6 Reasons Why Your Gas Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit and Their Solutions

A gas fireplace pilot light that refuses to stay lit can be a frustrating issue. This problem often indicates a malfunction within the fireplace’s components.

The pilot light in your gas fireplace might not stay lit due to a faulty thermocouple. This small device senses when the pilot light is on, sending a signal to the gas valve to stay open. If it’s malfunctioning, it could be the reason your pilot light won’t stay lit. This issue is common in various models, including Napoleon and Lennox gas fireplaces.

Releasing the knob of your gas fireplace only to find the pilot light extinguishing is a common problem. This could be due to a dirty pilot tube. Over time, the pilot tube can get clogged with debris, preventing the gas from reaching the pilot light. Cleaning the pilot tube might solve this issue.

Valor gas fireplaces are not immune to these issues either. A faulty thermopile could be the culprit here. The thermopile generates electricity when heated by the pilot light, which it uses to open the gas valve. If it’s not working correctly, it might not generate enough electricity, causing the pilot light to go out.

If your gas fireplace won’t stay lit but the pilot stays on, it could indicate a problem with the gas valve or the gas pressure. Low gas pressure might not provide enough fuel for the fireplace to stay lit, while a faulty gas valve might not release enough gas.

Why Gas Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit and Their Solutions

The main purpose of a pilot light is to provide the flame needed to ignite the gas coming from the main burner. When the fireplace is Turned on, a valve releases gas into the burner and the pilot light ignites it.

This pilot light may not be on for various reasons. But whatever the reason, the effect is a problem, which needs to be found and solved. However, in most cases, the solution is as simple and affordable as reviving the pilot light or re-lighting it.

1. Check Your Pilot Flame

A proper or healthy pilot flame will be much blue and sharp. The flame will germinate sideways and should be directly in your thermocouple and thermopile sensor. The unhealthy yellow flame will germinate directly into the air and may not always bind your sensors.

If the pilot’s flame is not right and healthy, it will not affect the thermocouple or thermopile. As a result, a pilot will not burn out after the pilot stops pressing the knot. If your pilot light is bad, you can clean your current with a wire brush. It is relatively cheap.

If desired you can replace the pilot assembly or the office and hood. To clean it, you need to separate the pilot assembly, take out the pilot orifice, and clean everything with compressed air and a wire brush with a pilot hood.

2. Check the Thermocouple

If your pilot flame is working, your thermocouple sensor may be damaged. The thermocouple is a safety device, its job is to control the gas supply in the place of a heated fire. When it stops working, the fireplace pilot light goes off, and the fireplace doesn’t work either.

To keep your home warm all year round, check your thermocouple and take the necessary steps to keep the fireplace active.

3. Check the Burner

The burner is under the pilot light and thermocouple. It has numerous small holes that allow gas to flow toward the pilot. These tiny holes easily get dirty from carbon or close. If it’s bad or clogged, you won’t get a blue flame. Blow out the jets, or try an air compressor to clean the burner with soap and water.

4. Drip Loop

Excess moisture can enter your gas line, causing you to damage the pilot light. To check this, you need to look at your gas meter and see if there is a section of capped pipe below it.

The drip loop is designed in such a way that it can retain excess moisture or concentration just to avoid the problem you are facing. It is even part of his design that drip loops make it possible to overflow by keeping the gas line sensitive to moisture.

All you have to do is, if you see it overflow, open the cap using a pipe wrench, and drain if there is any liquid.

5. Check the Gas Valve

It should be a relatively complex process and all the last steps. You should try all other possible solutions first. Although it is very rare for a gas valve to malfunction, it can happen. If you have tried all the other solutions and nothing works, you will replace the gas valve.

6. Check the Gas Pressure

Manometers are used to measure the flow of gas through the fireplace gas valve. If the gas pressure in it is not set correctly or is set incorrectly, there will be no continuity in the gas supply. As a result, your fireplace may lose its light.

