Gas log installation sized to your Clarcona fireplace

Why a log set smokes or soots

Smoke and soot from a gas log set have a known list of causes. One maker's troubleshooting table covers the chimney, the damper, the burner position, the media, the air openings and the logs themselves.

Our pros work through that list in order at your home, because the fix for a closed damper is nothing like the fix for a propane burner running on natural gas.

• Poor draft, downdraft or a closed damper
• Burner too close to the front of the firebox
• Media placed wrong or packed too tight
• Air mixer closed or air shutters blocked
• Logs out of position
• Burner built for the other gas
• Accessories that do not belong to the set

No wood fires once a vent-free set is in

A vent-free set turns a wood-burning fireplace into a gas appliance for good. One manual says solid fuels shall not be burned in a fireplace in which an unvented room heater is installed, and that the heater must not be used as a wood-burning heater.

The same manual says to use only the logs provided and never to place objects in the heater or on the logs. If you still want an occasional wood fire, our specialists explain what that means for the choice of set.

Gas piping as its own line of work

Running a new gas line or extending an old one is work for a qualified gas contractor. On our estimates it appears as a separate line, so you can see the log set installation and the piping side by side.

Our crew tells you what the set's manual asks of the supply, including the pipe size, the pressure and the shutoff valve, so the gas contractor has what they need. The log set goes in once the supply meets those numbers.

Never left burning unattended

A gas log fire is still a fire. One vented log set manual says adults shall be present when the appliance is operating and that it shall not be left burning when unattended or while anyone is sleeping.

It is an easy rule to forget when the flame is only a switch away. Our technicians go over it at every handover, along with where the shutoff is and how long the logs stay hot after the burner is off.

Add-ons that do not belong to the set

Glass beads, extra logs and decorative extras are tempting additions. One maker lists adding accessories to its burner system among the reasons a set smokes or soots and says to shut the burner down and take off anything that does not belong.

Our crew removes non-listed extras during service and explains why. When you want a different look, we show you the accessories the listing for your set actually includes.