deposits, you can apply fireplace glass cleaner by Rutland.

Step vi

Take a Photograph

  • Take a picture of the logs and then you can remember how they go back together.

Step 7

Remove and Make clean the Rocks

  • Remove the lava rocks and place them in a container to wash.
  • Remove ember fiber and identify it in a separate container.
  • Place the rocks in an quondam strainer and rinse them with cold water.
  • Spread the rocks on an quondam towel and permit them dry.
    • Pro tip: Throw the dirty water outside — not downwards the bleed or in your toilet.

Stride viii

Remove the logs

  • Remove the logs ane by 1 and place them on an old towel or slice of paper-thin.
    • Annotation: Sometimes the logs are fastened to a mounting plate that is then attached to the floor of the firebox.
      • Remove the screws that hold the mounting plate to the firebox flooring non the screws holding logs to the mounting plate!
  • Vacuum the logs or blow them make clean with compressed air.

Step 9

Clean Firebox

  • Vacuum any dirt, dust, or debris from the firebox floor.
  • Clean all the walls of the combustion chamber using a microfiber cloth.

Step 10

Clean the Burner

  • Remove any shields or cover to admission the burner and ignitor, taking note of how information technology comes apart.
  • Vacuum the burner, removing any soot or deposits in the burner orifice or on the burner.
    • A compressed air canister works well for this.
  • Cheque and make clean the thermocouple and ignitor for carbon build-upward.

Stride 11

Put it All Back Together

  • Reassemble your fireplace in the contrary order you disassembled information technology.
  • Install the burner comprehend.
  • Install the logs one past one, being careful non to chip or pause them — they're fragile.
  • Sprinkle in the rocks effectually the logs.
  • Place the ember fiber just behind (not on) the flame ports (if applicative).
  • Install the glass and secure the clips.
  • Install the front end screen or grate.

Pace 12

Light the Fire

  • Refer to the fireplace owner's transmission and follow the lighting instructions.
  • Check the pilot flame — it should completely engulf the thermocouple.
  • The main burner flames should take strong yellowish tips with a base of blue/white.
  • Flames should not be direct hitting the logs — they should curve around them.

Unsure how to utilize a wood-called-for fireplace? Check out these tips on fireplace maintenance.