CheckItOut Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I don't know if there is a spec somewhere but I flipped the switch on the wall and was writing a few things down and I looked at the FP and no flame. I could hear the gas pretty strong and just as I went to turn the swithch off, poof! Big burst of flame, then normal fire. I cut it off, waited a little and thought I'd count how long before flames were visible... got to 10 then shut the switch off before a fire started. I would think it should start nearly right away but is there a spec somewhere so that I know in the future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bernhardt Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 The number I heard was no more than 4 seconds from a gas fireplace technician but I don't recall why or what the source of the 4 second limit was. Mr. Katen might know he was there too. Chris, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Originally posted by Chris Bernhardt Mr. Katen might know he was there too. Chris, Oregon I hope he knows if he was there or not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheckItOut Posted August 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Originally posted by Chris Bernhardt The number I heard was no more than 4 seconds from a gas fireplace technician but I don't recall why or what the source of the 4 second limit was. Mr. Katen might know he was there too. Chris, Oregon Thanks. Good enough. I kind of like the big flash myself but it may scare some folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Originally posted by Jerry Simon Originally posted by Chris Bernhardt Mr. Katen might know he was there too. Chris, Oregon I hope he knows if he was there or not... Mr. Katen thanks Mr. Simon for the vote of confidence. Yes. Tim Solomon from Tester Fireplaces said that delayed ignition beyond 4 seconds was a problem. But he didn't cite a source. Sounds about right to me. If the ignition is delayed enough to cause a whomp when it ignites, that's a serious problem. Mr. Solomon said that the delayed ignition could be caused by a mis-adjusted burner, spider webs, or a collection of soot (soot indicates problems with the air-gas mixture or with impingement). Delayed ignition can cause an explosion large enough to shatter the glass fronts on those things. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Originally posted by Jim Katen Delayed ignition can cause an explosion large enough to shatter the glass fronts on those things. - Jim Katen, Oregon Hi, Most of the ones I see have a pair of heavy metal flappers with fiberglass seals on the top of the firebox. They're closed and sealed by weight. However, if there's a delayed ignition and a flash, they act like pressure relief valves to allow all of that expanded air to escape the box without shattering the frontglass. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 It takes time for the gas to squeeze out through the sand, vermiculite, and fiberglass insulation "fake ash". I always find the time between gas on & ignition to be about 3-4 seconds. Never really thought about it 'til now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Kubs Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Several models (HEAT-N-GLO® Gem 36 and Gem 42 gas fireplaces) were the subject of a recall a few years ago due to exactly that - gas built up long enough behind the glass that when it ignited the explosion shattered the glass, blowing it out into the room. Download Attachment: Recall_Heat_Glo.pdf 68.95 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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