Gas Fireplace Pilot Light and Ignition Repair in Boston

Signs of a pilot or ignition problem

Book a visit if you notice any of these:

• The pilot won't stay lit, or goes out as soon as you release the gas knob.
• The igniter clicks or sparks, but the pilot never catches.
• The pilot is lit, but the fireplace won't light.
• The fire lights, then turns off after a few minutes.
• The burner takes longer to light than it used to, lights with a whoosh, or lights on only some of its ports.
• The pilot flame looks small, weak or lifted instead of wrapping around the sensor next to it.

How fireplace ignition works

Gas fireplaces light in one of two ways. A standing pilot burns continuously and heats a thermocouple or thermopile next to it. That heat is the signal the gas valve needs to stay open. One manual describes a flame-sensing probe that blocks gas flow whenever it's cool, so the gas shuts off if the pilot goes out.

Electronic ignition lights the pilot only when you turn the fireplace on, using a spark from an ignition module, and then lights the burner from it. Turn the fireplace off and the pilot goes out too. One such manual says plainly not to try lighting the pilot by hand.

Some electronic systems add a continuous-pilot mode for cold weather. One manual explains that this mode keeps the pilot lit between fires but turns it off after about seven days without use. A pilot that's out when you come back from a week away may be working as designed.

Either way, the pilot flame has to be big enough to wrap around its sensor and reach the burner. Manuals list that among the checks for a qualified technician.

Ignition parts we check and fix

We work through the ignition sequence in the order the fireplace runs it: power and controls, then the spark or pilot flame, then flame sensing, then the gas valve and burner. The repair depends on where the sequence stops.

When a part needs replacing, it must match what the manufacturer lists for your model. One manual specifies its own fast-acting thermocouple and says to replace it only with that part.

The parts we repair or replace include:

• Thermocouples, thermopiles and flame sensors that no longer sense the pilot because of buildup or wear. Removing that buildup is part of the yearly service one manual describes; see gas fireplace maintenance.
• Pilot assemblies with a weak, lifting or misdirected flame that doesn't reach the sensor or the burner.
• Igniters, electrodes and ignition modules that click without lighting or don't spark at all.
• Wiring and connections between the valve, the ignition module and the switch or receiver.
• Gas control valves that won't open to the pilot or the burner, covered in the next section.

Gas valve diagnosis and repair

The gas control valve lets gas through to the pilot and the burner, and it acts on the signal from the flame sensor. It's a different part from the shutoff valve on the supply line, which is there so the gas can be turned off for service.

Because the sensor and the valve work as one safety system, a pilot that won't stay lit can be a sensing fault or a valve fault. Telling the two apart is a job for a licensed gas fitter, and valve diagnosis is part of this service.

If a control valve does need replacing, the new one has to match your fireplace's model and gas type as the manufacturer lists them. A valve that looks the same from outside isn't proof it's the right one.

One manual is blunt about the gas knob itself: use only your hand to turn it, never tools, and if it won't turn by hand, don't try to repair it. Forcing it risks a fire or explosion.

What you can check before you call

Leave the pilot assembly, valve, burner and wiring to the gas fitter. These owner-level checks come from fireplace manuals:

• Check that the wall switch is on and that the remote and receiver batteries are fresh. Electronic ignition needs power to spark.
• Check whether the gas supply valve to the fireplace is open. If it's closed and you don't know why, leave it closed and call us.
• Read the lighting instructions on the plate or card near the controls. On a standing pilot, follow only those printed steps to relight it.
• After a failed attempt, wait before trying again. One manual's lighting steps call for a five-minute wait so any gas can clear.
• If you smell gas, stop. Leave the house and call 911 or your gas company from outside, then see our gas smell safety page.

How a pilot repair visit works

Book online or call 617-915-2647, and choose a 2-hour window between 8am and 6pm, Sunday through Friday. Online bookings are requests; we confirm by phone or email. Same- or next-day visits are available.

The visit starts with the $99 inspection, which covers every gas fireplace in your home. The gas fitter then finds where the ignition sequence stops and quotes the repair, with your $99 credited toward it.

Ignition parts are matched to the model, so it helps to know your fireplace's model number. Look for the label or card near the controls once the fireplace is cool.

Why ignition work needs a licensed gas fitter

Pilot, valve and ignition repairs mean working inside the gas control system. In Massachusetts that's gas fitting. The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters says repair of gas equipment is work for a licensed plumber or gas fitter, or a trained person they supervise, and permits for gas fitting work go only to licensed plumbers and gas fitters. Every repair we do is carried out by a licensed Massachusetts gas fitter.

Where we repair pilots and ignition systems

We repair pilots and ignition systems in 68 Greater Boston towns, including Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Quincy and Melrose. The service area list shows them all.

For other fireplace faults, see gas fireplace repair, and for remotes and wall switches, remote and control repair.

To get the pilot working again, request a $99 inspection or call 617-915-2647. If the fireplace needs a pilot, ignition or valve repair, the $99 is credited toward it.