How to Light Your Pilot Light

When you have a gas fireplace installed, the technician will probably light the pilot light and get everything up and running for you.  However, the pilot light can be blown out if there are heavy winds sweeping down the chimney.  If you've never had to re-light it yourself, you may be wondering what to do.  Here's the lowdown:

1. Lighting the pilot is pretty much the same process with all gas stoves: depress the ON/OFF/PILOT knob slightly and turn it to the PILOT setting.
2. Next, push in on the same knob with one thumb while clicking the piezo igniter button repeatedly with the other until the pilot lights (the thumb pressure holds the gasline open until the pilot flame can heat up the thermopile, so you need to keep the knob depressed for about 45 seconds, so the thermopile has time to start generating before you can let go of the thumb pressure). If the pilot goes out when you remove your thumb, it means the thermopile didn't heat up enough to hold the gas line open, so wait a couple of minutes and repeat the process until the pilot stays lit with your thumb removed.
3. Once the pilot remains lit when you stop depressing the knob, turn the knob to the ON position.
4. Now you can light the burners with the manual switch, thermostat, or remote control unit.

Source: Sweep's Library

Comments

[WALTER IRBY]

I have a remote control gas fireplace and pilot light won't stay on. I can light it and wait 2-3 minutes but when I let go it goes out. Do you think it has to do with the remote? I have a switch box for the remote and have tried to light in the off position , but still doesn't work. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[John Nobrega]

Pilot light won't stay on after I release my thumb. Apparently, the thermopile is defective. What can I do???
Thank you.

[Nikki]

Hello,
I recently bought my first home ( a foreclosure property) and I have a gas fireplace that I have no idea hwo to work. It has fire crystals in it and a gas ( hole) on the right lower side of the wall next to the fireplace. Question: I have been trying to figure out how to light the pilot, hot to operate the ignitor switch, manual burner) but truth is I don;t know where to find these items let alone operate them. Is there anywhere where I can find a fireplace illustration that gives a general idea of where these fetures are normally found. NAy help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Frank D'Ambrosio]

I recently bought a home that has a gas fireplace that I have no idea how to work. It has an electric thermostat on the wall next to the fireplace. Question: I have been trying to figure out how to light the pilot, how to operate the ignitor switch, manual burner) but truth is I don;t know where to find these items let alone operate them. Is there anywhere where I can find a fireplace illustration that gives a general idea of where these fetures are normally found. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Larry]

During the summer months when the a/c is on I close the flue and turn the pilot light off..My wife can not sit in our family room as she says "it smells like the chimney"..the pilot stays lit all winter and even without a fire we never really have this odor problem..I'm guessing this has something to do with the cold air exchange? Do I keep the pilot lit for the summer months and if I do then what about the flue? Is it safe to keep closed so we don't have the warm air rushing inside and will this get rid of the chimney problem? I did have my chimney sweeped four years ago when I converted over from a wood burning fireplace to a gas. Help!!

[Fay]

We have a Imperial Gas Carousel fireplace with remote. We finally got the pilot to light but the furance will not turn on. Then the pilot light went out. Any suggestions or do you know where I can get a manual? Any help would be appreciated.

[Stefan Schreier]

Thank you for the above instructions. I recently bought a house with a gas fireplace and I have no idea how to work it. The fireplace has no name or model number on it so I can't look it up. It does have knob on a rod that says "pilot, on , off". I have read a lot of these instructions on the internet and they all say "piezo igniter, red button, switch, thermostat, remote control".My fireplace has no red button, piezo igniter, switch, thermostat or remote control. It does have a hearthmaster valve on the floor near the fireplace. Can you tell me how light my fireplace? Thank you.

[larry]

i have a hearthmaster gas fireplace and hve no idea how to operate it. i dont know how to find a pilot or anything else can you tell me how

[b]

I am able to get my pilot light to stay on. When I turn the knob to "on", the pilot goes out. Any help out there? thanks.

