A highly flammable substance, creosote is formed by unburned gases found in wood smoke. … Never throw water into the fireplace or stove during a creosote fire. The inrushing oxygen will suck the water up the flue and the sudden change in temperature may cause the chimney or stove to explode from the steam.
Can a fireplace explode?
Though very rare, gas fireplaces are susceptible to explosions and sudden fires. If the pilot light isn’t sitting properly when the gas begins to flow, gas may build up and explode.
Do gas fireplaces explode?
Although convenient, these home gas fireplaces pose significant risk of explosions and house fires if they are improperly installed or maintained. Gas Fireplace leaks can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, but can also result in explosions that can level an entire neighborhood block.
What are the dangers of a gas fireplace?
An improperly maintained or ventilated gas fireplace can create incomplete combustion, creating carbon monoxide, and causing this toxic gas to lingerputting those inside at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Why is the wood in my fireplace popping?
Firewood higher in moisture content can produce more popping and crackling noises because there is more moisture contained within the wood. This can lead to more pockets of steam escaping the wood and making pops and crackles. … Fully seasoned wood should therefore have a moisture content level of lower than 20%.
How long is it safe to run gas fireplace?
Most manufacturers don’t advise running a vent free gas fireplace for more than a few hours a day. Usually, that’s not much of an issue, because you’ll get hot in 20 minutes, and you’ll probably be ready to turn it off. We recommend installing a thermostat remote with it.
Can a log burner get too hot?
Just as too much airflow to a fire can cause a wood stove to burn too hot, having too much wood on the fire at any one time can be another reason why your wood burning stove is burning so hot. … Increasing the amount of wood burning on the fire by adding another log or two can cause the stove to burn too hot.
Why did my gas fireplace glass shatter?
Why? Because of thermal expansion and contraction. If the glass expands too much, it will give and shatter into tiny pieces. The solution is to keep the doors open when there’s a roaring fire and monitor the temperature of your fire to prevent the glass from shattering.
Is it safe to keep pilot light on gas fireplace?
We recommend that you turn off your gas fireplace pilot light seasonally. Turning off your gas fireplace’s pilot light can save a substantial amount of energy and money. It is important to remember that not all gas fireplaces have standing pilot light, or, a pilot light that is always on.
Is it safe to have a gas fireplace in bedroom?
According to Section 303.3 of the International Fuel Gas Code, homeowners are prohibited from using a model that gets its combustion air from the bedroom. … Most localities, however, do not allow unvented gas fireplaces in a bedroom, period.
Are gas fireplaces safe to breathe?
Gas fireplaces are generally considered cleaner than traditional wood-burning fireplaces, but they can also pollute indoor air quality if not properly vented. Toxic gasses emitted include deadly carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide — a gas particularly harmful to those with asthma.
Does wet wood hiss and crackle?
The heat from the fire causes the fluids within wood to first boil and then vaporize into steam. … If you’ve ever tried to use wet wood for firewood, you’ve probably noticed that it snaps, pops, and crackles much more than usual. That’s because of the excess water trapped within the wood!
What wood crackles in a fire?
Not only does fir and pine smell like Christmas trees, these types of logs create a pleasant crackle and pop in your fire. These are softwoods which dry quickly, are easy to split, and create lovely crackling fires. Before burning fir or pine, be aware that the popping throws a lot more sparks than other firewood.
What is the cleanest wood to burn?
Hardwood Firewood Hardwoods such as maple, oak, ash, birch, and most fruit trees are the best burning woods that will give you a hotter and longer burn time. These woods have the least pitch and sap and are generally cleaner to handle.
Is it OK to leave fireplace on overnight?
Never leave your burning fireplace unattended. … Carbon monoxide is a furtive toxin, so fireplace safety warrants awareness of this compound. The smoke from burning wood contains carbon monoxide, so in order to prevent this toxic byproduct from entering your home, it is important to leave the flue open overnight.
Do gas fireplaces need to be cleaned?
While gas fireplaces don’t produce creosote, they do still need annual cleaning. … A chimney sweeping in your gas fireplace will help remove items like bird’s nests, animals, and any debris that may have gotten trapped in there as well any potential soot.
Is it safe to use a gas fireplace without electricity?
Yes!All Regency gas fireplaces, inserts, and stoves can operate safely during a power outage. The fireplace will continue to produce radiant heat and warm up the home. If your unit has a blower, it will no longer work; however, a fireplace blower is not necessary for the operation or safety of the fireplace.
Can a fire be too big in a fireplace?
While the opposite may seem true, larger fires don’t mean longer-lasting ones, especially when it comes to indoor fireplaces. … One thing that can happen if you put too much wood in your fireplace is that you actually end up smothering the fire. This doesn’t give it enough room to breathe.
How do you calm a fire in a fireplace?
Instead, you should:
- Use a fireplace poker to spread out the embers.
- Put ash over the embers to smother the fire.
- Apply a thin layer of baking soda over the fire.
- Let the ashes cool off and place them in a metal container.
- Store the container outside your home away from anything flammable.
Can I burn pallet wood in my log burner?
Heat treated pallets would be ok to use as kindling, but you don’t want to be burning the ones treated with chemicals as they can release toxic fumes. Pallets that have been treated will have a stamp indicating this.
Should glass doors be open on gas fireplace?
Glass doors should be fully open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning strongly. … When burning gas logs in a wood-burning fireplace, the glass doors should always be fully open when the gas logs are burning.
Can glass shatter from heat?
When Can Glass Shatter from Heat? Glass is a durable material that stands up well to summer heat. … However, Glass can suffer a thermal break when the temperature gets too hot. Thermal breaks tend to occur when the glass expands and contracts due to temperature differences.
Why does my fireplace have glass doors?
‘Glass doors were found to reduce the amount of sensible heat lost in the flue gases but at the same time they drastically reduced the radiant energy emitted by the fireplace. … ‘Glass doors do substantially reduce amount of heat radiated from the fire into the living room.
Should I turn off fireplace pilot light in summer?
Perhaps the most important reason to turn off gas fireplace pilot light in summer is because of the money and energy you will be saving. If you leave the pilot light on during the summer it is simply sitting there burning gas, which is wasting gas and contributing to an exorbitant energy bill.
Why are flames blue in gas fireplace?
You get a blue gas flame with a hydrocarbon gas when you have enough oxygen for complete combustion. When you do have sufficient oxygen, the gas flame appears blue because complete combustion creates enough energy to excite and ionize the gas molecules in the flame.
