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Just moved into house with a natural gas fireplace in basement. 2 Questions...?

a. There were no instructions provided for the fireplace so we don't even know how to turn it on. (There's a switch on the wall and some sort of button/dial on the top of the fireplace.) Would the gas company be able to tell us how the fireplace works? b. We don't plan on using the fireplace often (if ever really), but we've only lived here a week and the real question is that a few times I've noticed a faint gas smell in the basement (mostly only in the middle of the night [my bedroom's there] which seems a little funny because the playroom, computer and laundry room are there too so I'm in the basement lots.) Like I said, I'm new to the house and I don't want to overreact... I don't know if it's sewer gas from the laundry room or natural gas from the fireplace or just a different smell in a house that I'm not quite used to. Is it a good idea to get gas fireplaces checked periodically? I have a CO2 detector... should I put it in the basement? Never had a fireplace before. Thanks

Public Comments

  1. First it sounds like you have a pilot light out. If you check near the bottom of the fireplace there should be a panel that can be removed. Remove that panel. There is normally a line with a shaped head at the end of it. Either that or a line that just ends. Thats where the pilot light should be. You should see a small blue flame. That is also where you may very well find the valve. It is normally a very simple valve which will turn either horizontal or perpendicular to the supply line. You definately need to check that area. It is dangerous not to. Depending on how old the fireplace is will determine if there is written instructions on how to light it etc. The dial is probably a temp gauge?? Not sure about the switch other than I am almost positive that it may be an ignition switch which would throw an quick electric spark to ignite the fireplace itself from the pilot light. The dial would determine the intensity or the temp (auto ignite). I hate natural gas. ITS WAY WAY too expensive and getting worse every year. Its terrible. Good luck.
  2. a. The gas company should be able to tell you how it works unless they have a bunch of incompetents working for them. b. It is a good idea to have a gas company technician come and check it out for you and show you how it works. If the smell that you are detecting is stronger in the laundry room than anywhere else then it probably is sewer gases, if not then it probably is from the fireplace. It may have a pilot light that is out and a possible source of the smell. The CO2 detector will not detect natural gas but I definitely put it in the basement when using the fireplace to insure that it is venting properly.