How to Clean a Gas Fireplace
Not only does it add beauty and warmth to a room, a gas fireplace also creates less mess than the regular wood-burning fireplace. Having this unit in your home means you have to keep it well-maintained and clean all the time. Proper safety precautions are also needed, since you’re working with gas. Here’s how to properly do this task.
What You’ll Need:
Gas fireplace
Vacuum cleaner
Clean, soft hand towel
Paper towels
Glass cleaner
Paintbrush (optional)
Procedure:
Make sure the gas to the fireplace is turned off, by checking at the main gas valve. This is a very important safety precaution, otherwise you’ll cause a gas leak or harm yourself. Find the riser pipe; it’s running from the ground to the gas meter. The gas valve will be attached to this riser pipe.
fireplace cleaning
Carefully remove the glass from the fireplace. Removal depends on the type of fireplace you have. IN some units, the glass windows have clips along the edge, while in others, there’s a crank handle that can open the glass doors. If you see that the window is soldered to the gas fireplace frame, it’s better if you don’t remove it. Let a professional do the job for you.
Once the glass cleaner is removed, spray it with glass cleaner, and wipe with a paper towel. Do this for both sides of the gas.
Remove the burner and the logs from the gas fireplace properly. Be careful when doing this, because the logs can be very fragile.
Using the soft hand towel, wipe down the gas valve of the fireplace. Do this regularly, at least once or twice a year, as part of regular maintenance.
Use the soft towel again, and gently brush away the debris and dust from the burner and logs.
Get the vacuum and attach the hose to it. Vacuum the fireplace out. Inspect the corners and see if there are spider eggs or cobwebs. Remove these as you see them.
Examine the fireplace vents and see if there are blockages in it. You can clear this out yourself, but if it’s too bad, just call a technician to do the job for you.
Reassemble the fireplace properly, then turn the gas on again.
Some Tips:
Clean and maintain your fireplace at least once a year.
A mixture of water and white vinegar (equal parts) can help clean the fireplace glass.
If you find it hard to get in between the fireplace logs cracks, use a clean paintbrush.
Keep your gas fireplace clean and functioning properly with these steps. You’ll soon have an efficient unit that will bring warmth to your place all the time. If you learn from this article, you’ll surely enjoy learning how to make colored fireplace flames and as an additional treat read the 10 tips to a cleaner home.