How To Use A Gas Fireplace

When you have a gas fireplace, it is important that you learn how to use it properly to make sure that you are happy with your fireplace.

There are lots of advantages to having a gas fireplace as they can be very easy to use and they are able to effectively heat up your home to create a warm and comforting atmosphere for you and your family.

The main reason that gas fireplaces are popular is that they have the look of a traditional fireplace without the hassle of needing to constantly add wood to keep them burning.

This means that people can enjoy having a traditional-looking fireplace with a modern twist to make it easier to operate.

This article will show you how to use a gas fireplace to make sure that you can get the most out of your fireplace and use it properly. This will allow you to keep your home warm and have a comforting atmosphere at home.

How To Use A Gas Fireplace

To use your gas fireplace, there are a few steps to take to make sure that you are safely lighting your fireplace.

Depending on what model your gas fireplace is, some of these steps may not apply to you, so you will need to see what features your fireplace has to make sure that you can light it properly.

Using A Fireplace Key

If your fireplace has come with a key, this will allow you to light the fireplace and turn it on properly.

To do this, you will first need to make sure that you keep the manual of your fireplace handy to check that you will not do anything dangerous when lighting your fireplace.

Remove The Outer Cover

When your fireplace is brand new, there will be a cover over the fireplace that will be protecting the inside. Before lighting the fireplace, you need to remove the cover.

As they are usually made from glass, not removing the covers could cause the glass to explode and cause injuries.

Find The Valve Knob

The valve knob will either be on the left or the right of the fireplace on the side. You will need to insert the key into this valve when you find it as this will release the gas for you to light the fireplace.

Only turn the key to release the gas when you are ready to light the fireplace, otherwise, there will be a dangerous amount of gas in the room.

Some fireplaces will have this key already installed in the valve, so it is important not to turn it until you want to light the fireplace.

Hold The Long Lighter Over The Fireplace

Using a long lighter to protect your hands, place the lighter in the fireplace and then pull the trigger so that the lighter flame is visible. Do this before you turn on the gas so you are not releasing too much gas into the room.

Turn The Gas Key

When the lighter is positioned correctly, turn the gas key and the fireplace should light almost instantly. Make sure that you are not positioned too closely to the fire as you do not want to get burnt by the fire when it lights.

If you smell a lot of gas, you need to exit the house immediately and call 911 as this will be very dangerous to live in.

If you smell a small amount of gas, you can open the windows, but if the smell doesn’t disappear, you will need to call 911 for help as this will be dangerous.

Using The Control Panel

If your fireplace needs to be lit using the control panel, this will be similar to lighting the fireplace using the ignition.

You will need to read the fireplace’s manual thoroughly before lighting the fireplace to check that you are using the fireplace properly and not endangering anyone.

Open The Control Panel

The control panel is usually found at the bottom of the control panel or behind the front screen, so you will simply need to remove the covering to access it. You can find where the control panel is located in the manual.

Turn The Control Knob Off

There will be a knob on the control panel that will indicate that the fireplace is off. Leave the fireplace off for a few minutes to make sure that any excess gas is let out of the fireplace.

If you smell a strong scent of gas, you will need to call 911. If you only smell a little bit, open the windows and the smell should disappear. It is important to call 911 for strong gas smells.

Turn The Shutoff Valve

Some fireplaces have a shutoff valve that is attached to the gas line, so you can control how much gas comes out.

You will need to twist the valve until it is parallel to the gas line to make sure that the fireplace will work properly.

Turn The Control Knob And Press The Ignition

When you are ready to light the fireplace, turn the control knob and hold it in the position that you need to activate the pilot light.

Next, press the ignition button until the fireplace lights. If this doesn’t work the first time, repeat the process again.

Hold The Control Knob

Keep holding the control knob down for a few seconds after the flame has lit to make sure that the flame is kept alive.

Turn The Control Knob To On

Once the fireplace has ignited, you can then turn the control knob so that it is ‘on’.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, it can be difficult to use a gas fireplace as it is important that you do it safely. If you begin to smell a strong smell of gas, it is important that you exit the house and call 911.

Letting too much gas out can be very dangerous, so make sure that you only let out the small amount of gas that you need.