At Uintah Fireplace and Design, we’re all about bringing you a comprehensive fireplace customization and installation experience. We’ll walk you through everything from start to finish, from selecting one of our contemporary fireplaces or other options to getting things installed and designed beautifully in your home.
We can also help with all the basic operation and maintenance guidelines you need, particularly directly after installation, when some of these processes are most vital. One such process when you’ve purchased a gas fireplace or gas insert is called the “burn-off” cycle – what is this, why is it necessary, and how should you go about it?
Burn-Off Basics and Necessity
The burn-off cycle for gas fireplaces and inserts refers to a period of time where you run the fireplace soon after installation without any warmth or comfort goals involved. This is because fireplaces, similar to ovens or grilles of several varieties, are made using paints or oils that need to be baked or cured off – and the simplest way to do this is using the actual heat of the fireplace itself.
Without a basic burn-off cycle, you risk significant unpleasant odors coming from your fireplace when you turn it on. And this often isn’t a temporary thing; these odors can linger for years in some cases. Rather than deal with these problems, take a little time using the steps we’ll now outline to the a simple burn-off.
Basic Steps
- Begin by opening all the windows in the room where your fireplace has been installed, and maybe a few others on the same floor. This is for cross-ventilation, which can also be aided by turning on ceiling fans or even handheld fans. Some fireplace products may have stronger smells than some others, so good ventilation is a must.
- Turn the fireplace or insert on to the highest possible setting.
- You may notice white smoke or a strong odor coming from the fireplace – this is okay, and is the goal of the burn-off.
- Run the unit for three hours before turning it off and allowing it a full cooling period.
- After cooling, turn it on again on high and run it for six to eight more hours.
From here, you should be in good shape to enjoy fires using your gas fireplace or insert for years into the future.
First Year of Use
One other little note here: After roughly a year of use, it’s always recommended that you clean the inside glass of your gas fireplace or insert. If you need assistance here, ask our pros for some recommendations.
For more on the burn-off cycle for a new gas fireplace or insert, or to learn about any of our custom fireplace options, speak to the pros at Uintah Fireplace and Design.