Gas log installation done by the manual in Crescent Park

Clamping the damper open for vented logs

Running a vented set against a shut damper is never allowed. One maker ships a clamp with its set, fixed to the damper blade for good, so the damper can never shut past the minimum opening, and it wants the damper wide open whenever the burner is lit.

The clamp is a small part with a big job, since it stops anyone from shutting the damper on a set that is still warm or about to be lit. Our installers fit it, measure the opening and show you where it is.

A screen in place while the set burns

One vented log set manual requires a fireplace screen to be in place whenever the system is burning. Unless combustion air is provided another way, the screen must have openings that let air in.

The same manual gives a simple test, there is enough combustion air when every flame bends inward, into the firebox and clear of the screen. Our technicians watch for exactly that during the first burn and adjust the setup when flames lean outward.

A burner that shuts down partway through

When a log set goes out after running a while, one maker's troubleshooting table lists several causes, each with its own fix. Our technicians check them in order before recommending new parts.

Most of these are found and fixed on the first visit, and the estimate says which one it was.

• Gas pressure too low or too high
• Logs out of position
• Soot in the flue, fireplace or damper area
• A fireplace too small for the burner
• A pilot flame lifting off its sensor
• Debris or lava granules on the burner ports

Choosing a burner size for the firebox

A bigger burner is not a better fire if the fireplace is too small for it. One maker lists a fireplace too small for the unit among the causes of a burner shutting down during operation, and its fix is to meet the minimum size requirements.

Our pros choose the burner by the firebox measurements first and the look second. When two sizes fit, we explain the difference in flame, gas use and damper opening so you can pick with the facts.

Work that belongs to other trades

A gas log job can touch several trades. New gas piping belongs to a qualified gas contractor, tank and regulator work to your propane supplier and any new outlet for a remote receiver or fan to an electrician.

Our estimate shows each of those as separate work so nothing is hidden inside the log set price. We tell each trade what the set's manual requires, so their part of the job matches ours.