There are other ways to heat your home during the winter besides using a central heating system. In addition to a furnace or heat pump, you can use a fireplace. There are different types of fireplaces, however. While some of them use wood as their fuel source, others use gas. If you’re thinking about buying a gas fireplace, you should avoid making the following mistakes with it.

#1) Burning Wood

Never burn wood – or other combustible materials for that matter – inside of a gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces aren’t designed to handle wood. Wood fireplaces typically feature a large metal grate at the bottom to separate the wood logs from the ash. Gas fireplaces, on the other hand, lack this grate. Wood fireplaces also have a larger hearth and chimney flue than their gas counterparts.

#2) Arranging Gas Logs Yourself

A common mistake homeowners make when using a gas fireplace is arranging the logs themselves. Gas fireplaces are designed to use gas logs, not wood logs. Unlike with wood logs, though, you can’t just toss them into the hearth. Gas logs must be properly arranged so that the flame can go over and around them. For safety and performance purposes, you should consider a professional gas log service.

#3) Leaving the Damper Closed

Before using a gas fireplace, check to make sure the damper is open. All direct vent fireplaces are connected to the exterior, with many of them using the same chimney flue as wood fireplaces to exhaust gases. If the flue damper is closed, the gases won’t be able to escape your home.

#4) Not Cleaning the Gas Logs

You might be surprised to learn that gas logs require cleaning. Over time, they’ll accumulate dust and soot. Not only will this affect their performance; it can cause them to crack or otherwise damage. Cleaning your gas logs on a regular basis will prevent these problems from occurring. If you aren’t comfortable cleaning the gas logs yourself, you can contact a professional heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) technician.

#5) Overlooking CO Detectors

Don’t make the mistake of overlooking carbon monoxide (CO) detectors when using a gas fireplace. When natural gas is burned, CO is created as a byproduct. Gas fireplaces typically only produce a small amount of CO, which is vented to the exterior. Nonetheless, you should still install CO detectors on each level of your home if you intend on using a gas fireplace.