If it is or is out of balance, the technician can get it back in order. If you have a manometer, and you know how to use it, you can easily do it yourself. Otherwise, you should call a plumber.

(Warning: This task is not very easy, as a gas valve is a heavier-duty material than a smaller thermocouple. We recommend calling a professional plumber to assist with this type of installation. In this work, you have to be extremely careful. Because this work is done directly with gas, if you do not feel comfortable, do not do it. Especially if you smell gas, of course not. Gas is flammable and hazardous, so consult a professional contractor to get the job done.)

Gas Fireplace Pilot Light Always on, What Should It Be?

This is a relative question. Some say yes, and others say no. The arguments behind it vary greatly from person to person. That means you have to find the answer yourself.

Yes, It Should Be!

1. You can’t be sure if your fireplace is still working after a while if the fireplace pilot light is off.

2. Sometimes if you feel cold at night, you can easily light the fireplace without re-lighting the pilot.

3. If you keep your pilot lights off for long periods, some of the gas molecules in the tubes give off an extra pleasant odor that attracts spiders.

This will cause the spider to weave a web and disable the pilot lighting system, which can then create permanent problems in the fireplace.

No, It Shouldn’t Be!

1. When the pilot lights in your fireplace are off, it helps you save money and save energy, albeit slightly. When you use gas continuously to keep the pilot running, you have to calculate the additional cost per month, and if you are using propane, this cost can be multiplied. This will seem normally unnecessary to you.

2. When the weather outside is hot, the inside of the house also feels a bit warm. Although the pilot light is small, it generates a small amount of heat and touches the glass door of the fireplace. As a homeowner, you don’t want extra heat, where looking for air conditioning indoors.

3. When only a pilot light is on for a long time without turning on your fireplace’s main burner, a white sulfur-based film will develop inside the glass that is harmful to the fireplace glass.

To know more, you can read this article.

FAQs

Why won’t the gas fireplace pilot light stay lit when I release the knob?

This issue often arises due to a dirty pilot tube. Over time, debris can clog the pilot tube, preventing the gas from reaching the pilot light. Cleaning the pilot tube may resolve this problem.

What could be the reason if the gas fireplace won’t stay lit but the pilot stays on?

This could indicate a problem with the gas valve or the gas pressure. Low gas pressure might not provide enough fuel for the fireplace to stay lit, while a faulty gas valve might not release enough gas.

How can I clean the thermocouple on my gas fireplace?

To clean the thermocouple, turn off the gas and remove the thermocouple from the pilot assembly. Use a piece of fine steel wool or emery cloth to gently clean the thermocouple, then reassemble and test the fireplace.

Why does my gas fireplace go out after a few minutes?

This could be due to a faulty thermocouple or thermopile. These components sense the pilot light and control the gas valve. If they’re not working correctly, they might shut off the gas supply prematurely.

Are there common issues with Valor gas fireplaces’ pilot lights not staying lit?

Yes, Valor gas fireplaces can also experience issues with the pilot light not staying lit. A common cause is a faulty thermopile, which generates electricity to open the gas valve. If it’s not working correctly, the pilot light may go out.

Can Napoleon gas fireplaces have issues with the pilot light not staying lit?

Yes, Napoleon gas fireplaces can have this issue. It’s often due to a malfunctioning thermocouple, which senses the pilot light and signals the gas valve to stay open.

Is it common for Lennox gas fireplaces to have issues with the pilot light not staying lit?

Yes, it’s a common issue with Lennox gas fireplaces as well. The problem often lies with the thermocouple. If it’s faulty, it may not correctly signal the gas valve, causing the pilot light to go out.

Conclusion

One of the most common problems is that the gas fireplace pilot light won’t stay lit. The pilot light for a gas fireplace is the small flame in the front of the unit that ignites and burns continuously to provide a heat source.

When you have an issue with your pilot light or it won’t stay lit, there are some things you can do about it. Make sure your chimney has been cleaned out before winter arrives so no ash builds up inside and blocks off ventilation.