Preseason Fireplace Maintenance

Is your fireplace ready to heat your home reliably this winter? It is critical that you perform your annual maintenance every year, whether in the spring or the fall. It is also critical to have a certified technician inspect the mechanics of your fireplace. Your manual's annual maintenance section will also outline the proper steps for annual maintenance.

Cleaning, battery replacement, venting inspection, and inspection of the burner, media, and firebox should all be included in annual maintenance. After you've cleaned your unit, it's time to get to work on maintenance.

Below are some simple yet essential maintenance steps: 

1. Use an ammonia-free glass cleaner to gently clean the inside and outside of your glass.
   
   
2. If necessary, carefully remove media (logs, glass, brick panels, etc.).
   
   
3. Gently remove any dirt, debris, or carbon buildup from the logs, firebox, and burner using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. Pre-cleaning glass media should be done according to the installation instructions.
   
   
4. Gently clean the pilot assembly, including the thermopile, thermocouple, flame sensor, and igniter (if equipped).
   
   
5. Remove any oxides from the flame sensor with a fine emery cloth or a synthetic scrub pad (such as Scotch-BriteTM). Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean the pilot assembly. It is critical that the pilot assembly not be painted.
   
   
6. Inspect and replace any gaskets that are visible.
   
7. If your machine has a blower, clean it with a soft brush and vacuum.
   
   
8. Examine the relief system. The appliance relieves itself through the main glass door or the flaps on the top of the firebox. Make sure they open and close freely.
   
   
9. Check that the gas control valve pilot and Hi/Lo knobs, if equipped, move freely. If there is any stiffness in movement, replace.
   
   
10. Examine all gas connections up and downstream from the gas valve, including pilot tube connections, for gas leaks.
    
    
11. Put the various components back together in reverse order.