Question about creosote buildup in newer gas fireplaces

I read a report from the Chimney Safety Institute that said even gas units can develop significant creosote deposits, especially if they're venting improperly. Found that out while looking up codes for a job in Albany last month. Anyone else run into this more often lately?

4 comments

4 Comments

davidkim4mo ago

So my fireplace is just lazy too?

felix4144mo ago

Look at my fireplace, it just sits there holding decorative logs like a museum piece. Your fireplace, @davidkim, is probably just waiting for you to do all the work, fetching wood and rolling up newspaper. Mine won't even hold a decent flame without a gas line doing the heavy lifting. They're basically fancy wall holes with a serious motivation problem.

dylan_brown304mo ago

Mine's a decorative hole too, total freeloader.

the_olivia1mo ago

Stop the presses... you're telling me gas fireplaces can get creosote buildup too? I always figured that was a wood-burning problem only, something about the smoke and moisture. So if it's venting wrong, all that gas byproduct just sits in the flue and turns into that sticky tar mess? That honestly blows my mind a little. I've seen friends with those fancy gas inserts and they never even think about cleaning them. Guess they should start.