How To Prevent Soot On Your Gas or Propane Fireplace Logs
In order to stop your gas fireplace’s logs from accumulating soot:
If all else fails, you should hire a specialist to inspect and maintain your fireplace.
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Herb Kirchhoff is a devoted garden hobbyist and home handyman with more than three decades of practical experience. Kirchhoff has taken care of a 12-acre rural Michigan lakefront property since leaving the news industry in 2008 and uses his expertise to maintain his vegetable and flower gardens as well as his home repair and renovation projects.
You can enjoy the look and feel of a wood-burning fireplace without the work and mess thanks to gas fireplaces and gas fireplace inserts. In order to produce yellow flames with the least amount of soot formation, gas-fueled fireplaces and fire-log sets are carefully “tuned.” If you do notice a soot buildup in your gas fireplace, there is a problem that needs to be addressed; however, if you identify the soot issue early, you can stop the buildup before it becomes a significant problem.
Over time, gas fireplace burner sets wear out or rust, which results in a change in the way and amount of gas that is released from them. This unique flame pattern might result in “dirty” burning and soot accumulation. The fire-logs themselves may have been damaged, obstructing the flame’s path and preventing proper combustion. Blockage of your fireplace’s exhaust vent or chimney is yet another potential issue. Have your gas supplier check to see if the gas regulator feeding your home or fireplace is adjusted and operating properly if you are unable to locate any issues with your gas fireplace but are still experiencing excessive soot buildup.
The two most frequent causes of soot buildup in a gas fireplace are burner ports that are clogged and ceramic fire-logs that have been moved out of their proper position. The formation of soot on the fire-logs and doors can occur if the fire-logs move out of place and obstruct the flame path that ensures clean burning of the gas. The gas burner’s clogged ports are the second major source of soot, which also contributes to incomplete or uneven burning and the accumulation of soot on logs and doors. In either case, make sure to clean the doors and firelogs, and double-check that the logs are placed exactly as the gas burner’s manufacturer intended. Clean the burner’s ports if they are clogged in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, or have the fireplace dealer do it.
The early stages of a soot buildup issue might not be visible to the unaided eye. Turn off the fire and let the logs cool before checking for soot. If you have fireplace doors as well as ceramic gas logs, rub a clean, white cloth against them both. You have a soot problem if the cloth has noticeable, thick black marks on it. Another indication of soot is the accumulation of tiny clumps of a dark, powdery substance that resembles ash on the glass fireplace doors and ceramic logs.