Does The Pilot Light Always Stay On In A Gas Fireplace?

Should the pilot light always be on in a gas fireplace? 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.If you have a continuous pilot light system, you should always see a pilot flame unless you have manually turned the system off.

Do you leave fireplace pilot light on?

If you leave the pilot light on for long periods without turning on the main burner, a white film can develop on the glass. This is a sulfur byproduct of the burning pilot, and if left uncleaned, it can etch the glass. For natural gas, I’d leave it on. If it’s propane, I’d turn it off and take the risk.

How long do I hold the pilot light on my gas fireplace?

Hold the pilot button down for about 20 seconds to give the thermocouple time to heat up, then release it. The pilot should stay lit, but if it doesn’t, relight it and hold the button a little longer.

Do you turn off gas fireplace pilot?

We recommend that you turn off your gas fireplace pilot light seasonally. Turning off your gas fireplace’s pilot light can save a substantial amount of energy and money.So, if you see the word “pilot” written on the knob, you know that you have a “standing” or “always on” pilot light.

Are gas fireplaces supposed to stay on?

However, the standing pilot light (the flame that’s always on) only needs to be running when you intend to use the gas fireplace, typically throughout the winter months, as gas fireplaces, including the standing polit light, can be turned off for much of the year when you don’t need it.

What happens if the pilot light goes out on a gas fireplace?

If your pilot light repeatedly goes out, this is a likely culprit. If this flame sensor should fail, gas will continue to flow even after the pilot light has been extinguished, causing a safety hazard, and requiring immediate repair.

Should I turn off the pilot light on my gas fireplace in the summer?

Your Utility Bill
Perhaps the most important reason to turn off gas fireplace pilot light in summer is because of the money and energy you will be saving. If you leave the pilot light on during the summer it is simply sitting there burning gas, which is wasting gas and contributing to an exorbitant energy bill.

How big should the pilot light be on a gas fireplace?

A pilot flame should be blue with a yellow tip and strong enough to cover 1/2 inch at the end of the thermocouple tip. If the flame is too strong and adjusted wrong, it will be noisy and cause improper furnace operation.

What does it mean when your pilot light won’t stay lit?

thermocouple
If your pilot light won’t stay alight, it might be the thermocouple. Sometimes dust buildup collects on the thermocouple and blocks the sensor. Try cleaning the thermocouple and then relighting the pilot light. If it continues to go out, the thermocouple might need to be replaced.

What causes delayed ignition in a gas fireplace?

But if you want to learn the lingo, delayed ignition can be caused by: Too much primary air— Primary air is the air mixed with the gas before it’s ignited.Too little gas at the burners—Like too much air, not enough gas makes it hard for the gas-air mixture to ignite.

Will gas leak if pilot light is off?

If the pilot light goes out on a storage or instantaneous hot water heater, space heater or a ducted heater, you will not have a gas leak. This is because all modern gas appliances with pilot lights have a fail-safe device that closes off the gas to the appliance in the case when the pilot may go out.

Do gas fireplaces have a pilot light?

Gas fireplaces have traditionally used a standing pilot light to ignite the flames. Because that system does not use external electricity, the fireplace works if the power goes out. Newer generations of gas fireplaces use an electronic ignition system, requiring electricity to start up.

Does a pilot light use a lot of gas?

How much gas does a pilot light use?Most pilot lights consume around 600 BTUs of gas every hour. If you leave your pilot light on for an entire day, it would roughly consume 14,400 BTU’s every day.

Do gas fireplaces shut off automatically?

Nearly every new gas fireplace comes equipped with safety features such as a 100% fail-safe shut-off valve. If the pilot flame goes out, the gas flow will automatically turn off.This device automatically shuts the gas off if the temperature in the fireplace gets too cold or if too much carbon monoxide builds up.

How much heat does a pilot light give off?

Just how much gas does a pilot light consume? Most pilot lights will consume about 600 BTU’s of gas/hour. With 24 hours in a day, that’s roughly 14,400/BTU’s each day.

How much does it cost to keep pilot light on fireplace?

The average fuel consumption of your standing Pilot light is: Natural gas is $0.60 a day = $219 a year. Liquid Propane is $1.80 a day = $657 a year. Sophisticated fireplace manufactures like Travis Industries have developed Intermittent pilot light systems.

Is it OK to turn off pilot light?

Turning off the pilot lights on gas fireplaces and furnaces when not in regular use can save energy and money.Your furnace only uses a small amount of gas to power the pilot light. Turning the pilot light off, only saves a few dollars each month. If you don’t mind spending a few cents a day, don’t mess with it.

Can a pilot light be too high?

A: There is a way to control the height of the pilot light flame.The pilot flame should touch the thermocouple at a specific level. If the flame is blue and weak, and barely reaches the thermocouple, it needs to be stronger. If it extends well above the thermocouple, it’s too strong.

What color should pilot light be on gas fireplace?

blue
The color of the pilot light should be blue because that means that only natural gas—without any other condensates—is reaching the pilot light through the gas main. The principal chemical compound found in natural gas is methane, and methane burns blue.

What should my pilot light look like?

Inspecting a Gas Furnace Pilot Light Flame
A natural gas flame should be a bright blue color with a small amount of yellow at the very tip. A propane flame will have more of a bluish-green flame with a tinge of yellow at the tip. The flame should strong enough to cover about 1/2 inch at the end of the thermocouple tip.

How long do you hold a pilot light?

Continue to hold it in the “Pilot” position for approximately 30 to 45 seconds before releasing and turning to the “On” position. If the pilot does not stay lit, repeat the process, but this time hold the button or knob in “Pilot” position for a few seconds longer, up to one full minute.