[LB]

We had that problem Larry. We had to have someone come in and clean the unit. Apparently some corrosion, possibly from dampness (Pacific Northwest climate). After the cleaning, the pilot light would go on and stay on.

[Kate]

Am I supposed to keep the pilot light on all the time with a gas fireplace? I used to have a propane fireplace where the pilot light stayed on all the time, but moved to an apartment and the maintenance guy said I wouldn't want to keep it lit all the time.

[Kelly]

Thank you so much! I followed exactly what you said and it worked. I already had planned for a ameri gas guy to come to the house and relight it for me and they told me it would be 90 bucks just to do that. But thanks to your site I got it working! I'm canceling the appointment!

[Ollie]

I have been having issues for a while with the pilot light. every time it's blown out it's been hit and miss and spent a lot of angry moments in front of the fireplace! The initial pilot light was very yellow which is apparently due to not enough air getting into the gas to mix. Got a straw and blew hard all around the pilot light mechanism, tried again and pilot very blue and within seconds managed to get the light to stay on. hope this helps some of you guys out.

[jamie]

I have gas fireplace but it doe't have any knobs or switches under the front panel. I don't know how ti ignite the pilot light. If there is no switches or knobs to work with then how you ignite it. please help

[Doug Lindsay]

I have a Hearthmaster gas fireplace. It turns on via an electrical light switch mounted on the wall next to it. I have used it several times this year but starting a week or so ago it wouldn't turn on. The pilot light is still on. It did this a few years ago and I opened the gas jet under the floor a little with some pliesr and it started working again, but that is having no effect this time.

[Jason Turnbaugh]

I wish I could see the responses to the questions above and my questions would probably be answered. I just bought a forclosed home with a gas fireplace that I do not know anything about. I have turned on the gas and I have opened the bottom and found the ignighter button. I see the lighting instructions above but where do I look for the pilot flame? Do you have site that shows pictures?

Thanks

[Carol Conrad]

I have followed all instructions, but I can't get the pilot to ignite. There is a spark, but it doesn't ignite. Help.

Thanks

[Dee]

Do all hearthmaster fireplaces have pilot lights. I have looked at mine and cannot find a pilot light anywhere on the gas fireplace.

[smt]

i am able to get my pilot light to stay on. When I turn the knob to "on", the pilot goes out. Any help out there? thanks.

[reda roach]

i have followed all instructions, but i can't get the pilot to ignite. there is a spark, but it doesn't ignite.

[Don F.]

I have a gas fire place and it will sometimes the flame will go on and off by itself, is this normal or is their a problem, I don't think it has a thermostat? I keep the pipes clean and have the gas all the way up.

[Ravi]

Very useful post. Thanks for the detailed instructions on switching on the pilot light and fireplace. My pilot light is off and I was trying to figure out how is that going to work. It worked great for me.

[Don]

There are a lot of great questions listed here. I have some of the same questions, Where are the answers?

[steve the dispatcher]

I am a dispatcher for a plumbing and gas company and i see alot of people here with fireplace trouble. there are so many variations of fireplaces that most are unique but for the most part all are the same in the operation. Legaly i cannot tell you how to fix it, but what i can say is this. These are gas operated and potential of explosion is very strong! if you dont know what you are doing or dont know what is wrong,turn the gas valve to the off position and call a qualified tech. trust me on this. i have seen way too many "accidents" involving gas fireplaces. it will cost you up to $117 bucks for a tech but the worries will be over and you will be safe and dont forget, like a furnace, it too needs to be serviced every year.

[Marcio W.]

Thank you! I have a Hearthmaster gas fireplace and was able make it work following the instructions above. Here's what I did:
1. Open the Gas Valve (usually on the side of the fireplace or on the floor) using the Gas Valve Key.
2. Followed the instructions in this article. In my case, the ON/OFF/PILOT knob is inside the fireplace on the right side, the piezo igniter button is on the left and the pilot is close to the ON/OFF/PILOT knob.

Good luck!