Propane and natural gas fireplace repair in Dixie Belle

Propane fireplaces and their tanks

Inside, a propane fireplace works much like a natural gas one, but its fuel comes from a tank managed by the household and its gas supplier. Two vent manuals say the tank goes outdoors, never inside any structure, and they set a minimum tank size to avoid performance problems.

The natural vent manual also calls for an external regulator between the propane supply and the fireplace, and warns never to connect the fireplace directly to the supply. The appliance itself has to be set up for propane, which its rating plate shows.

Some propane complaints are simply supply, and the same troubleshooting charts list an empty tank as one reason the pilot will not light. On your Dixie Belle visit, the plate and the pressure at the valve are checked, and anything involving the tank or its regulator is left to your gas supplier.

No extra decor, media or accessories in the firebox

It is tempting to dress up a gas fireplace with extra stones, glass pieces or ornaments. One installation manual allows only accessories its maker approves, warning that unapproved components could make the fireplace overheat and that non-listed accessories void the warranty.

One direct vent manual warns that lava rock or ember chunks scattered on top of the burner may cause sooting, glass breakage and a fire hazard. Anything added can also cover ports or sit in the path the pilot flame uses to light the burner.

We take out anything that is not part of the maker's set and explain why, and approved media or log options for your model can be priced on the estimate. Items like these come out.

• Decorative stones or glass not supplied for the model
• Extra ember chunks on top of the burner
• Ornaments or seasonal decor set on the logs

Exhaust odor or a B-vent burner that goes out

A B-vent, or natural vent, fireplace relies on a draft hood and a vent that draws well. When the pilot and main burner both drop out while running, the troubleshooting table in a Vermont Castings Group natural vent manual names three causes, a leaking inner vent pipe that sends exhaust back into the system, a horizontal run sloped the wrong way, and a vent cap that is blocked or was put on wrong.

Exhaust that is not leaving the home properly can carry carbon monoxide. If a CO alarm sounds, or anyone feels unwell while the fireplace runs, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911 from there. Leave the fireplace off until it has been inspected.

Vent faults belong to our gas fireplace venting service. On a repair call, our technician confirms whether a shutdown traces to the vent or to the pilot and valve, so each fault is sent to the right place.

A gas fireplace that has been under water

Water and gas controls do not mix. The manuals we have read agree on this. An appliance with any part that has been under water stays off until a qualified service technician has inspected it and replaced each part of the control system and each gas control that got wet. That holds even when the unit looks clean and dry afterward.

One natural vent manual goes further and calls for arranging replacement of the unit. Another simply tells owners to keep the appliance dry, because water may damage controls. The state fuel gas code also sets rules for where appliances sit in flood hazard areas, which matters if the fireplace is replaced.

We read the model from the rating plate, find that model's instructions and list every control part the maker calls for, or the replacement option where the manual requires it. The fireplace is not lit until that work is done.