There’s nothing compared to the warmth of a gas fireplace during the freezing winter months. However, you can’t always be cozied up by a roaring fire; I mean, you know there’s something called cleaning also.
So, here’s an easy guide to help you clean your gas fireplace.
Switch off the Gas
Before you begin cleaning your gas fireplace, make sure the gas valve is turned to the “off” position. If you leave the gas on, you risk a dangerous gas leak in your home. The gas valve is usually located on the wall near the fireplace. And, remember to allow a few minutes for all of the gas to exit the fireplace’s piping.
You should also wait until all of the gas fireplace components are completely cool before beginning the cleaning process.
Brush the Gas Logs Clean
Now, get the gas logs out of the fireplace and clean them outside. Brush away any debris or dirt from the logs with a soft paintbrush. Brush gently because you don’t want to damage the delicate logs.
Before returning the logs to the fireplace, inspect them for signs of corrosion, such as cracking, splitting, or burn holes.
Replace the logs in the same order that they were removed. You must not rearrange them. The logs are designed and positioned in a specific way to achieve the best results.
The Lava Rocks Should Be Vacuumed
Place each lava rock on an old towel after removing it from the gas fireplace. If you have a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, use it to thoroughly clean each lava rock. This should collect any loose dirt or grime that has accumulated on the rocks.
In case, some of your lava rocks are too small to be vacuumed without being sucked up in the machine, place a piece of cheesecloth over the vacuum cleaner’s nozzle and secure it with a rubber band.
You can also opt for the vacuum hose to clean around the heat exchanger vent. And, to remove any soot buildup, use a soft-bristled brush.
Clear Out the Interior
To clean the inside of the fireplace, use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and insert the hose attachment into the interior. Look for spider webs and other dust bunnies that you can remove with a vacuum cleaner.
This will assist you in removing any dust or debris from the interior.
Wrap the vacuum hose in old rags and duct tape to keep it from becoming blackened and dirty.
Remove the Glass Cover
To clean the glass covering of your gas fireplace properly, use fireplace glass cleaner. Spray it on a dry cloth and rub it on the glass in a circular motion. If there is a lot of dirt and grime on the glass, spray the cleaner directly on it and rub it off with newspaper. Allow the glass to dry completely before starting another fire once you’ve achieved the desired results.
Fireplace glass cleaner is available at any home improvement store. You should not use regular glass cleaner, such as Windex, for this task because the ingredients in these cleaners can react negatively with the carbon deposits that accumulate on the fireplace glass.
Using a Damp Cloth, Wipe Down the Inside Edges
Get rid of any excess soot or dirt that has accumulated over time with a clean, damp cloth. To keep the cloth clean, rinse it in warm water after each wipe.
Clean up the inside of the gas fireplace only with water. Make sure you don’t use a cleaner that contains harsh chemicals that could react negatively with the heat from the fireplace.
Clean the Outside
Warm water should be applied to a soft cloth. Don’t forget to clean the exterior framework of your gas fireplace with the cloth. Make sure to rinse the cloth frequently to remove any soot or dirt so that you don’t just keep reapplying it to the fireplace.
If you clean your fireplace on a regular basis, regardless of the material (marble, brass, gold, stone, etc.), water should be sufficient to clean the exterior.
