Do You Need to Clean Your Chimney If You Have a Gas Insert?

Jan 28, 2025

If you’ve upgraded your fireplace with a gas insert, you might be wondering, “Do I still need to have my chimney cleaned?” It’s a fair question. Gas inserts are known for being low-maintenance and cleaner than wood-burning fireplaces, but they’re not maintenance-free. 

Let’s break it down and explain why chimney cleaning is still an important part of keeping your home safe and your system working well.

How Gas Inserts Work

Gas inserts are designed to fit into an existing fireplace and are vented through the chimney. Unlike wood-burning fireplaces, they burn natural gas or propane, producing far less soot and ash. That’s why many people assume the chimney is in no need of attention. While it’s true that gas inserts create less mess, they still generate byproducts like moisture and a small amount of carbon soot, which can accumulate over time.

The Hidden Issues Inside Your Chimney

Over time, even a gas-burning fireplace can leave behind buildup inside the flue. This might not seem like a big deal, but here’s where things get tricky.

Debris from the Outside

Your chimney is open to the elements, which means leaves, twigs, and even bird nests can end up inside. These blockages can interfere with ventilation, leading to poor airflow and potentially dangerous situations like carbon monoxide buildup.

Moisture Damage

Gas fireplaces produce moisture as part of the combustion process. This moisture can combine with small amounts of soot in the chimney, creating a corrosive residue that eats away at the flue lining. Over time, this can compromise the chimney’s structure, especially if it’s not regularly checked.

Wear and Tear

If your chimney has gone years without being inspected or cleaned, there might be cracks, gaps, or other issues in the lining or masonry that need attention. These problems don’t go away just because you’ve switched to a gas insert.

How Regular Cleaning Helps

Getting your chimney cleaned isn’t just about removing debris or buildup—it’s also a chance to have a professional inspect your system. A chimney sweep can spot potential problems early, like damage to the flue or improper ventilation, before they turn into costly repairs or safety hazards. Plus, clearing out any blockages makes sure that your gas insert can operate as efficiently as possible.

What Happens During a Chimney Cleaning?

If you’ve never had a chimney cleaned with a gas insert, you might wonder what the process looks like. It’s not as messy or complicated as you might think. 

Here’s what usually happens:

  • The technician will inspect the entire chimney system, including the flue and venting.
  • They’ll check for buildup, debris, or damage that could affect performance.
  • Any soot or residue will be safely removed using specialized tools.

The result is peace of mind knowing your system is in good shape.

How Often Should You Clean Your Chimney with a Gas Insert?

The general rule of thumb is to have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year, even with a gas insert. If you use your fireplace frequently, or if you notice unusual odors or issues like poor ventilation, it’s worth scheduling a service sooner.

A clean chimney means a safer home! Let our professionals at Chimney Clean Company, Inc. take care of your chimney needs with expert cleaning and inspections. Schedule your appointment today to learn more.

We clean your chimney before it becomes a danger to your home

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Smoking back

There are many fireplaces that seem to smoke back into the house no matter what is done. In our experience, the most common cause is that the fireplace simply needs to be cleaned. This is especially likely if the fireplace has gotten worse over time, that is, the smoking back is worse now than it used to be.

Several other possible causes of smoking back are problems with the damper, chimney cap, grate, firewood, or structural problems with the chimney itself. At Chimney Clean Company, we do a full inspection with every cleaning, or we can also do just the inspection if the chimney doesn’t need to be cleaned. This inspection is designed to reveal any causes of smoking back.

Broken chimneys

In the Bay Area, many chimneys were broken in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Usually, these chimneys are broken at or near the roof line, although sometimes they can be broken further down, even at the ground level.

We are fully licensed masonry contractors. We rebuild broken chimneys. If they are broken at the roof line, this usually entails taking the chimney part of the way down brick by brick, installing steel reinforcing bars, getting an inspection from a city inspector, then rebuilding the chimney back up around the steel rebar.

Missing mortar or damaged bricks

Over time, many chimneys develop places that are missing mortar between bricks, or damaged bricks, either inside the firebox or on the outside of the chimney. These areas can usually be repaired, either by replacing the missing mortar or replacing the bricks themselves. Items such as these can be dangerous because they can allow flames, sparks or hot gases to enter the structure of the house.

Water entry

Sometimes the metal that seals the chimney at the roof, called “flashing”, will come loose or develop leaks. In this case, water sometimes comes into the ceiling of the room and causes water spots and stains on the sheet rock. This flashing should be repaired before the water causes more damage.