Gas shouldn’t be leaking. It should be burning creating more or less odorless exhaust gases. The smell is added to that gas so you can know when you have an unacceptable leak or when something is wrong with burning process. Leaving the real problem alone and just sealing it off is not a solution.
How do you seal a gas fireplace?
If you want to seal your fireplace off for good, the easiest way to do so in a hurry is to cut out a foam insulation plug, place it at the bottom of your chimney, and caulk or weatherstrip it in place.
Do gas fireplaces have to be sealed?
Direct-vent units must, however, have a sealed glass door to maintain proper combustion and ensure efficiency and indoor air quality. Vent-free technology, once considered controversial, has now won wide acceptance.
Is it safe to seal a fireplace?
Plain and simple, DO NOT seal off a chimney or fireplace because you will get a flue full of condensation problems! Even when your fireplace is blocked off airtight you’ll still end up with “hidden” water issues.
Is it safe to cover a gas fireplace?
Blocking a gas burning fireplace from the inside with a custom made fireplace cover to fit your fireplace will isolate your home from the toxic fumes that gather in a gas burning fireplace. Some states now require that a carbon monoxide detector be in all homes with a gas burning fireplace to detect these gases.
What should I use to seal my fireplace?
Generally speaking, fiberglass sealant strips are the most common sealant used in a variety of fireplaces in homes and residences. However, some home and property owners may opt to use refractory cement in lieu of fiberglass.
Should a gas fireplace have a draft?
Your Pilot Light Is Off. It may seem counterintuitive, but you want a gas fireplace to have a certain kind of draft in order to function. This does not mean a gusty wind that blows into your room and cools down your house, but rather a minor draft that allows air to flow continuously into the fireplace to fuel the fire
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas fireplace?
Yes, gas fireplaces are one potential cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. While there are many potential sources of such exposure, including certain appliances and devices, motor vehicles and wood stoves, gas fireplaces are a common culprit.
Does a gas fireplace need a chimney cap?
Many ventless options may not require a chimney to exhaust the byproducts of combustion but some gas log sets still use and may require an existing chimney to dissipate the heat generated by burning. In the case of vented gas logs they require a function, code-compliant, chimney system.
Do you need to vent gas fireplace?
While wood-burning models are the age-old standard, most of today’s new fireplaces are fueled by gas, which eliminates the messy ashes and soot leftover from wood fires. Traditional gas fireplaces, like their wood-burning cousins, require an exhaust flue (vent) to remove harmful fumes from the home.
Can gas fireplaces explode?
Although convenient, these home gas fireplaces pose significant risk of explosions and house fires if they are improperly installed or maintained. Gas Fireplace leaks can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, but can also result in explosions that can level an entire neighborhood block.
How do I know if my gas fire is leaking carbon monoxide?
You see black, sooty marks on the front covers of gas fires. There is heavy condensation built up at the windowpane where the appliance is installed. Sooty or yellow/brown stains on or around boilers, stoves, or fires. Smoke building up in rooms.
How hot does a gas fireplace surround get?
A gas-burning fireplace tends to burn at a lower temperature, around 1000 degrees. Gas-burning is more efficient, so the grates and walls of the firebox can reach 1000 degrees as well.
How do you fix a drafty gas fireplace?
One way to help minimize the draft is to install glass doors on the front of your fireplace opening. These glass doors will still radiate heat throughout the room, but will not allow the open flue to let in the cold draft. Another great solution for preventing these drafts is to install a direct vent gas insert.
How much does it cost to seal a fireplace?
Getting everything done in one trip might cost anywhere between $250 and $1,350, depending on the price of the cap, as well as a number of other factors.
How Much Does It Cost to Seal a Chimney and Add a Cap Yourself?
| Material | Cost |
|---|---|
| Silicone caulk | $15 |
| Brushable crown repair | $60 |
| Paintbrush | $5 |
| Duct tape | $5 |
How do I keep the cold air out of my gas fireplace?
The best way to stop fireplace drafts is to seal up your fireplace opening by installing Draft Decor’s Flue-zee Flue Covers, Magnetic Vent Covers or Termination Cap Covers. Draft Decor products compliment each other and are versatile, too!
How do you seal a cold fireplace?
Keep cold air out
Along with the common throat damper located just above the firebox, some homeowners add a top-sealing damper at the top of the chimney to double their protection. Another great way to block cold air is with a chimney balloon or plug.
Does a gas fireplace make the house colder?
The standard fireplace is among the most inefficient heating devices you can operate. In fact, it can be so inefficient that in some cases it actually makes your house colder.
Should I close the damper on my gas fireplace?
Those gases contain carbon monoxide. Therefore, while it’s great to save energy by closing off the damper inside a fireplace, be sure to do so in a safe manner. Do not close a fireplace damper until the fire is completely out.
Can you keep the flue closed on a gas fireplace?
Our research shows that the flue on a gas fireplace should remain open during use or when the pilot light is lit. If the flue is closed in either instance, you risk a greater chance of carbon monoxide poisoning or a spark induced structure fire due to a buildup of toxins emitted by propane or natural gas burners.
Can you run gas fireplace with vent closed?
Ventless gas logs (often referred to as “Vent Free” gas logs) have specially designed burners that burn the gas cleanly and produce almost no exhaust… somewhat like the way a gas range in a kitchen works. Since there is little or no exhaust, they can be burned with the damper closed.
