Which gas fireplace do you have?

Glass-front (direct vent)

A sealed box with a glass face that pulls combustion air from outside and vents it back out. The most common type in Scottsdale homes. Common repairs: pilot and thermocouple, igniter, glass gasket, and remote receiver.

Open fireplace with gas logs

A traditional open fireplace with a vented log set. It looks the most like a wood fire. Common work: new log sets, burners and embers, and sooty or uneven flames.

Linear and frameless

Wide, modern units built into a wall, popular in newer homes and remodels. Common work: installation, ignition boards and remotes.

See-through and outdoor

Two-sided units between rooms, patio fireplaces and gas fire pits. Outdoor units take the most dust and sun, so igniters and burners wear out sooner.

How each type vents

Direct-vent units pull outside air in and push exhaust out through a two-layer pipe, usually through the wall or roof. Vented gas logs rely on the open chimney, so the damper must stay open whenever they burn. Vent-free units send no exhaust outside at all; we do not recommend them for rooms people sleep in, and many homeowners notice the moisture and smell.

What goes wrong most often

• Glass-front: pilot and thermocouple faults, a failed igniter, and a dead battery pack or remote receiver.
• Gas logs: soot from logs that were moved out of position, and burner ports clogged with dust.
• Linear: control boards and remotes, since most start electronically.
• Outdoor: igniters and burners worn by sun, dust and monsoon rain.

Quick way to tell

• A sealed glass front you cannot open without tools: direct vent.
• An open firebox with a damper and a log set: vented gas logs.
• A wide, short flame opening built into the wall: linear.
• Glass on both sides, or it is outside: see-through or outdoor.

Not sure? Send a photo when you book, or ask during the free inspection.