Fireplace Service for Vancouver and Portland Homes
A gas fireplace is one of the easiest ways to take the chill off a damp Pacific Northwest evening, as long as it lights when you need it. Henco installs, repairs, and maintains gas fireplaces and inserts for homeowners in Vancouver, Ridgefield, and across Clark County, plus Portland, Beaverton, and Salem on the Oregon side of the river.
Most fireplace jobs involve more than one trade. The unit needs a safe gas supply, many models need power for the blower or electronic ignition, and the venting has to be sized and sealed correctly. Our licensed HVAC technicians handle the heating, gas line, and electrical work, so you deal with one company from the first call to the final test.
Signs Your Gas Fireplace Needs Repair
Fireplace problems usually start small and get worse once the weather turns cold and the unit runs every night. Call for service if you notice:
- A pilot light that will not stay lit or goes out on its own
- A burner that clicks but will not ignite, or shuts off after a few minutes
- Weak, uneven, or yellow flames, or soot building up on the glass
- A remote, wall switch, or thermostat that no longer controls the unit
- A blower fan that is noisy, slow, or not running at all
- A gas odor near the fireplace
If you smell gas, leave the home right away and call NW Natural or your gas utility from outside. Once the utility clears the area, we can find and fix the cause.
Pilot, Ignition and Blower Repairs
Our technicians test each part of the system instead of guessing. Common repairs include replacing a worn thermocouple or thermopile, cleaning or replacing the pilot assembly, swapping a failed igniter or gas valve, repairing the blower motor, and replacing the remote receiver or wall switch. You get a clear, flat-rate price before any work starts.
New Fireplace and Insert Installation
Adding a new gas fireplace or replacing an outdated unit starts with the room. We look at the square footage, the layout, and where the unit can vent, then recommend a model and heat output that fit the space. Most installs use a direct-vent design that pulls combustion air from outside and keeps the room air clean.
Because we are also plumbers and electricians, we can run or extend the gas line, add the outlet or circuit the unit needs, upgrade the electrical panel if it is short on capacity, and handle the permits and inspections the job requires. Once the fireplace is installed, we light it, check the flame and venting, and show you how to use the controls.
Converting a Wood-Burning Fireplace to Gas
Many homes in older Portland and Vancouver neighborhoods still have open wood-burning fireplaces that send most of their heat up the chimney. Wood burning is also restricted on poor air quality days in Multnomah County and during burn bans issued by the Southwest Clean Air Agency in Clark County. A gas insert fits into the existing firebox, seals the opening, and turns the fireplace into a steady heat source you can start with a switch. We inspect the firebox and chimney first to make sure the conversion is a good fit.
