A fireplace can offer warmth, comfort, and fellowship to homeowners that have one installed in their home. However, owning a fireplace takes a lot of effort and upkeep to keep it operating properly. This is
Inspections
A lot of homeowners believe that since their gas fireplace is clean burning and doesn’t produce as much creosote, that they do not need to get an annual fireplace and chimney inspection. However, this is not true. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 211 states that all fireplaces, regardless of fuel type need to be inspected on an annual basis. That means if you own a gas fireplace, it needs to be inspected annually. The reason for this is less to do with the potential for creosote buildup in ventilation pathways (although small amounts of creosote can accumulate in gas appliance ventilation), and more to do with the potential for equipment failure. Natural gas and propane can be dangerous if not being used and contained properly. Besides being a fire hazard, slow leaks of natural gas can reduce the amount of breathable oxygen in the air as well as expose home dwellers to carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas. Annual inspections are meant to make sure that all the components of a gas fireplace are working properly including burners, gas lines, and carbon monoxide detectors, to name a few. At TN Fireplace & Chimney, we have a detailed inspection checklist that we follow to make sure that your gas appliance is working properly. This includes:
- Testing the fire, adjusting units and burners
- Installing any new media and decorative lava rock
- Testing all the gas lines, including all connections and valves
- Checking to make sure that the ventilation is installed and working properly
Once we are done making sure that your appliance is operating properly, we will start to clean it. Gas appliances don’t get cleaned the same way that a wood-burning appliance does. It is common, especially after not getting used all summer, that your pilot assembly and gas logs can get dusty and dirty. This could potentially clog your pilot assembly, preventing your pilot light from being able to be lit, meaning you won’t be able to operate your fireplace when needed. Dust and dirt on your gas logs can also cause your fireplace to smoke and produce unpleasant odors in your home.
Repairs
If your gas appliance quits working and needs repairs, we here at TN Fireplace & Chimney can also help with that. Our appliance diagnostic experts will thoroughly inspect your fireplace, making sure that there are no leaks to be concerned about. Once they pinpoint the issue, they will be sure to fix your fireplace, testing and reinspecting it before they put it back into service.
Installation
If you don’t own already own a fireplace, or are looking to convert your wood-burning fireplace into a gas-burning one, we here at TN Fireplace & Chimney can do that for you as well. We have a wide selection of fireplaces to choose from that can be installed almost anywhere in your home. If you have already have a wood-burning fireplace in your home, we also have a wide variety of gas fireplace inserts and gas log sets for you to choose from. Gas inserts and gas log sets essentially transform your wood-burning fireplace into a gas one.
Start the new year off right by making sure that your gas appliance will operate efficiently and safely for you this winter. Schedule an inspection with one of our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified gas appliance technicians today. If you live in Knoxville or the surrounding areas, please contact TN Fireplace & Chimney by calling (865) 922-2262, or use our online scheduling tool to schedule your gas inspection or servicing. You will quickly realize why TN Fireplace & Chimney is considered the top fireplace and ventilation experts in Knoxville. We look forward to hearing from you!
