Gas Fireplace Maintenance: How Often Should You Service Your Unit?

The gas fireplace is an essential part of our lives in colder months. Thus, its regular maintenance cannot be underestimated. There are various gas fireplaces in different sizes. But all of them require a proper maintenance routine to run smoothly. However, most homeowners miss this part until the fireplace shows some significant signs of damage. How often should a gas fireplace be serviced? If you are curious about the maintenance intervals of your gas fireplace, join our discussion. We have listed all the important factors regarding the maintenance of gas fireplaces in this blog post.

Why is Regular Maintenance of a Gas Fireplace Important?

A gas fireplace does not make a mess of wood ash, unlike a wood fireplace. And also, it does not issue a smoke. But it needs regular maintenance as well as some repairs. Then there will not be safety issues, and the gas fireplace’s lifespan will extend.

And there is a somewhat complex mechanism behind the operation of a gas fireplace. If you miss the essential repairs of a faulty component, you may have to face some hazards, especially if there is a gas leakage or wire shortage over time. Therefore, ensure to inspect the fireplace at least every 6 months and maintain your gas fireplace for your own safety and the long life of the unit.

What are the Signs that a Gas Fireplace Needs Servicing? 

These are the most prominent warning signs that a fireplace hints for a service.

• Buildups – if there are some stubborn buildups of dirt, grime or debris, you will not be able to clean it by yourself without harming the components. So, you need to contact a professional service team.
• Odors – if there are burning gas odor around the fireplace, there might be a gas leakage or a wiring issue in the fireplace. Your fireplace might have been equipped with an odorant to identify a gas leakage too. But a thorough inspection will be needed for a repair. When there is such a leak, you may hear a hissing sound as well.
• Condensation – if you can notice gas condensation in your fireplace, it is a sign of inadequate airflow and temperature. Thus, you should allow a professional to fix this issue before the fireplace becomes fully inactive.

How often Should you have your Gas Fireplace Inspected? 

The frequency of inspecting the gas fireplace for services varies according to the usage of each fireplace. If you use your gas fireplace often, especially from autumn to spring, you need to service it annually. The reason why, experts declare that yearly services can avoid most damages. In fact, the people who live in colder areas have to do this annual service without skipping.

But if you do not use the fireplace often, there is no need to service it annually. It will be enough to service the unit once every 2 years. However, if you notice some of the aforesaid signs, do not be late to repair the unit; otherwise, it will end up with a hazard.

Finally, we recommend you to choose a day in a summer month for the service; then, you can operate the fireplace in colder months without any disturbances.

What Maintenance does a Gas Fireplace Need? 

There are two sides of this factor. Firstly, you should clean your gas fireplace by yourself as a part of the regular maintenance. And sometimes, you will have to hire a professional for an advanced service.

When you clean the fireplace on your own, make sure to adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

And when it comes to advanced services or repairs, you need to hire a professional to avoid any mistakes. If you hire a professional team, they will inspect every part of the fireplace for cracks, gaps or buildups, including the gasket seal, fireplace glass, firebox interior, control panel, pilot light, gas burner, etc. Then they will inspect the gas burner for any leak and test the safety valve. After that, all the components will be thoroughly cleaned; especially the gas burner should be cleaned for better gas efficiency. Finally, the overall fireplace function will be inspected and tested.

What is the Lifespan of a Gas Fireplace? 

In general, the lifespan of a gas fireplace lies between 10 to 15 years. There are some key points that determine the life expectancy of a gas fireplace. First of all, it should be installed properly by a professional. And regular maintenance is highly important to extend the lifespan of a fireplace. Otherwise, it can wear and tear before its estimated lifespan.

In addition, there are different kinds of fireplaces. So, you should be wise to choose a high-quality one in order to use it for a long time. What’s more, if you live in an area that has a cold climate throughout the year, you might use the fireplace often. Thus, it can wear out faster.

How Much Does it Cost to Service a Gas Fireplace? 

Normally, you can expect to spend $200 to $300 to service a gas fireplace. There are several reasons to vary the cost significantly. Basically, if you have a bigger unit, you will have to pay a higher price and vice versa. And if your fireplace needs a lot of repairs, the price will be higher. That’s why you should maintain it regularly. Another factor that affects the price variant is the place you live. Depending on the cost to service the unit and the traveling cost, you will be charged a different fee.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace Pilot Light on Gas Fireplace? 

Most of the time, professional replacement of pilot light can cost up to $150. When there is a blown-out pilot light, the gas fireplace will not be able to heat the atmosphere properly. But if you go through the user manual, you might find a DIY solution to fix it by yourself. But if you are not sure about how to do that, it would be better to contact a professional. Filthy orifices can be identified as a major factor that affects the pilot light. Thus, make sure to keep it clean.

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