Asked by: Herminia Siebel
home and garden home appliances

Are gas fireplaces supposed to smell?

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No, it is not normal for a gas fireplace to give off a strong smell for this long of a time. The strong "urine" smell could be urethane insulation that is too close to the firebox or vent pipe. Or if you are running on natural gas, it could be the mercaptan odorant in the gas which is leaking.


Also question is, do gas fireplaces smell?

In fact, a faint gas smell is an unavoidable consequence of using gas fireplace logs. In a gas ventless fireplace, oxygen is provided by the air in your home. If that air contains impurities, those impurities are drawn in with the oxygen and can produce odors which are amplified by the flame.

what should a gas fireplace smell like? Natural Gas Impurities In its purest form, natural gas has no odor as a gas or when burned. When burned, methyl mercaptan has an odor similar to burnt matches and rotten eggs. When vent-less logs burn in a fireplace, natural gas additives burn along with the gas.

Correspondingly, are fumes from gas fireplace harmful?

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.

Can I get carbon monoxide poisoning from my gas fireplace?

YES, GAS FIREPLACES ARE ONE POTENTIAL CAUSE OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. An improperly maintained or ventilated gas fireplace, however, can result in incomplete combustion, creating carbon monoxide, and causing this toxic gas to linger, putting those inside at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Related Question Answers

Mireilla Benker

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How often should a gas fireplace be cleaned?

How Often Should Gas Fireplace Chimneys Be Cleaned? Gas fireplace chimneys should be inspected and cleaned annually. There will not be any soot or creosote in the chimney since you are not burning wood, but you may find bird nests that need to be removed.

Safa Cripps

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Can you sleep with a gas fireplace on?

Gas Fireplaces
Also, there is no danger of burning logs, sparks, embers, or smoke. In addition, the fire can be killed quickly if you want to go to sleep. However, gas fireplaces still run the risk of producing carbon monoxide, since you are burning gas. Thus, proper ventilation is important for a gas fireplace.

Zebensuy Gemez

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Is it normal to smell gas after pilot?

If you think you smell gas and you have gas utilities, be safe. Note that it is totally normal on automatic pilots (pilots that do NOT stay lit all the time) to smell a little natural gas when the are first turned on. A little gas will escape as the pilot and burners light on your heat or appliance.

Ofelia Lohs

Explainer

Why do gas logs stink?

The most common rotten smelling additive is Methyl Mercaptan. The byproduct of burning Mercaptan is Sulfur Dioxide, which smells more like burnt matches mixed with rotten eggs. Include other odors produced by impurities in the gas supply and you have the distinct smell ventless logs produce.

Kornelia Reolid

Explainer

Can gas fireplaces give you a headache?

Few homeowners are still unaware of the odorless and colorless gas. It can cause all sorts of health problems ranging from mild headaches to death. Even gases other than carbon monoxide can cause respiratory problems if they're present in large enough quantities and/or someone in the home has sensitivity to that gas.

Abderrazzak Quecedo

Explainer

How can I tell if I have a gas leak in my fireplace?

The logs connect to a gas supply line at the side of the fireplace and run on either natural gas or propane.

Gas leaks in fireplace logs are dangerous.
  1. Open any screens or doors in front of the fireplace opening.
  2. Sniff the air around the fireplace to determine if it smells like rotten eggs.

Brigit Teller

Pundit

Why do gas logs shut off?

If the flame does not hit it just right it will shut the gas off. The reason is as the oxygen level in a room goes down the flame characteristics will change, pulling the hotter part of the flame away from the tip of the thermocouple, shutting things down. It is now an oxygen depletion sensor.

Dayron Wiesjahn

Pundit

How do I know if my gas fireplace is vented?

How to Tell If Your Gas Logs Are Vent-Free
  1. Inspect the logs. All vent-free logs are firmly attached to a U-shaped burner and cannot be moved.
  2. Follow the gas line from beneath the logs to where it disappears in the wall or floor. If the gas is merely contained by a simple gas line, then the logs are vent free.
  3. Turn on the fireplace.

Ingrid Tudorovsky

Pundit

Should you leave the pilot light on gas fireplace?

Leaving the gas on keeps this compound moving out of the tubes. Keeping the pilot light on will also keep moisture out of the unit and in turn, help prevent corrosion. As you can see, it's probably best in most cases to extinguish the pilot light in your gas fireplace during the months when you don't need heat.

Daouia Also

Teacher

Can a gas fireplace kill you?

Don't Fall Victim to Fireplace Carbon Monoxide Poisoning! Carbon monoxide gas: You can't see it, smell it, or taste it – but it can kill you, silently and with little warning.

Miguel Trepat

Teacher

Why does my gas fireplace smell like dust?

First, it could be caused from dust, pet dander, and more. It is important to keep your fireplace clean to ensure safety and fewer odors. Second, it could be because of new décor you put around your fireplace. If you smell rotten eggs, this means gas could be leaking from your fireplace.

Marhta Flox

Teacher

What does carbon monoxide smell like?

Carbon monoxide (sometimes referred to as CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning material containing carbon. You can't see it, smell it, or taste it; but carbon monoxide can kill you. Because carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas, it is known as the "silent killer."

Reimundo Maurice

Teacher

How do you turn off gas fireplace?

Turn the control knob to the off position for at least 5 minutes. Look for a knob on your control panel with the words On, Off, and Pilot on it. If the knob is not in the off position, turn it so that it is. Then, let your fireplace sit for at least 5 minutes, allowing any excess or lingering gas to clear out.

Elicerio Kniehase

Reviewer

Does carbon monoxide rise or stay low?

There are three things that make carbon monoxide extremely dangerous: 1) The molecules of carbon monoxide are so small, they can easily travel through drywall; 2) Carbon monoxide doesn't sink or rise – it mixes easily with the air inside a home; 3) It is an odorless gas, so without an alarm to notify you that it is in

Maka Sana

Reviewer

Do gas fireplaces need to be serviced?

Gas fireplaces are easy and convenient. So much so, that it's easy to forget that even a gas fireplace needs upkeep every once in a while. To keep your gas fireplace operating safely and in tip-top shape, it's recommended to perform annual maintenance.

Khamiss Laiz

Reviewer

What does escaping gas smell like?

The two most common sources of a rotten egg smell are a natural gas leak, and escaping sewer gas. In its natural state, natural gas is actually odorless. That's why utility companies inject a substance called mercaptan, which emits an odor that smells like sulfur or rotten eggs.

Ayose Preu

Reviewer

What does a gas leak smell like?

Natural gas is an efficient, safe, colorless and odorless gas. For easy detection, we add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give gas a distinctive odor. Most people describe the smell as rotten eggs or hydrogen sulfide like odor. It smells bad for a good reason - in case of a gas leak!

Hella Hansmeier

Supporter

Is it normal to smell propane near fireplace?

Propane itself doesn't have an odor. What you smell is an additive that helps identify leaks. If your fireplace is working properly, the smell would indicate your tank is running low because the concentration of the odor additive being sent into the burner is higher.

Ernestas Eulenhaupt

Supporter

How do you adjust the pilot light on a gas fireplace?

On some fireplaces, there will be a "Lo-Hi" button that allows you to adjust the flame upward or downward. On others, there will be a screw that you can easily adjust with a screwdriver. Turning the screw clockwise will lower the flame, while a counterclockwise motion will turn it up.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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24th January, 2020

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