OT: Heat from gas fireplace

[bdgan]

I have a 20 year old home with gas fireplace in the master bedroom. When the home was new we would turn on the fireplace and could only leave it on for 30 minutes or so because the room would get too hot. Now the fireplace works fine but throws of very little heat.

I asked a guy at a fireplace store and he recommended a good cleaning. A guy came out, took a look at it and said it didn't need to be cleaned. I asked why no heat and he said that after a number of years they don't generate as many BTUs. That makes no sense to me because the flame height and color hasn't changed. Wouldn't the heat be the same?

Any thoughts? The only thing I can think of is that the heat is going out the chimney (up slightly then exiting the house horizontally). Do those vents have flappers that might be stuck in the open position?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[chipb]

Had similar problem...seems like you have a fan/blower that isn't working (nice glowing flame but heat isn't being pushed out into room).

 

[psuro]

I have a 20 year old home with gas fireplace in the master bedroom. When the home was new we would turn on the fireplace and could only leave it on for 30 minutes or so because the room would get too hot. Now the fireplace works fine but throws of very little heat.

I asked a guy at a fireplace store and he recommended a good cleaning. A guy came out, took a look at it and said it didn't need to be cleaned. I asked why no heat and he said that after a number of years they don't generate as many BTUs. That makes no sense to me because the flame height and color hasn't changed. Wouldn't the heat be the same?

Any thoughts? The only thing I can think of is that the heat is going out the chimney (up slightly then exiting the house horizontally). Do those vents have flappers that might be stuck in the open position?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Check the blower.

 

[Osprey Lion]

I have a 20 year old home with gas fireplace in the master bedroom. When the home was new we would turn on the fireplace and could only leave it on for 30 minutes or so because the room would get too hot. Now the fireplace works fine but throws of very little heat.

I asked a guy at a fireplace store and he recommended a good cleaning. A guy came out, took a look at it and said it didn't need to be cleaned. I asked why no heat and he said that after a number of years they don't generate as many BTUs. That makes no sense to me because the flame height and color hasn't changed. Wouldn't the heat be the same?

Any thoughts? The only thing I can think of is that the heat is going out the chimney (up slightly then exiting the house horizontally). Do those vents have flappers that might be stuck in the open position?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

What is a fireplace and why would anyone want heat in their bedroom?

 

[Blueblood4eva]

Check the wife's temperature. Many are not as hot twenty years later.......could be the blower, too.

 

[bdgan]

Check the blower.

It's definitely blowing air. I can see it spinning and I can reach under the unit and feel where it pushes air up behind the firewall. I couldn't say if it's as powerful as it once was.

 

[massimoManca II]

Check the wife's temperature. Many are not as hot twenty years later.......could be the blower, too.

They tend to stop blowing after twenty years

 

[MtNittany]

Put some butter on it.

 

[Ranger Dan]

They tend to stop blowing after twenty years

Pretty much nonexistent after the wedding....

 

[hereforthebeer]

Did you happen to switch from propane (LP) to natural gas?

 

[Woodpecker]

They tend to stop blowing after twenty years

Check the liquor

 

[bdgan]

Did you happen to switch from propane (LP) to natural gas?

No. All natural gas.

 

[Fac]

They tend to stop blowing after twenty years

Twenty? try 1.

 

[psuro]

Twenty? try 1.

I have had a few wives, and they still enjoy blowing.

 

[PSULuis]

Check the blower.

Blower? I barely knew her!

I'm here all week!

 

[lionlurker]

I have had a few wives, and they still enjoy blowing.

I'd agree with that.

 

[hereforthebeer]

I think your diagnosis is probably right. Too much heat being drawn up the vent. The units don't wear out. What's to wear out? It's a metal ring with holes in it and an igniter. Time to break out the old toolbox. These are simple devices. Make sure the damper/flue is functioning properly. I would get a CO2 detector for your room in case you close them up too much. If it goes off, vacate the room, crack a window, open the venting up a bit more, and try again.

How ballsy/adventurous are you? Alternative ideas (some not for the faint of heart):

1: Gas lines are supposed to have a sediment trap below each appliance. Google to see what these look like. Bleed the lines and check if it's full. Maybe your gas flow is restricted by a full sediment trap and you're forgetting what the flame actually used to look like. Don't forget to look up how to properly reinstall the sediment trap or to use soap and water to check for leaks.

2: Check the regulator. Most gas appliances and lines on natural gas run at about 7 wc. Is your regulator restricting your flow too much? This would affect your btu's. Check the fireplace. Does the recommended wc (gas line pressure) match up with the reading on the regulator?

3: Is there a way to manually switch your fireplace unit regulator from lp (propane) to ng (natural gas) did it get switched? This affects gas flow. Some units have this capability.

Have fun. All things are possible with google and YouTube. Most people are terrified of working on the gas systems they rely on in their own home, but they're incredibly simple.