Truly, nothing can beat the warm ambiance of a real fire. Gas fireplaces have long been the go-to for most modern homes. They look significantly better than electric ones, they are safer and less work to maintain than a wood-burning fireplace. Occasionally something goes wrong and you’ll notice your gas fireplace not working. You may be questioning yourself and asking “why is my fireplace not working”? So what caused it, and what should you do about it? We’ll cover a few common causes so you can get a better understanding of what’s going on with your fireplace.
Pilot Light Issues
Creating a fire in a gas fireplace needs two things, a steady supply of gas, and a pilot light. If either of these systems are interrupted you will not get a fire in your fireplace. The pilot light is a common fireplace issue because it is uses a small tube. Often people turn their pilot light off for the summer; when you turn it back on you may need to let air escape before you get any gas. Hold down the pilot button for 1-3 minutes to let the air out. Make sure to stop if you smell gas! Then let the gas in the air dissipate before trying to turn the fireplace on again.
Igniter Issues
If you have gas coming out of your pilot pipe, but still no flame when trying to light it, the igniter is likely the problem. Igniters wear out over time and require replacement by a service professional to get it back running again. Sometimes, however, there may be small bits of dust and debris that are hindering the system from connecting. You can try blowing compressed air into the space between the igniter and the thermocouple, waiting a few minutes and trying again.
Gas Issues
The last place to check is the gas. Go outside and make sure your gas valve is on. If your fireplace is the only appliance in your home run by gas, you may have shut off the intake valve when the fireplace was not in use. Ensure this is open so your fireplace has access to its fuel source.
If these troubleshooting steps don’t resolve your issue, and you still find your fireplace not working it’s time to bring in the professionals; there are other issues that may be causing your fireplace problems. We recommend not digging into your fireplace issues beyond your skill level, as you may end up inadvertently causing a bigger problem than what you had in the first place. That’s why we’re here to help!
CampbellCare’s highly trained professionals understand the mechanics of a fireplace, and they know how to fix it. So if you have a problem you don’t understand, get in touch with us. We’d be happy to send a service person out to you right away.
