I like to keep warm and with this recent cold snap, I have had my family room fireplace active for a few nights. This has prompted me to write an article on the basic maintenance requirements on gas-fired fireplaces.

Other types of wood burning appliances will be covered in future articles.

Not all gas fireplaces are the same; most new homes will have direct-vented fireplaces which vent directly out of the sidewall of a home. Older homes with masonry wood burning fireplaces may be converted to a gas-fired unit with an insert. Both types of fireplaces require regular maintenance. Older homes built in the 20's and 30's may have had gas fired ceramic heaters. These heaters are considered unsafe and should not be used.

When starting your fireplace, the first thing you will notice is the amount of moisture on the glass burning off. This is not unusual and as the physical laws of nature are at work. This is similar to having high relative humidity added to your home by a humidifier when the temperature is cooler outside. Adding heat to the unit warms up the firebox and moisture will disappear.

All newer gas fired fireplaces have access either by lifting up the lower front area of the firebox or pulling off the metal front. While you have the front access panel open, you should find the instructions for the operation of the unit. Also you should find instructions relating to lighting the unit. All fireplaces should have this required card.

When you are looking at the access, you should see if the fireplace has a fan, or at least the ability to install an auxiliary fan. Some fireplaces have fans while others are roughed in for the installation of a fan, and unfortunately some models do not have the ability for the installation of a fan. Usually, if there is a wall switch near the fireplace, this indicates the electrician was planning ahead for a fan if one does not exist.

On occasion, the inside of the glass on the front of your fireplace may require cleaning. In all newer fireplaces, the glass is removable. Be careful when you remove the glass to protect it from breakage. Clean the glass with an appropriate cleaner specially manufactured for this use and available in most fireplace stores. Also while the glass is removed consider vacuuming the areas in the firebox and underneath the firebox. You may also consider cleaning any carbon from the ceramic 'logs'. Make sure you replace the logs in the same manner in which they were removed. If your glass appears to be carboning up more rapidly, say every 20 hours of use, the air mixture may require adjustment. Initially when you turn on your fireplace, the gas flame should be blue. As the fireplace warms, the flame may have a bit of yellow in the mixture. Your home should have a means of providing the fireplace with combustion air. Homes built prior to 1980 did not require combustion air. Accordingly it may be necessary to have a combustion air intake installed.

If you are in doubt of any of the minimal maintenance requirements, consider having your fireplace serviced by a reliable firm.

Having a gas-fired fireplace with a fan does add additional comfort to your home, however you should consider using the fireplace sparingly as the cost of natural gas has risen dramatically. Nevertheless, gas fireplaces are more convenient than wood burning appliances, and in my opinion, safer. To keep a flue working properly, it is important to keep the flue warm and that is why you should keep the pilot light on your gas appliance going. Turning off the pilot light might cause blockage by condensation, and a blocked flue may result in products of incomplete combustion from venting properly, possibly resulting in the worst case scenario of carbon monoxide poisoning.

TOBOLSKI TIP FOR JANUARY

Did you change your furnace filter during the Christmas and Holiday period? If not do this now!

The next two articles will also relate to other types of fireplaces, wood burning and air tights.

If anyone would like a topic to be addressed, please write or contact me and I will try to compose an article for future publication.

-The opinions and ideas expressed are solely those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Calgary Real Estate News. Paul Tobolski is the owner of Ability Home Inspections and can be reached at 519-6038 or 286-HOME(4663). Paul has over thirty-five years of experience in the areas of design, construction, maintenance and inspection of homes. He has been a member of the CAHPI (Ab.) since 1993.