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Why Won’t My Gas Fireplace Light? Can I Fix It?

On cold winter nights, many of us look forward to sitting in front of our fireplace and possibly roasting nuts. But what if, on those days, your gas fireplace just won’t light? It can surely be a buzzkill, as now you have to cancel your plans to sit and warm up. On top of that, now there is a new issue to fix! It might be an unfavorable situation, but you can fix it by identifying the problem. This is why we will mention why your gas fireplace refuses to light up and what to do about it.

Reasons Why Your Gas Fireplace Won’t Light

The gas fireplace is becoming popular among many homeowners. Not only is a gas fireplace energy efficient and safe, but it also provides better indoor air quality. However, sometimes your gas fireplace won’t light up. Many factors are responsible for the ignition failure, like:

  • The batteries on the remote or receiver might be dead.
  • The amount of current running through the electrical wires might trip the circuit breakers or cut their power flow to prevent an overheated circuit.
  • The gas valve is close
  • The gas valve is not in the correct position
  • If your gas fireplace relies on a propane tank, it might fail to deliver gas or not be in the on position.
  • If you use natural gas lines to provide fuel, they might not be working properly.
  • The pilot light might be blown off
  • The pilot light might be unclean due to soot and dirt buildup
  • The thermocouple might be loose or in the wrong position
  • Thermopile might not be working
  • The thermostat is not set properly

Solutions to Light up Your Gas Fireplace

You can try the following steps on troubleshooting your gas fireplace if it doesn’t light up:

  • Firstly, check the main gas valve to see if the gas is on. Gas fireplaces usually don’t light due to the pilot light system.
  • If the gas is on and the fireplace won’t light, it might be because you haven’t lit the pilot in a while. Let the air bleed out for 1 to 3 minutes by holding the pilot button down.
  • Look for debris between the igniter and thermocouple. The spark igniter is a possible culprit behind a gas fireplace that fails to turn on.
  • The thermocouple might be worn out; contacting a professional chimney repair service might help.
  • Lastly, you can try blowing compressed air into the pilot area, take a two-minute break, and try again. Believe it or not, this little trick might help light up the fireplace.

If these steps don’t help, you need help from a professional. They can inspect the chimney and fireplace to root out the problem. Plus, getting professional chimney maintenance every year will help extend the life of your gas fireplace.

What Should I Do?

There are multiple reasons why your gas fireplace won’t light. From insects crawling and dirt buildup to faulty parts of the fireplace, you can detect the issue and get it fixed. Getting a professional for yearly chimney maintenance will help keep your fireplace lit for a long time. Therefore, you can dial (346) 803-2981 to contact our skilled team at Brushers Chimney today.

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