Gas fireplace repair and yearly service in Winter Park

Why the glass assembly is handled with care

A fixed glass assembly looks sturdy once it is latched in place, but the manuals treat it as a breakable part. The care instructions for one line say to avoid striking, scratching or slamming the glass, and they warn that scratches and nicks can lead to breakage when the glass is exposed to heat. Another maker adds that the glass is never removed while it is hot.

Removal is part of many service tasks, from cleaning to reaching the controls. The manuals describe supporting the assembly while the latches release and setting it down on a stable surface large enough to hold it. One of those manuals also notes that the glass and its gasket can carry residue that may stain carpet or flooring.

The glass comes off only once the unit has cooled, it is supported through the latch release, and its edges and gasket are looked over before it goes back. A chip found during that handling is referred for glass replacement rather than refitted.

Keeping the space in front of the fireplace clear

Heat leaves the front of the fireplace and warms whatever is close to it. The NFPA heating safety tip sheet asks for a three-foot clear zone, at least, between heating equipment, the fireplace included, and anything that can burn. One owner's manual marks a clear space in front of its units and warns that clothing, furniture, draperies and other flammable materials must not be placed on or near the appliance.

The manuals add details that are easy to overlook. Most of them are about what ends up on or around the unit.

The louvers and openings get a look on a maintenance visit, and anything stored or hung too close is noted. For Winter Park homeowners who have added a mantel or shelf since the fireplace went in, the maker's clearance table for that model is the reference.

• Nothing placed on top of the fireplace
• No decorations or clothing hung on or around it
• Louvers and air openings left unblocked
• Candles and heat-sensitive items kept off the mantel and hearth

After a remodel around the fireplace

Remodeling near a gas fireplace leaves traces inside it. Dust from sanding and cutting settles in the control compartment, on the burner and in the air passages, and the manuals already call for more frequent cleaning where dust is heavy. An owner's manual we work from notes that finishing materials and adhesives around the appliance can release odor when it runs.

The finish itself has to suit the heat. The matching installation manual publishes wall surface temperatures above its fireplaces and says to use finishing materials able to withstand them. It also notes that heat exposure can open cracks in drywall joints next to the fireplace.

After a remodel in your Winter Park home, our technician cleans the dust out before the fireplace is used and checks that the front and panels still come off. Anything the new work affects is listed on the estimate.

Gas company or 911 first, then our emergency line

If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone out of the house first, then call 911 or the gas company from outside. Do not light anything or touch electrical switches on the way out. That comes before any call to a repair company, including ours.

Once the gas company or fire department has made the home safe, our 24/7 emergency line is there for the fireplace itself. That covers a unit the responders shut off and told you to keep off until it is checked, a fireplace damaged in an incident, or controls that no longer respond.

Our technician starts with the rating plate and with what happened, what the responders did and what was shut off. The fireplace stays off until the cause is found and written on your estimate. For homes in Winter Park, the free inspection and written estimate apply to emergency calls too.