Take care of this essential cleaning task before you run out of gas
Gas fireplaces are quite low-maintenance compared to their wood-burning counterparts. But that doesn’t mean they’re entirely maintenance-free. Each year, your gas fireplace needs a thorough inspection by a professional, and you’ll also need to clean it occasionally (the more you use it, the more you need to clean it to keep it running smoothly and looking tidy). Reference our gas fireplace maintenance tips if you’re not sure how to take care of your gas logs.
Ready to learn how to clean a gas fireplace? You’ll just need a few tools and supplies, an hour to spare, and a little elbow grease.
First things first: Turn off the gas. You’ll be taking apart the gas fireplace, so it’s crucial for your safety that you turn off the pilot light before you begin. Give it some time (up to 30 minutes to be safe) to cool down after turning it off. If it’s still hot to the touch when you begin cleaning, you could burn yourself or ruin your cleaning supplies.
Pro Tip: While waiting for the pilot light to cool, you can start gathering your supplies. Lay out your towels and drop cloth or head to the hardware store to pick up your fireplace glass cleaner.
Remove the glass panel or glass door at the front of the gas fireplace. It likely has spring clips on the bottom and top—start with the bottom clips first. Then, while supporting the bottom, unclip the top.
If you’re not sure how to remove the glass, take a look at your owner’s manual. Keep this book handy as you disassemble—and later reassemble—your gas logs.
Once the glass is off, lay it on a clean, soft surface, like a towel or drop cloth. Working outside is extra beneficial: You don’t have to worry about getting dust and soot all over your house, and the grass offers extra cushioning under the glass.
Only use a fireplace glass cleaner to spray down the glass. You can purchase this for under $10 at a local hardware store. For less tough soot stains, you may be able to use a vinegar and water mixture.
Spray down the glass and wipe up the soot and dust with a clean cloth. Then flip the glass over and repeat the process. (The side of the glass that’s not directly against the flames should be cleaner.)
Next, remove the logs as directed by the owner’s manual. You’ll likely need a screwdriver to disassemble the pieces.
Take the logs outside or set them on a towel in the basement or a workroom. Use a can of compressed air to blow off any dust, then gently brush the logs with a soft-bristle paintbrush. The goal is to brush away any dust or soot that has accumulated on the logs.
Closely inspect the logs as you clean them. If you notice cracks or intense burn marks, it may be time to replace them. Fireplace manufacturers typically sell replacement logs on their websites.
Pro Tip: Before taking everything apart, take a photo of the assembled logs to reference when you’re putting them back together.
This is an optional step, but some homeowners prefer to remove the lava rocks at the base of their gas logs to give them a good cleaning. (Alternatively, you can simply replace the rocks every few years as they discolor.)
To clean them, scoop them into a bucket. Wear gloves for this part so your hands don’t get covered in soot. Carry the bucket to a laundry sink or outdoor hose and pour the rocks into a colander. (But don’t use the colander you cook with!)
Hold the colander over the bucket and spray down the rocks, letting the bucket catch the water. At first, the water will be black and sooty. As you rinse the rocks, the water will become clearer; that’s how you know they’re clean enough.
Lay the rocks out on a towel to dry and dump the bucket water directly into an outdoor drain.
Head back inside to vacuum out the interior of the firebox. Attach the wand to the end of the vacuum hose to suck up cobwebs, dead bugs, dust, pet hair, and any other debris.
If you choose to skip cleaning the lava rocks and they’re small enough to get sucked up by the vacuum hose, you can attach cheesecloth to the tip using a rubber band. This will allow you to suck up dust and small debris without disturbing the rocks.
Moisten a clean cloth and wipe down any exterior metal or stone surfaces. Take a dry, microfiber cloth and wipe any dust off the louvers.
Once everything is dry, reassemble the fireplace in reverse order, referencing the owner’s manual and your own photos as needed. Turn the pilot light back on and test the fireplace to ensure it’s still operable.
Now that you know how to clean a gas fireplace, let’s focus on what else you should do each time you bust out the compressed air and cheesecloth.
It’s a good idea to check the exterior vents for blockages every time you clean your gas fireplace. Over time, debris and other blockages can keep the vent from doing its job: venting toxic fumes out of your home.
Professionals can do a more thorough investigation and cleaning of the vent during their annual fireplace inspection, but doing a visual inspection on your own throughout the year is helpful.
If you see any blockages in the vents and can clear them yourself, do so. Otherwise, call a local fireplace cleaner to tackle the problem.
Having a gas fireplace is convenient—but it also puts you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you don’t have operable detectors. Test your carbon monoxide detectors regularly, including every time you clean your gas fireplace. Replace the batteries if needed.
Here’s how to test your smoke and CO detectors at the same time.
If you control your gas fireplace using a remote, make sure the batteries have plenty of life in them. Place spare batteries in a drawer in the same room as the fireplace, just in case the remote batteries die and you need to quickly turn off the gas logs.
Deep cleaning sessions for your gas fireplace aren’t a picnic, and you probably want to figure out how to keep your gas fireplace clean longer. Here are a few simple tips to follow:
Do regular light cleanings: Dust the fireplace and surrounding area frequently to prevent buildup. This will help minimize the frequency of intensive cleaning sessions.
Don’t neglect in the off season: Be sure to perform your regular light cleaning even in the off season when you’re not using your fireplace often. This prevents dust from building up.
Use high-quality gas: Opt for high-quality gas to reduce residue and soot.
Check and clean vents: Ensure vents and flues are clear of obstructions to maintain proper airflow.
Schedule annual inspections: Have a professional inspect and clean your fireplace annually.
Clean glass doors: Regularly clean the glass doors with a suitable cleaner to prevent cloudiness.
These steps will help maintain the cleanliness and efficiency of your gas fireplace so that you can enjoy its lovely flames for years to come.
Cleaning your gas fireplace is an approachable DIY project that shouldn’t take more than an hour. If you don’t use your gas fireplace too often, you can probably clean it once or twice a year. But if it gets regular use, clean it every month, especially during the winter.
While you can clean your gas fireplace by yourself, you should still get an annual fireplace inspection by a trusted gas fireplace company near you to make sure everything’s running smoothly.
Yes, a gas fireplace needs to be cleaned at least once or twice a year—more often if you use yours regularly. Though gas fireplaces are lower-maintenance than other types of fireplaces, such as wood-burning fireplaces, they still require regular cleaning for safe operation. Without cleaning, the glass will begin to blacken, and soot buildup could clog vents and make your fireplace less effective.
How often you should clean your gas fireplace depends on how often you use it. At the very least, clean it every summer before you head into the cold season (this is also a good time to schedule your fireplace inspection). But if you use your gas fireplace regularly—or just like to keep a tidy home—you can clean your gas logs as frequently as once a month. And if your gas fireplace vents through the chimney, don’t forget to have it cleaned regularly. Here’s how often to clean a chimney to keep it operating safely.
You should not use Windex or any other ammonia-based glass cleaners when cleaning the glass doors or glass front panel of a gas fireplace. Instead, remove the glass and lay it on a soft surface, like a drop cloth or towel. Then clean it using a specialty fireplace glass cleaner purchased at a hardware store or online. If the glass is relatively clean, you can get away with a vinegar and water solution, but tougher stains will require a specialized cleaner.
