Gas Fireplace Maintenance

Spending time with family and friends, getting warm and cozy around the hearth is something many Canadians look forward to during the colder months. In addition to providing decorative qualities, gas fireplaces can provide comfortable, economical and supplemental heating for your living space. Before using gas fireplaces however, it is important to a conduct routine inspection and maintenance.

CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services, offers the following tips to help you prepare your gas fireplace for the winter season:

Gas Fireplace Maintenance

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions in the owner's manual, or use the care guide for maintenance and use of your gas fireplace.
• Installation and repair of a fireplace should be done by a qualified professional service person.
• A fireplace should be inspected before use and checked annually by a qualified professional service person.
• Control compartments, burners and circulating air passageways of the appliance must be kept clean.
• Do not store combustible materials, gasoline or other flammable vapours and liquids in the vicinity of your fireplace.
• Due to high temperatures, the fireplace should be installed out of traffic and away from furniture and draperies.
• Children and adults should be alerted to the hazards of high surface temperatures and should stay away to avoid burns or the possibility of clothing catching on fire.
• Young children should be carefully supervised when they are in a room with a fireplace.
• Clothing or other flammable material should not be placed on or near the fireplace.
• Any safety screen or guard removed for servicing a fireplace must be replaced before operating the appliance.
• Gas fireplaces with glass doors should not be operated if the glass is cracked or broken.
• Do not clean your fireplace if it is operational or still hot.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, and always refer to manufacturers' instructions when cleaning glass components of your fireplace.
• Any home that contains combustion appliances such as a gas fireplace should have a CSA-certified CO detector installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

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