5 Safety Tips When Using a Gas Fireplace

Is your home equipped with a gas fireplace? When compared to wood-burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces offer a superior level of convenience. You won't have to gather or store firewood, nor will you have to manually light it. You can build a fire almost instantly by turning the knob that controls the pilot light. If you're going to use a gas fireplace this winter, though, you should follow these five safety tips.

#1) Avoid Wood

Gas fireplaces aren't compatible with wood. They are designed specifically for use with ceramic logs. Traditional pieces of firewood may burn in a gas fireplace, but they could produce an excessive amount of harmful gases in the process. At the same, real pieces of wood will burn down to ash, resulting in a thick layer of debris that's difficult to clean.

#2) Don't Smother the Pilot Light

When positioning the ceramic logs in your gas fireplace, make sure they don't smother the pilot light. The pilot light is a metal tube from which the flame originates. It's connected to a gas line. When you turn on your gas fireplace, the pilot light will ignite the gas to create a flame. Smothering the pilot light may cause a buildup of gas that explodes into a fireball upon ignition.

#3) Maintain Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You should maintain carbon monoxide detectors in your home. All gas-burning appliances and devices create carbon monoxide, and gas fireplaces are no exception. With carbon monoxide detectors, however, you can rest assured knowing that this otherwise dangerous gas isn't accumulating inside your home. If levels of carbon monoxide increase, the detectors will sound an alarm.

#4) Open the Damper

Always open the damper when using your gas fireplace. The damper is an adjustable component that allows you to seal or unseal the top of the chimney. Opening the damper means your chimney will be unsealed. The byproduct gases produced by your gas fireplace will rise up the chimney where they can escape your home.

#5) Create 6 Feet of Clearance

Another safety tip to follow when using a gas fireplace is to create at least 6 feet of clearance. In other words, make sure there's 6 feet or more of space between your gas fireplace and all furniture, objects and other combustible items. Gas fireplaces don't get as hot as wood-burning fireplaces. Nonetheless, they can still produce enough heat to ignite nearby items.