Fireplace Pilot Went Out
A standing pilot is a small flame that stays on all the time in your fireplace.
When you flip the switch on the wall or push your remote button it sparks the thermopile which connects with the pilot and the burner comes on. High winds can blow a pilot out. We here in Colorado have 17% air added to our gas lines to keep a flame going. So to restart the pilot in high altitude is a little different than at sea level.
Have a long lighter handy. Turn you knob to PILOT while pushing the knob in and using the log lighter to light the pilot. Sometimes you may have to hold the lighter to the pilot for up to 1 minute to get it to stay lit. Once it is lit continue holding in the knob. Slowly let the knob come back out, if pilot stays lit then turn the knob to ON. If pilot goes out, try again. If that doesn’t work you may have to call a professional fireplace person.
* NOT ALL FIREPLACES HAVE THE SAME PILOT SYSTEM AS SHOWN ABOVE. CHECK OUT YOUTUBE IF YOU WANT A STEP BY STEP VIDEO OF THE PROCESS FOR YOUR FIREPLACE BRAND, JUST ADJUST FOR HIGH ALTITUDE*
Gas Logs- Changing Out Batteries
Most of the new gas logs, or converted to remote gas logs are run by batteries that require changing periodically.
Batteries do not turn off when the fireplace is not in use. Haven’t you picked up a flashlight or your child a toy that you haven’t used in a while and it doesn’t work. This is the same concept. So the first thing to do to troubleshoot a non-working set of gas logs is to change the battery in both the remote and the receiver.
The remote talks to the receiver which is laying in the side of the firebox, or under it depending on the valve system you have. This is a thick black box that holds 4-AA batteries. The lid slides off by placing two thumbs on the arrow and pushing in the direction it says.
* YOU MUST KEEP DOORS OPEN WHEN LOGS ARE ON. IF YOU DON’T THE BLACK MODULE BOX WILL MELT*
Pellet Stove - Basic Issues
Pellet stoves combine electricity and wood pellets for a long-lasting efficient way to heat your home.
If you are having issues with clogged augers and an abundance of smoke, you might check your pellets. A damp pellet will continue to feed and drop half-burned pellets, create smoke(dry pellets produce very little smoke), and may eventually clog the auger. With damp pellets, you do not get a clean burn and there is a lot more ash adhering to your flue pipe. You will find you need to clean out your pellet pipe more often.
Damp pellets are hard to spot since they look dry and are usually mixed with dry ones. Even though they are sealed in plastic, they may have not been completely dry from the manufacturer. How you store them can also create moisture to wick to the pellets.
*DO NOT STORE PELLET BAGS DIRECTLY ON THE CONCRETE. KEEP THEM ELEVATED OFF OF THE FLOOR AT ALL TIMES*
Replacing Batteries On A Gas Fireplace
Gas fireplaces that work on a remote and not just a switch on a wall, may need the batteries changed if it is not lighting. Remotes work as a relay between the receiver and the remote to complete the circuit to the control valve to turn on the fireplace burner. Remember to change out both the remote and battery receiver first. This is just the first step, and if that doesn’t resolve the issue, a professional will need to be called in to diagnose the problem. The receiver is located under the fireplace behind the louvers.
Wood Top Down Lighting
If you have a wood fireplace or stove(as shown here), it is important to use the top-down wood lighting method. This will heat the flue and prevent a backdraft of smoke from coming into your home.
Wood fireplaces use air from your home to fuel the fireplace, that is why it’s important to heat the flue as fast as possible.
Place kindling, fatwood( resinous remains of dried pine kindling), or as shown, rolled newspaper at the top of your stack for a quick hot burn that will create a good draft of air.
*CLOSING FIREPLACE DOORS FOR A FEW MINUTES WILL HEAT THE FLUE AT A MUCH FASTER RATE*