Flame touches gas inlet pipe

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
  • Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving!
  • Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here

Adbox1001

New Member
Jan 14, 2020
1
San Francisco, CA
First time using the gas fireplace in a condo. Got it lit, but I noticed that the flames lick the gas inlet pipe. Is that safe?

[Hearth.com] Flame touches gas inlet pipe
 

Attachments

  • [Hearth.com] Flame touches gas inlet pipe
    2C6BC737-360E-4E0B-AEA7-E7C108301661.webp
    57.5 KB · Views: 254
I don't know what appliance you have, but I would say that is not normal. Is this Natural Gas or Propane?
Is the tubing copper, aluminum or steel? Does it have two main burners? I don't see an air shutter / intake or much of a mixing tube on the burner.
Vented or unvented?

Are the flames blue down at the burner where they light at each hole in the burner tube?
Log placement is critical in all gas log sets. Flames should not touch logs or anything above them. That is called flame impingement. The heat is given up from the flame tips depositing carbon in the form of soot on logs or anything they touch. Installation manual will give log placement to prevent flame contact.

Gas burns with a blue flame when mixed with air properly, such as on a range top, oven or gas grill. When burned to resemble a wood fire it is detuned to burn richer with yellow flames above the blue. The blue is hotter and should burn off contaminates in the air created by the yellow flame tips.
Be sure the air intake on main burner tube is open and clean, some are adjustable. When open, enough air should mix creating the blue flame, then close just enough to produce yellow tips. It should not be yellow right down to the burner. Could be the photo not showing the proper color.