| Author |
Message |
    
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 73
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2003 - 1:50 pm: |     |
Is it normal to have a very slight gas odor when using a vented gas fireplace? I know I can smell gas a little bit when I use my kitchen stove, and wonder if this is just normal, or something to be concerned about. It's not overpowering, just a faint odor. We don't have a glass enclosure on the fireplace, just a fireplace screen, and the flue is definitely open.
Would be curious to hear from others who have experience with vented gas units.
Thanks! |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3151
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 9:10 am: | |
Humm.
Be safe, pay to have a gas and a CO test performed in your entire home, then you will know.
Damper open means little. Air flow conditions mean a LOT.
In some conditions you may have air and all your fireplace exhaust gases down drafting into your home. Consider what other windows are open, the outside breeze, do you have kitchen or other exhaust fans on drawing air into your home.
Want a quick check? Cut apart a plastic bag from the dry cleaners and tape it over the opening to your fire place. (No fire) Watch it for a few days. Really watch it on a windy day or night. Does it stay still? Does it puff in or out of the fire place. (A small feather on a thread will work as well)
That will give you a sense of fire place air flow in your home.
Even if you had a fire going, the small amout of heat that will cause a draft up the flue is not stronger than a good puff of wind.
Oh, and No. In my opinion you should never smell gas. You may smell the results of burned gas, that has a different odor. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 77
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 10:15 am: | |
Thanks JG. Seems that the smell is gone. Could have just been there from the initial install (which we just did). We put in a smoke guard, which also helped. I know there's no smoke with a gas unit, but it helps to keep the gas from rolling out, and directed into the flue(the installer recommended trying a smoke guard). Actually worked. We do have a CO detector nearby as well....just in case.....
Thanks again for your advice. |
jasper
Citizen
Username: Jasper
Post Number: 27
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 3:32 pm: | |
We have 2 gas fireplaces (one on the first floor, one on the second floor above it) that were converted from wood burning before we bought our house 6 years ago. We recently had our chimney inspected and were told that we needed a new lining in the boiler flue, but upon further inspection, the chimney sweep found that there was what appeared to be a gas pipe running right through (across, not up/down) the flue, making it impossible to drop a liner down. It turns out that this gas pipe feeds the gas fireplaces. How this ever passed an inspection is beyone me - I'm guessing the work was done without a permit in the first place. Unfortunately, my chimney sweep did not have a suggestion for fixing this. Can you tell me who installed your gas fireplace and if you think they would know how to re-do ours? Thanks. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 78
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 9:05 am: | |
Wow, that's quite a set up.... The guy who installed our unit is Jim Molnar -- he's a general contractor. His number is 908-686-1722. Summit Fireplace Centre (908-273-3273), where we bought our unit, uses him for their installations, so I know he does a lot of gas fireplace installations. We were happy with his work and have been enjoying the fireplace these past few nights. If he doesn't work out for some reason, contact Diane at the Summit Fireplace Centre. She was very helpful and may have other leads. Good Luck! |
jasper
Citizen
Username: Jasper
Post Number: 30
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 10:44 pm: | |
Thanks! |
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