I have a gas burning fireplace with ceramic logs. Do I need to have the chimney cleaned?

Question

I have not used this fireplace for 4 years. However, since it is gas burning with ceramic logs, I don't think there would be any build-up in the chimney. I want to use it this winter but don't know if the chimney needs to be cleaned first.

Answer 1

I might would check for a bird's nest or something like that. The purpose of cleaning chimneys is to remove creosote from a wood burning stove. If your town requires a gas fired chimney to be cleaned, they must be getting a kick-back from the local chimney sweep.

Answer 2

Gas log fireplaces have "fake" logs which absorb/radiate heat and glow, simulating wood logs. They burn natural gas which is piped into the fireplace. The advantages are that they're cleaner; no ashes to clean-up, no bringing logs into the house, no woodpile storage outside, no stray embers burning holes in your carpet or wood floors. They're easier to light; just turn on the gas valve and ignite it. Gas log fireplaces obviously don't have the aroma and crackling sound some people enjoy with a wood-burning fire. When burning a natural gas log fireplace, there is a continuous flow of gas feeding the fire, which raises your gas utility bill. Firewood is expensive too, though (especially if you buy it already split and aged and pay for delivery), so you have to weigh-out the cost of operating each type. There are also gas-fired wood burning fireplaces, where the gas supply assists in getting the fire going by adding fuel to the flame until the wood is sufficiently burning, at which point the gas valve is turned off. These types of fireplaces can be easily converted to gas log fireplaces with the installation of the log kit (a couple hundred bucks).

Answer 3

You should check your chimney and make sure it is drafting. That means the fumes are going up and out of the chimney. You should also check to make sure there is no carbon monoxide coming into your house when you use your fireplace via water heater vent, boiler vent, furnace vent etc.....

Answer 4

Birds nests, possums here (or squirrels in the US) and that sort of thing are your most likely problems.

Very unlikely that you would have any other build up other than dust, which will burn off by itself.

If you had a birds nest in summer, you'll probably hear chicks squawking and I can't imagine your flue/chimney would be big enough to harbour a possum/squirrel. Light it up and if you hear screaching .... :S (Seriously shouldn't be a problem)

Answer 5

In some states you still have to have a flume even with a gas fireplace. Call a local company who sales them and just ask them.

Answer 6

yes they should be clean, you don't want any obstructions in the chimney it could kill you.