Is the smell from a brand-new gas fireplace normal, and how long does it last?
Yes, a new gas fireplace almost always gives off an odor for the first several fires as factory paint, high-temp coatings, and oils on the metal and logs cure. It usually clears within a handful of burns, roughly the first 10 to 20 hours of use. Open a window, run it, and it fades. If it lingers well past that, call us.
What you're smelling
That first-run odor is the break-in, or curing, smell, and it's expected on every brand we install. High-temperature paint and the protective oils on new steel bake off the first time the firebox gets hot, and the binders in fresh ceramic or refractory logs cook out along with them. You may also see a light film or haze on the glass during those early burns. None of it is a defect. It's a new appliance doing exactly what a new appliance does the first few times it heats up.
How long, and how to move it along
Plan on the first few fires, or somewhere around 10 to 20 cumulative hours, for the smell to burn itself out. You can speed it up: run the unit with a window cracked and a ceiling fan moving air, and let each of the first burns run a little longer than the last so the coatings fully cure. Only wipe the glass when it's cool and per your manual. The odor drops off steadily and won't come back once the break-in is done.
When new-unit smell isn't the break-in
A rotten-egg smell is never break-in. That's the odorant in the gas warning you of a possible leak, so leave and call from outside. And if a strong chemical smell or visible soot hangs on well past that first 10 to 20 hours, that points to setup rather than curing: flame adjustment, orifice, or venting. On our installs we run the unit through its first burn with you and verify draft and combustion before we leave, so you know what's normal and what isn't. Call (828) 545-0525 with any concern.
Related questions
- Is the break-in smell from a new fireplace harmful to breathe?
- Why does my gas fireplace smell when it's running?
- Why does my gas fireplace smell like burning dust at the start of the season?
- Do vented gas logs normally have a slight smell?
- Can a gas fireplace give you a headache?
- Do gas fireplaces affect indoor air quality?
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