Don’t Try This at Home!
The annual maintenance…something that rolls around every year. Just like a car or a lawnmower, you hear about the need to maintain or service your gas fireplace. But does a smoothly working gas fireplace really need to have a special service with all that’s implied?
A reasonable question; let’s take a look.
Does a Gas Fireplace Really Need Maintenance?
Like any appliance or vehicle, there are moving parts, including fans and blowers, as well as lines and valves and switches, that all need to be tested and evaluated to be sure that they are working at their optimum levels.
And like machinery that has moving parts, things can slow or grind to a halt, especially when ill-maintained, leaving the anticipating user without the desired results.
The last thing you want is to have a big family get-together with everyone gathered around the hearth and…nothing.
Why Does a Gas Fireplace Need to be Serviced Annually?
Maintaining your car is crucial to successful operation. Making sure that you keep up with simple and relatively inexpensive maintenance items like oil changes and tire rotations helps to prevent costly repairs and extends the life of your vehicle.
The same is true of a gas fireplace. If you take the time once a year to maintain your gas fireplace, then you can be ensured of years of top performance. By having it done annually, your gas fireplace is ready to operate through all four seasons.
In fact, late summer or fall is often the best time for your annual gas fireplace maintenance or service before the heavy use of winter and early spring. That way, you can have confidence that it is working at its highest level before it will be routinely called into service.
Safety and Why it’s Better Left to the Professionals
You may have heard that gas fireplace maintenance is something that you can do on your own and there are certainly videos and manuals that can show you what needs to be done. But our recommendation is to always leave it to the professionals!
Why? Safety!
Any time the use of natural gas is necessary, it’s important that you clean and check the overall operations and emergency options. A professional will also inspect the fireplace for proper gas pressure and secure connections ensuring there are no micro leaks or other problems occurring.
It’s also important to check for smooth airflow and that no blockages have built up throughout the system that can cause fumes to back up into your home.
What’s Actually Included in an Annual Gas Fireplace Maintenance?
While every company offers a different menu of services, we can best speak to our 30-Point Fireplace Maintenance Checklist. At Kirkstone Heating, that includes a 360○ inspection, tune-up, and overall cleaning. We focus on optimal operation and safety while avoiding costly repairs down the road.
Our highly trained, certified technicians use the latest in gas leak technology, as well as carbon monoxide detection equipment. The full service entails a certified technical review of your gas fireplace operation and performance of a comprehensive tune-up and cleaning, as well as a safety inspection including:
Three Things You Can Do Between Services
There are a couple of things that you can do throughout the year to keep up the appearance and cleanliness of the gas fireplace. Beyond these few items, it’s better to let certified professionals perform their annual maintenance and cleaning on schedule.
A Final Word About Gas Fireplace Maintenance
Nothing is more important than your family’s safety! Leave the mess and aggravation to the professionals who are armed with the latest technology for testing gas and CO emissions and have a thorough knowledge of the inner workings of your gas fireplace. You wouldn’t try to repair or maintain your car; don’t try to service your gas fireplace.
Contact us for all of your gas fireplace maintenance and service needs in the greater Vancouver area and surrounding municipalities, including Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Burnaby, Cloverdale, Coquitlam, Delta, Ladner, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Tsawwassen, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and White Rock.
