Gas fireplaces are a very convenient way of keeping the house warm and cozy during cold times, but sometimes overheating the gas fireplace can be frustrating for you.
Most people get a fireplace to make a comfortable environment in their house, but if the environment becomes too hot, it won’t be comfortable anymore.
So, why is my gas fireplace too hot?
Let’s dig in!!
Why Is My Gas Fireplace Too Hot?
If the gas pressure is not right or if the air vents are blocked, a gas fireplace can end up getting too hot. When the gas pressure is too high, the flames get stronger and produce more heat than necessary.
Clogged or limited air vents may disturb the air circulation in your gas fireplace, leading to overheating.
I hope you understand the short version but now without knowing the solutions to this issue, you might not solve the problem.
So keep reading………
Reasons Why Your Gas Fireplace Is Too Hot
1. Heat Sensor Malfunction
Many times the heat sensor malfunctions there are many reasons for that, but because of malfunctioning of the heat sensor, it fails to regulate the flames properly which leads to the heating of the gas fireplace too much.
Get in touch with a technician to check and swap out the heat sensor if needed, so your fireplace can keep a cozy and secure temperature.
2. Poor Ventilation
The problem of overheating comes with the issue of poor ventilation which means it leads to the build-up of excessive heat where the fireplace is located which eventually increases the temperature of the whole house.
The output of hot air and the input of cold air are significant in giving proper ventilation to the fireplace.
Install some fans to increase the ventilation place the fans where the air circulates efficiently.
3. Incorrect Sizing of Gas Logs
Gas fireplaces typically include logs that are specially made to distribute heat efficiently. If you use the wrong size or type of gas logs, it could lead to the flames engulfing the logs and producing too much heat.
Make sure you have the correct gas logs for your specific fireplace model and the correct installation of the gas logs according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
4. Insufficient Insulation or Sealing
Sometimes Improper insulation or sealing around the gas fireplace can contribute to overheating.
Improper insulation leaks the heat into the living room and eventually makes the entire room into an oven which makes you uncomfortable and hard to stay anymore.
Make sure to prevent the heat from leaking from the gas fireplace by insulating and sealing it properly. This makes your fireplace efficient and doesn’t make you uncomfortable around the fireplace.
Leaking is one of the most dangerous issues that needs to be solved otherwise there are many stories I heard of potential damage caused because of improper sealing or leaking elements from gas fireplaces such as heat or fuel and gases.
5. Restricted or Blocked Air Vents
If you are not a home cleaning person or don’t clean your home often then you may face this issue because blocked or restricted air vents are an issue that needs to be resolved.
Air vents are the crucial source of oxygen for gas fireplaces and if your main source of oxygen is blocked then it gonna lead to overheating because it imbalances the gas-to-air ratio in your chamber.
Many times debris, dust and certain objects stuck inside the air vents which usually block the air from entering or exiting create an imbalance in the ratio of air to gas.
So, to resolve this issue you should maintain a cleaniness in your air vents to pass the oxygen to the fireplace.
If you don’t want to do the dirty work like cleaning, you can hire a professional to clean the air vents on your behalf and remove all the dirt, debris, and objects stuck into the air vents.
6. Damaged or Malfunctioning Thermostat
A damaged thermostat may be the reason of gas fireplace becomes excessively hot because it is responsible for the regulation of the temperature and controlling the flame intensity.
When it’s not working properly or damaged, it could give incorrect room temperature readings, leading to the fireplace giving off excessive heat.
Because this is a technical issue that’s why I recommend appointing a professional technician to do what needs to be done like changing the faulty or damaged thermostat and replacing it with a new working one.
7. Improper Gas Pressure
Incorrect gas pressure is the main reason why a gas fireplace can become overly hot. If the gas pressure is too high, the flame will become more intense, resulting in too much heat being produced by the gas fireplace.
On the other hand, if the gas pressure is too low then the flames are not gonna burn efficiently and produce less heat than usual.
Again this is a technical issue that is only solved by someone who knows how to adjust the gas pressure to what is recommended by the manufacturer guidelines.
8. Manufacturer Defects
If your new gas fireplace indicates signs of overheating then there are some possibilities that your fireplace has manufacturer defects.
If you’ve exhausted all other options and the problem continues, reach out to the manufacturer, and if your gas fireplace is under warranty then ask for a replacement if replacement is not possible then consider a qualified technician to try other possibilities to solve this issue.
Just complain to them Why is my gas fireplace too hot? and it’s not getting better any time.
Hazards of Gas Fireplace Overheating
- This can make your home structure weak and also increase the risk of spreading fire beyond the space of the fireplace area because overheating of the gas fireplace also heats the surrounding walls and ceiling around the gas fireplace
- Nearby flammable objects such as curtains, carpets, and furniture can be caught on fire if exposed to intense heat for a longer period.
- A malfunctioning gas fireplace can’t efficiently burn the flames, leading to incomplete combustion, and incomplete combustion is the major source of carbon monoxide production, which is extremely harmful to your health and causes diseases if exposed for a long time.
- Continuous overheating of the gas fireplace causes damage to the internal components such as valves, connectors, and controls. This leads to various other problems like malfunctioning, gas leaks, or other big issues.
Safety Guidelines
- Using carbon monoxide alarms there are many blogs about safety for gas fireplaces but no one talked about carbon monoxide alarms which can be a lifesaver for you and your family. The monitoring of the carbon monoxide is extremely important. There are many alarms you can find online and offline markets too.
- Replace your old gas fireplace, if it is 20 years or more old then consider replacing it and getting a new one instead for safety purposes.
- Never use an industrial-standard gas fireplace in your home because industrial-standard gas fireplaces are not meant to be used in a domestic-style house.
- Using the fuel recommended by the manufacturer is very important because the use of other fuels that are not recommended damages the internal components of your gas fireplace and it is not safe to continue using damaged components gas fireplace.
- Appoint a professional to do a regular maintenance check for your fireplace and a regular checkup can catch a small fault which can lead to a big issue.
Conclusion
Why is my gas fireplace too hot? If you reading here and find this article helpful or you are just here for some knowledge of overheating of the gas fireplace then just one small tip- Regularly clean your gas fireplace.
The majority of the time the only issue fireplace owners have is a dirty fireplace and dirty vents which can be solved by cleaning it properly and regularly cleaning is important.
Dust, Debris, and objects stuck inside the vents blocked the air circulation which put pressure inside the fireplace which eventually led to the gas fireplace becoming too hot a problem.