Should gas fireplace pilot light stay lit?
Leaving the gas on keeps this compound moving out of the tubes. Keeping the pilot light on will also keep moisture out of the unit and in turn, help prevent corrosion. As you can see, it’s probably best in most cases to extinguish the pilot light in your gas fireplace during the months when you don’t need heat.
What kind of pilot light does a gas fireplace use?
Most gas fireplaces rely on a “continuous pilot light,” a type of pilot that remains lit so long as gas is flowing to the unit. Some newer, more energy-efficient models rely on an electronic ignition that only lights the pilot when the fireplace itself is turned on. Electronic ignition fireplaces rely on battery backup or electricity to operate.
What does it mean when your gas fireplace wont stay lit?
Your pilot should be about 90 percent blue, with very little yellow. It should also be touching the surrounding sensors such as the thermocouple and thermopile. If the color of the flame turns yellow or red, it’s a sign of gas contamination. So you’ve checked your pilot light and even reset it, but still, it wont stay lit.
What happens when you turn the gas fireplace pilot off?
No heat is being generated by the pilot so the glass door on your fireplace will not be warm to the touch. Just one less thing to worry about when it is HOT out. With the pilot off, there are still trace amounts of gas molecules in the burner and pilot tubes of your fireplace.
What should the flame be on a gas fireplace?
Apart from your pilot being lit, the flame must stay a steady blue. Your pilot should be about 90 percent blue, with very little yellow. It should also be touching the surrounding sensors such as the thermocouple and thermopile.
Why do you need a pilot light in a gas fireplace?
This continuous flame is necessary to light large burners such as those found in gas fireplaces. When the fireplace or propane heater is turned on, the pilot light serves as an ignition source for the larger sweep of gas released from the burner. It also provides the energy necessary to open and close certain gas valves during startup.
What to do if your gas fireplace light does not stay lit?
After cleaning, should the pilot light still not stay lit, it is probably time to get new equipment. Take out the faulty thermocouple and thermopile and replace them with new ones.
Apart from your pilot being lit, the flame must stay a steady blue. Your pilot should be about 90 percent blue, with very little yellow. It should also be touching the surrounding sensors such as the thermocouple and thermopile.
How does the thermocouple work on a gas fireplace?
The thermocouple is a small metal sensor or rod that is situated directly in front of the pilot light. It’s designed to determine whether the pilot light is lit and then subsequently signals the gas valve to open.
