How To Adjust Gas Fireplace Flame Color

Have you noticed that the flame in your gas fireplace has changed color? Or perhaps you want to change it yourself to create a different ambiance or get those perfect orange flickering flames for your Christmas eve Instagram post? Whatever the reason might be, we are sure you have found yourself wondering how I adjust my gas fireplaces’ flame color?

And the thought of opening your fireplace and carrying out work can be off-putting and even a little scary. We have all heard a horror story or two, and let that put us off opening our fireplaces and forking out for repair people to come to our homes and do the work for us. 

Well, no more! We are here to help you change the flame color in your gas fireplace! So if you are stuck with blue flames only, we are here to get those yellow and orange flames back and restore your fireplace to its wonderful and colorful glory! 

How to adjust gas fireplace flame color

To adjust your fireplace’s flame color, you can follow our step-by-step guide below. Unjust four steps, you should have your fireplace flames restored and enjoy the colorful flames you usually see. 

Before starting

We recommend checking your manual guide before undertaking our advice. The make and model of your fireplace might differ from the general advice we are offering today and might not be suitable for you. It's also worth checking if your manufacturer has steps you can follow to adjust your flame's color. 

Check that opening your fireplace and adjusting the flame color do not impact any warranty you have on your fireplace. Sometimes carrying out repairs or services to the fireplace yourself can void your warranty. So before carrying out any work, it’s always best to check these things to save yourself a headache down the line. 

Once you have, roll up your sleeves, and get to adjusting the flame color!

Check that opening your fireplace and adjusting the flame color do not impact any warranty you have on your fireplace. Sometimes carrying out repairs or services to the fireplace yourself can void your warranty. So before carrying out any work, it’s always best to check these things to save yourself a headache down the line. 

Once you have, roll up your sleeves, and get to adjusting the flame color! 

Find the Gas Log Control

First, light the gas logs. Next, turn on the pilot knob and wait for a couple of minutes. Where the pilot knob is located will vary depending on the make and model of your fireplace; if you are unsure where it is, check the diagram in your manual. If you don’t have your manual to hand, you can find versions online. 

Use these few minutes to monitor the color of the flames. If they are mostly blue when it's first turned on, this is normal. However, after the dust particles burn off, you should see yellow and orange tips to the flames emerge. If these flames don’t change color, then follow the steps below to rectify this issue! 

Open the Damper

You will need to open the damper to the fireplace to ensure proper ventilation. The amount of ventilation will control the color of the flames. Lowering the air input will adjust the flames and provide the orange and yellow tip to them. Changing the damper or closing the air shutter will allow for different air input and, hopefully, bring the flames back!

There should be knobs on your damper to adjust this easily. Generally, these are located behind the decorative front of the gas fireplace. These can be removed if needed, but make sure the fireplace is turned off before you do this. Ideally, it should be cool to the touch, too, before you start making any adjustments or removing the door. 

Again, this is quite general, and the positioning of these knobs will vary depending on the make and model of the fireplace. Thankfully, they will all have a damper (to be up to code and legally sold), so following this step and locating it shouldn’t be too difficult. 

For those lucky few (or many) with a remote for your fireplace, you might be able to adjust the damper and the airflow on your fireplaces’ remote. Have a look for any settings or damper-related buttons on there, or check your manual for further information. 

Take some time

Once you have adjusted these knobs, it can take a while to see results. While the fire adjusts to the different air levels and hopefully returns to that orange and yellow color, step away and give it time to do its thing!

We recommend waiting 30 minutes after making these changes to see how the gas will respond. Why not have some lunch, a cheeky chocolate bar, or even a nap during that time?

No change? Let’s make some checks

After the 30 minutes have passed, you should see a change. The flames should be blue with yellow or orange tips like we normally see on our gas fireplaces. If they have not changed, turn the fireplace off completely. 

Ensure that the fireplace has fully cooled down and is cool to the touch before continuing further. Now, undertake some routine maintenance and perform checks on your fireplace’s ventilation. 

You will want to check that your fire is getting the oxygen it needs and that your home is free of any harmful gas leaks that could leave you in danger. In addition, it’s worth checking the gas pressure to ensure it isn’t too low, as this can cause your flames to be low and sometimes only blue. 

After carrying out these checks, you can repeat the earlier steps and see if you achieve different results. If not, consult your manual to see if there is any other advice you should be following. Failing that, contact the manufacturer of your fireplace for further guidance or to have an engineer come out and assess the problem further. 

It’s worth noting that unless your fireplace is under warranty or covered by your home insurance, you will probably need to pay to have an engineer visit your property.

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