A gas fireplace flame should be steady, with a well-defined shape that doesn't waver excessively. Typically, it's blue at the base with hints of yellow or orange at the tips, which indicates efficient burning.
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.
A healthy, properly burning flame on gas appliances should be blue in color, sometimes with a tiny tip of yellow, with a little light blue triangle at the center. This blue color flame indicates that there is safe, efficient and more complete fuel combustion.
Signs that carbon monoxide is being produced include:
Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (except fuel-effect fires or fuel-less appliances that display this colour flame)
The little flame you see in your gas fireplace after you have turned it off is called a pilot light. A Standing Pilot Light runs constantly, whether your fireplace is on or off. “It's the middle of summer, why do I feel heat from the front of my fireplace?” “Oh well…it's only a little flame, it's no biggy.”
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.
If you notice an electrical burning smell or an odor of burning gas, turn off your fireplace, open the doors and windows and call for emergency repairs.
Natural gas is mixed with air before reaching the flame, a process known as premixed combustion. This allows the gas to burn clean into mostly carbon dioxide and water vapor. The result is the blue flame you see every time you fire up your stove for cooking.
While a yellow or orange gas flame may give you a clue that there is a potential carbon monoxide problem in your home, that's an exception rather than the rule. This is because carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible gas that you cannot see or smell.
A healthy grill flame may have a little yellow on the tips of the blue flame, but if you're seeing a solid yellow flame, something isn't quite right. Check a few things: Regulator Pressure The most common cause of yellow flames is low gas pressure from the regulator, which is an easy fix that you can do at home.
Leaving the pilot light on consumes more gas, and it doesn't make sense to pay for it when you're not using it. Depending on gas prices in your area, the monthly savings may seem insignificant, but they add up.
A proper flame should be a soft blue (Natural Gas) or blue with slightly yellow tips (LP Gas). If the flames are not the right color, too high or too low, the flame may need to be adjusted. Refer to the installation instructions for directions on adjusting the flame height.
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.
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.
Gas normally burns with a blue flame but sometimes it burns with yellow or red flames when there is a problem.
Quite simply, to make the flame in your gas fireplace or fire pit yellow, reduce the amount of air mixed with the gas.
Yellow or Brown Stains. Appliances that run on combusting fuel should have unobstructed ventilation. If you notice brownish-yellow or soot-like stains around a heater or gas fireplace, there may be combustion issues. This can be a sign of a carbon monoxide risk.
If you have either a gas fireplace insert or a direct vent fireplace, you should be able to leave your fireplace on continuously throughout the day.