Gas Burning FAQ

Posted by Rocky Mountain Stove & Fireplace on Jun 14th 2019

How can I find the model number?

Gas burning fireplaces and inserts have a serial/model/rating plate in the lower cavity controls area. Gas stoves have a serial/model/rating plate attached to the back of the stove or inside the pedestal base.

How do I clean my glass?

Make sure your glass is completely cooled. It is also recommended to turn the gas off when servicing your appliance.
Remove the front face or louvers of your fireplace; carefully remove the glass assembly of your fireplace (following the instructions in your manual) and lay it on a soft surface.
Wipe both sides with household glass cleaner (do not use a product with ammonia), using a soft cloth.
For heavy deposits, use Stove Bright Glass Cleaner, Rutland White Off Glass Cleaner, or other hard water deposit ceramic glass cleaner recommended by your servicing dealer.
Carefully replace glass on front of fireplace (following the instructions in your manual), making sure glass assembly and front are secured.
After this initial cleaning, clean your glass as often as necessary, particularly if adding new ember material. Never use any abrasive cleaners or cloths to clean your glass. Scratching can cause the glass to shatter.

Why do I have blue flames?

This is normal in the first few minutes of operation. If after the first 30 minutes of full burn you still have blue flames, an adjustment may be needed on your unit.

How often do I have to clean the gas fireplace and vent?

Although the frequency of your fireplace servicing and maintenance will depend on use and the type of installation, you should have a qualified service technician perform an appliance check-up at the beginning of each heating season

How much gas does the pilot light use?

A pilot light will burn 800 to 1500 BTUs/hr. Your monthly gas bill should include your exact cost per “therm” (100,000 BTUs). Based on this rate you can calculate the cost for your area to operate a pilot light. On average a pilot light consume anywhere for $12.00 to $14.00 of gas per month.

What is an IPI ignition system?

Intermittent Pilot Ignition is an electronic system, which uses an electrode to ignite the pilot gas. In turn, the pilot flame lights the main burner gas. The term Intermittent is used because the pilot burner flame is only present when the main burner is operating. When the main burner is off the pilot is also off. The IPI system ensures the pilot flame extends over the burner for immediate ignition and secondly conserves energy when the appliance is not in operation.

I have a fan kit on my gas fireplace, but it doesn’t seem to blow much air.

Your fan kit has a rheostat control (like a light dimmer). You can get more air from your fan by making sure the fan control is turned up to the desired level. The fan control can be found in the control area behind the lower louver of the fireplace, or on a wall switch with rheostat. We also provide optional remote controls which can control your fan speed from your favorite chair! Your dealer can help you with adding a remote control.

Can I install a blower or fan kit on my fireplace after the fireplace has been installed?

Many of our gas fireplace models that have louvers or grills on the front can have a fan kit added. You will want to make sure that electricity is run to the junction box underneath the fireplace first, before ordering & installing a fan kit. You can test the junction box by plugging a lamp into the junction box and switching it on and off. Also make sure the circuit breaker is not tripped. If there is no electricity to the junction box you would have to run electric to the fireplace first before the fan kit could be installed. You can order a fan kit through your local dealer; installation instructions are packed with it.

Can I operate my fireplace with the fan off?

Yes.

Why will the blower not turn on right away?

Most fans are wired into the fireplace with a fan sensor switch. This switch will activate the blower when the firebox heats up to a certain temperature. It will also automatically turn the blower off when the fireplace is turned off and the unit cools to a certain temperature. This sensor is provided so that you will not be circulating cold air in your home. The amount of time needed to heat up the fan sensor will differ depending on the model of your fireplace. It is common that blowers installed in Firebrick products will take longer to sense the heat and turn on your blower. Firebrick has greater insulating characteristics and holds the heat inside your firebox resulting in higher radiant heat and greater efficiencies.

Can I cover the louvers on my fireplace or insert face?

No. The louvers allow room air to move around the heat exchange. Blocking this air flow can cause fires and will void your manufacturer’s warranty and possibly your homeowner’s warranty.

Can a gas fireplace be installed in a bathroom?

Yes, provided the model includes a tempered glass front. It is also recommended that you do not install the fireplace where it is in danger of having water splash directly on it, nor install where there is a slippery surface where you are in danger of slipping or falling.

Can I install a traditional or Flat screen TV above a gas fireplace?

You need to check with the manufacturer of your television. We follow the recommendations of the TV manufacturer and the fireplace manufacture. NOTE: we take no responsibility of any damage caused by the heat of the fireplace.

Can I burn wood or other materials in my gas fireplace?

No! Burning anything other than natural or LP gas in a gas fireplace or stove will create a potential fire hazard and present a danger to your home and its occupants. Only burn the gas fuel for which the unit was originally designed.

Can gas hearth products burn either natural gas or LP gas?

They can burn one or the other, but not both. You need to be sure the gas hearth appliance you have is set up for the type of gas fuel you intend to burn. Conversion kits are available which will allow a unit to be changed to match the proper fuel type.

Doesn’t the solid glass panel keep me from getting heat out of my direct vent gas fireplace?

On the contrary, the glass panel keeps warm room air which your furnace has already heated from going up your fireplace flue. Direct vent fireplaces are excellent sources of zone heating by bringing room air in the bottom grill, heating and returning it to the room through the top grill.

Can I remove the glass panel on my gas fireplace?

