Nothing beats sitting with your loved one in front of your fireplace on a cold night at home, whether it’s installed in the wall or on a mantle, chatting about anything and everything.
When your gas fireplace doesn’t remain lit due to wear and tear or poor maintenance, it can be quite a pain.
There’s no need to fear if this happens because the problem might be something that can be solved without the assistance of an expert.
If your fireplace won’t stay lit, try this DIY remedy at home.
Is Your Pilot Light Lit Inside Your Fireplace Before You Start?
When dealing with a fireplace that won’t stay lit, the first thing you should do is make sure your pilot light is burning. You might be surprised to learn that lighting your pilot is the most basic solution.
The pilot is usually found on one side of the fireplace, next to the wall. If you have gas logs, they should be kept on the same side.
The Color of the Pilot Light
The flame must remain a constant blue once your pilot is ignited.
The majority of your pilot should be blue, with only a small amount of yellow. It should also be in contact with nearby sensors like the thermocouple and thermopile. It’s a symptom of gas pollution if the flame becomes yellow or red in hue.
The Fix: Gas Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit
So you’ve double-checked and even reset your pilot light, but it still won’t stay lit. This might indicate that the thermocouple in your fireplace is broken or worn out. If your pilot is lit but your gas fireplace isn’t, the fault is most likely with your thermopile.
- A digital multimeter is required.
- Fine-grit sandpaper made of stainless steel
What Are the Differences Between a Thermocouple and a Thermopile?
The thermocouple, which functions as a gas flow sensor and provides gas to the pilot light via the gas valve, is similar to a gas flow sensor. When the fireplaces are turned on, the thermopile, on the other hand, opens the gas valve.
Although both the thermocouple and the thermopile convert heat to electricity, the thermopile generates a higher electrical current than the thermocouple.
Step 1: Use your Thermopile Output to check the TH/TP Contacts.
The quantity of power produced by your thermopile may be measured using a multimeter using the TH/TP Contacts. Make sure your pilot light has been on for at least two minutes before doing the test, and then turn off your fireplace.
Locate the thermopile sensor on the main gas control valve, then look for the electric contacts labeled TH/TP and TP on the valve. You may find these in your manufacturer’s handbook.
Place one multimeter lead on the TH/TP terminal and the other on the TP terminal using the multimeter leads.
The multimeter should read at least 300 millivolts. If it reads less than 300 millivolts, it’s possible that your gas fireplace won’t work, and you’ll need to replace it.
Identifying a Thermopile Issue
The thermopile, like the thermocouple, may be tested with a multimeter to see whether it’s the source of the problem. A thermopile with a voltage of 300 millivolts or greater is considered satisfactory. If the measurement falls below 300 millivolts, the thermopile must be replaced.
How to Diagnose a Thermocouple Issue
Testing your thermocouple with a multimeter to rule out the chance that it is the cause of your gas fireplaces’ not keeping lit is always a smart idea.
If your thermocouple is still in excellent working order, it should measure 25 millivolts or greater, but if it reads less than that, it has to be replaced.
Step 2: Don’t Immediately Replace Your Thermopile or Thermocouple
It’s only natural that your thermocouple and thermopile would accumulate carbon deposits over time as a result of their operation.
Although it is less expensive to replace both probes, cleaning them first is significantly less expensive.
Step 3: Wash the Thermopile
Turn off the gas supply to swiftly clean your thermopile. Scrub away as much accumulated soot as possible with a stainless steel brush and fine-grit sandpaper.
Step 4: Re-test the freshly cleaned Thermopile.
After you’re satisfied with the appearance of the thermopile, re-ignite the pilot light. Turn off the fireplace after a few minutes and take another reading with the multimeter.
Step 5: If Cleaning Doesn’t Work, Replace
If the pilot light doesn’t stay lit after cleaning, it’s likely time to replace the equipment. Replace the thermocouple and thermopile that are defective with new ones.
Other Causes of a Gas Fireplace Not Staying Lit
Checking for a fault in your thermopile is a simple DIY solution to why your gas fireplace isn’t working, but if the above steps don’t work, you may need to call a technician to fix the problem. Other possible causes, in addition to a malfunctioning thermopile and thermocouple, include:
The gas pressure is incorrect.
You might hire a professional to assist you in making the required changes to your gas fireplace. If the gas pressure is not correctly set, the gas fireplaces will not stay lit.
Gas Valve That Isn’t Working
If your gas fireplace fails, call a professional to get it replaced as soon as possible to avoid a fire.
The Drip Loop’s Moisture
Moisture in the gas line is another probable reason. This is capable of diluting natural gas and turning off the light.
Burner ports that are clogged or dirty
When your burner ports become blocked, the flame becomes uneven and may even go out. Cleaning unclean burner ports on a regular basis may assist in resolving the issue.
Cleaning and proper maintenance are essential
Whether the remedy succeeds or not, good gas fireplace maintenance will save you time and money in the long run by ensuring that your fireplace remains functional.
You can get your gas fireplace gleaming clean again using a hand brush, cloth, and vacuum cleaner.
Proper gas fireplace maintenance can help you avoid problems with your fireplace, such as difficulty keeping it lit.
FAQ Answered
Why does the flame on my gas fireplace keep going out?
The flame on your gas fireplace can go out for a variety of reasons. It could be that the pilot light is malfunctioning, or there's a lack of air in the burner. The best way to make sure your flame stays lit is to close the chimney damper and turn it off for about 10 minutes so all of the excess fuel can burn off.
How do you clean a thermocouple on a gas fireplace?
Cleaning a thermocouple on a gas fireplace is not as difficult as it may seem. The first step is to turn off the gas and disconnect the power source. Next, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all dust from the metal parts of the fireplace. Gently blow air into each metal part of the thermocouple until they sparkle. Finally, wrap each metal part in aluminum foil and gently
