Important Tips for Ventless Gas Fireplace Maintenance

by The 2 Seasons

Did you know that ventless or vent-free gas fireplace logs require maintenance? We didn't until it was too late. One day I noticed that our very white mantel was turning gray, and then I looked at our ceiling and saw gray blotches. That's when I realized we had a problem. I called the store where we purchased the logs, and they told me that gas logs should be cleaned at least every other year and every year if they are used a lot. The store even has a crew that goes to homes and cleans the logs. I scheduled an appointment, and when they came, I interviewed the technicians to learn how to care for the logs, and they gave me 12 excellent tips.

important tips for ventless gas fireplace maintenance, fireplaces mantels

The first thing they told me is to always check the manual whenever we have a question or concern. They then explained that each log kit should be put together exactly like the diagram that comes with the kit. A few of our logs fell over when we changed the batteries last fall, and we didn't put them back in their proper place. That caused some air intakes to clog which created soot.

You can see some of the blotches on our ceiling that were made from the soot. The entire room - walls, trim, and ceiling - all need to be repainted. In addition to placing the logs in their correct position, they cleaned each log with a brush and shop vac. Only do this when the logs are cool. They also said to never burn the logs for more than four hours at a time. After turning them off for about an hour, it is okay to turn them back on.