Not if your fireplace was shipped with a glass panel on the front. Direct vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems and need the glass on to function properly. We sell optional screen mesh panels that go on the front of the glass that takes away any reflection, and adds an additional safety barrier against accidental contact with the hot glass panel. The other type of gas fireplaces we sell, called B-vent fireplaces, come with fixed, not sealed, glass fronts. Because removal of the glass is totally dependent on the specific unit installed, we cannot recommend that the glass be removed unless the specific model of unit denotes that it can be removed and the fireplace will still operate safely.

The glass on my fireplace is unusually hot.

The glass on a gas fireplace WILL reach very high temperatures. USE CAUTION: Carefully SUPERVISE children in the same room as your appliance; alert everyone to the hazards of high temperatures; do NOT operate with protective barriers removed; keep clothing, furniture, draperies and other combustibles away. Barriers such as screens over our direct vent glass help reduce the risk of burn from touching the glass. These screens are available through your local dealer.

The mantel on my fireplace is unusually hot.

While direct vent gas fireplaces are designed principally for their aesthetic value, we try to get as much heat output as possible to provide added value to the homeowner. It should be noted that while we are getting a lot of heat, we are passing the ANSI and UL standards for combustible temperatures. The allowable is 117°F above room temperature for combustibles. Average room temperature is 70-75°F; therefore a 187-192°F surface temperature can be expected. On a solid surface, 150°F is very hot to the touch (to put this in perspective, water boils at 212°F and the average bath water temperature is 110°F).

What is the recommended burn-in procedure on a new gas fireplace?

On a new gas fireplace there is a curing time or burn-in time. When initially burning your new gas fireplace, the oils, etc. from manufacturing will be burning off the fireplace. We recommend burning the fireplace 3 hours; completely cooling down the fireplace, removing the glass and cleaning it with household glass cleaner or Glass Bright; replacing the glass & continuing to burn the fireplace an additional 9-21 hours. (Make sure you re-latch the glass so it is securely fastened on your fireplace.) If necessary, open a window to release any odor during this process. This should eliminate the manufacturing smell on a new fireplace.

I have an odor in my gas fireplace

On gas fireplaces that are not brand new and are emitting some odor, try cleaning behind the upper and lower louvers. Dust can cause odor. Another source of odor can be the items you have on your mantel. Remove all objects from your mantel and then replace the objects one at a time. A third source of odor can be from the adhesives used in surround materials. This will need to be investigated by your installer. If these suggested sources don’t correctly identify the odor, contact your dealer where the fireplace was purchased and have your fireplace inspected.

Why am I feeling a cold draft from my fireplace?

There are several possible causes of feeling cold air from a gas fireplace.

Check around the area where the gas line enters your home. That is the primary cause of cold air infiltration. You can stuff fiberglass or foil tape insulation in the hole to prevent the cold air from coming in there.
Check to make sure that your glass is clamped on tight by all clamps or screws. You would need to remove the front on the fireplace and look top & bottom, at all corners of the fireplace. (Make sure you hold the glass in with one hand while examining and checking the clamps with the other.)
If the fireplace is mounted on cement versus plywood, that can also transfer cold into your home.
If the chase area or “doghouse” is not insulated adequately, that is another possibility. Please check out the insulation of the chase with your builder or installer.

Can I adjust the flame height on my fireplace?

Flame height adjustments are available on many gas units. Check the manual for your appliance, to see if you have this option available.

How do gas fireplaces vent?

The majority of our gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts are direct vent (DV). This means they have a fixed glass front which seals the gas burner and combustion firebox off from your home. 100% of the combustion air used by the fireplace comes from outside the home through a coaxial pipe. A smaller pipe inside the larger pipe eliminates all combustible gases, maintaining indoor air quality. The vent can be run horizontally through an outside wall, or vertically through the roof, depending on your preference.

What is the difference between a Direct Vent and a B-Vent gas hearth product?

A B-vent must be vented vertically and uses fresh air from inside the home to provide oxygen to the fire. A direct vent has a sealed glass front and pulls all of its fresh air from outside the home. Direct vents can be vented vertically or horizontally through an exterior wall. Direct vents are a completely sealed system; B-vent appliances are not.

Is a direct vent Fireplace the same thing as vent-less or vent-free Fireplace?

Absolutely not. A direct vent uses a high temperature glass panel to seal off the burn area of the fireplace from the interior of the home. It pulls 100% combustion air to feed the fire from outside the home. Because of its design, a direct vent gas fireplace will not effect the indoor air quality of your home. Since no air from your home is going up the chimney, a direct vent model is very efficient. Vent free should actually be called room vented since the by-products of gas combustion all spill back into the room. The single largest by-product of the gas combustion process is water vapor. Over sizing or overuse of a vent free hearth product can lead to excess moisture in a well built, tightly constructed home. Excess moisture inside the home can contribute to odors, mold and mildew inside the home.

Can I position my gas logs in a different fashion or use a different log set?

NO, Not on a direct vent or B vent model. A gas fireplace is an engineered system that includes the firebox, burner, logs, venting and options which are tested and listed by AGA or UL. Changing any of the specifications or placement of the logs could void your manufacturer’s warranty, and possibly even your homeowner’s warranty.

Why do gas stoves and fireplaces collect soot on the logs or brick?

Sooting is a result of impingement caused by incomplete combustion, i.e. flames coming in contact with a surface, cooling the flame, and preventing combustion. you may need a service tech to come adjust your log placement

How do I clean my gas logs?

Never, ever wash your logs. Remove the logs carefully from the fireplace in a box, take them outside and use a soft brush or vacuum to clean them. Make sure you replace the logs exactly as they were originally placed.