Gas Fireplace Remote Not Working

Safety notes before you start

A remote problem is rarely dangerous, but the remote does start a gas appliance, so a few rules apply.

• SIT's Proflame 2 transmitter instructions warn that the fireplace can turn on suddenly, so keep away from the burner while you use the remote.
• If the remote malfunctions, for example the fireplace turns on by itself or won't turn off, SIT's instructions say to switch the control off with its main ON/OFF switch. Then call a technician.
• Change batteries only with the fireplace off and cool. Valor's H4 manual says to turn it off, pilot included, let it cool, and never pry batteries out with a screwdriver or other metal object.
• If you smell gas or a CO alarm sounds, leave the home and call 911 or your gas company from outside. See our gas smell and CO alarm page.

Why the remote stops working, in the order a technician checks

Remote systems have parts that all need power: the handset, the receiver inside the fireplace, and often a battery holder or backup box. A technician checks each part, then the link between them.

• Handset batteries. A battery icon on the screen, or a screen that doesn't light, means new batteries. Regency notes that heat from the fireplace drains low-quality batteries fast.
• Receiver power. On Proflame 2 systems, Regency says the receiver plugs into a standard outlet and has a battery backup box that takes four AA batteries. An outlet without power or flat backup batteries can stop it.
• A locked keypad. SIT's Proflame 2 transmitter instructions describe a key lock: pressing MODE and the up arrow together locks the buttons and shows a lock icon, and pressing the same two keys unlocks them.
• Lost pairing. If the receiver doesn't beep when you press the power button, and everything has power, Regency says the handset and receiver may have become unpaired.
• Range and interference. Valor's manual says its handset should be within 15 feet of the fireplace. SIT notes that a receiver in or near metal can lose range, and Enviro's G39 manual warns that another remote nearby may interfere.
• Settings on the fireplace. Enviro's C34 manual lists an on/off switch at OFF, a gas control at PILOT or OFF, or a pilot that went out as reasons the remote does nothing.
• Heat or a failed part. SIT rates its handset for 32°F to 122°F, and Valor says not to leave the handset on the mantel or hearth. A handset, receiver or control module can also simply fail.

Remote checks you can do safely

These follow the manufacturers' owner instructions. Don't touch wiring or gas parts while you work through them.

• Replace the handset batteries, then the receiver or battery-holder batteries, with fresh, good-quality batteries facing the right way.
• Check the fireplace's own switch. Valor's manual says the ON/OFF switch, if your fireplace has one, must be in the ON position.
• Look for a lock icon on the screen and unlock the keypad if you see one.
• Stand within 15 feet of the fireplace with nothing metal in between, and make sure no other fireplace remote is in use nearby.
• Press the power button and listen. Regency says the receiver should beep once, with the fire lighting 4 to 8 seconds later.
• Re-pair only if your owner's manual gives the steps. For Proflame 2, Regency's steps are to press and hold the black reset button on the receiver until it beeps 3 times, then turn the remote off and on again; 3 more beeps confirm the pairing. Do this with the fireplace off and cool, and leave the wiring alone.

When the remote system needs repair

If fresh batteries, power and pairing don't bring the remote back, a licensed Massachusetts gas fitter tests the system part by part. They check the voltage at the receiver and battery holder, whether commands reach the control module, and the wiring between the receiver and the gas valve.

The repair may be a new receiver, control module or handset that matches your fireplace's control system, followed by pairing and testing. Owner's manuals name the exact parts; the parts list in Enviro's G39 manual, for example, gives its Proflame 2 remote a part number. Our fireplace remote and control repair page explains this work.

Booking a remote repair

Book our $99 gas fireplace safety inspection and a licensed Massachusetts gas fitter checks the remote along with the rest of the fireplace: a full inspection, a gas leak check, wiring and controls, a safety check and a maintenance check. One price covers every gas fireplace in your home, cleaning is extra, and your $99 is credited toward any repair.

We offer same- or next-day visits, Sunday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, in 2-hour arrival windows. Book a visit online and we confirm by phone or email, or call 617-915-2647. Keep the handset handy for the technician.

If the problem isn't the remote

If the fireplace misbehaves from every control, one of these pages fits better.

• The fireplace won't turn on from any control: start with power, the gas supply and the pilot.
• It turns on, then shuts off: thermostat mode or a weak sensor may be the cause.
• The pilot lights but the burner doesn't: check the flame setting and thermostat mode.
• Getting ready for the season? Read our guide to starting a gas fireplace after summer.