The flame of a gas fireplace should ideally have a predominantly blue color. A blue flame indicates complete combustion, with optimal oxygen levels. On the other hand, a yellow flame can be a sign of incomplete combustion. This can lead to potential hazards and reduced efficiency.
you always want to see a blue color flame. A gas flame appearing yellow or orange in color or behaving with pops of yellow or orange indicates an improper ratio of oxygen for combustion. Often this improper combustion is temporary and could be caused by dust particles or a dirty burner that needs cleaning.
Turn your pilot on CPI and leave it there. Try turning on the unit tonight and see if that solved the issue. Once you have air circulation (air in & air out) that should allow the flame to burn, turning from blue to yellow in about 10 minutes but never lifting off burner. If that does not fix it, call your dealer.
Open it and bluer flames, close it some and more yellow flames. Close it too far and you will get a dirty sooty burn. It should have a set screw, loosen and adjust (close) in 1/8'' increments for more natural yellow. Close it too far and the logs, firebox and air will get sooty (bad).
Natural gas and propane are hydrocarbons. They create the color blue when they burn. Household gas appliances should always have a blue flame because it denotes a clean, safe, and efficient burn.
Blue Flame Means Safe Burning
It means that the gas is completely combusting, and no carbon monoxide is being generated. This means that the flame is safe. It is worth periodically inspecting any gas-burning device to check the color of its flame and make sure that it burns blue.
A healthy gas flame will burn steadily with a yellow or orange. If the flame is not yellow or orange it may be a sign that your gas fireplace needs adjusting or cleaning, which should be done by a qualified technician, such as those we have at Kozy Heat.
One of the most common problems faced by homeowners with gas fireplaces is the pilot light going out or not staying lit. The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner, which produces the heat for your fireplace — if the pilot light goes out, your fireplace won't work.
You get a blue gas flame with a hydrocarbon gas when you have enough oxygen for complete combustion. When you do have sufficient oxygen, the gas flame appears blue because complete combustion creates enough energy to excite and ionize the gas molecules in the flame.
You start smelling strange odors
This smell should go away after three to four hours of use. A dirty fireplace with excessive pet hair or dust can also produce an odor. If you smell rotten eggs, call for help immediately, as you likely have a gas leak.
All flames on gas hobs should burn crisp blue. A weak yellow or orange flame should not be present. Dark or sooty staining around gas appliances including gas stoves and chimneys.
Too much primary air can cause a higher-than-normal temperature rise in a combustion system. This happens because an excessive amount of primary air can contribute to an incomplete combustion process, leading to a build-up of heat. This can result in an abnormal increase in temperature within the system.
The amount of ventilation will control the color of the flames. Lowering the air input will adjust the flames and provide the orange and yellow tip to them. Changing the damper or closing the air shutter will allow for different air input and, hopefully, bring the flames back!
There are several ways to increase heat output from your gas fireplace. Some methods include using a fireplace blower to circulate the air, installing a heat exchanger, placing a fireback behind the fireplace to reflect heat, and converting a gas fireplace to a gas insert.
A clogged or faulty burner can cause performance issues resulting in a low gas flame. In addition, carbon build-up, gas residue, and debris can inhibit the burner's ability to function correctly, leading to premature failure. If cleaning the burner doesn't solve the problem, it may need to be replaced.
When you see yellow or red flames, it usually means the gas isn't getting enough oxygen to burn properly, leading to incomplete combustion. This poses several risks: Safety Risks: Incomplete combustion can produce carbon monoxide, a dangerous gas that is particularly hazardous indoors.
The first thing you need to know is that blue is the correct color for a pilot light. The reason that this happens is that methane—the primary chemical compound in natural gas—gives off a blue radiance when it's ignited. You'll probably see a touch of yellow near the tip of the flame, and that's normal.
The yellow flame is indicative of the presence of pure carbon and therefore indicative of incomplete combustion, which means there is likely to be carbon monoxide in there too. A classic high school chemistry demo is to show that a yellow bunsen burner flame blackens glassware with soot while a blue flame doesn't.