Troubleshooting Basic Problems of Gas Fireplaces

As a homeowner, you can start the troubleshooting process and may even be able to repair gas fireplace problems yourself.

If you’re asking yourself what would cause a gas fireplace to stop working, you’ll primarily be looking for power, spark, and gas.

Step 1 - Check for Power

The first step in diagnosing your gas fireplace is to make sure it is getting power, if required for the unit.

Not all gas fireplaces rely on electricity to function. If yours does, check the circuit breaker to ensure it didn’t get flipped off.

Step 2 - Address the Pilot Light

Your gas fireplace will contain a pilot light.

However, there are two primary types of pilot lights so it’s essential to know which one your gas fireplace is equipped with--an intermittent or standing pilot system.

You may be able to see the pilot light location through the decorative glass, but you will likely have to remove the decorative glass plate in order to access the service area.

Typically you can remove the glass by pressing the unit up, which releases the bottom of the glass, allowing it to gently swing outward and lower out of place.

The service area is typically located below the firebox and you’ll want to look for the burner assembly inside the log set.

With a standing pilot system you will see a pilot light on/off switch. This allows you to manually light the system.

To do this, turn the knob to the spot labeled ‘pilot’ and push the button in. This allows the gas to flow through the pipes.

Sometimes it takes awhile for the gas to reach the spark, especially if it has been sitting for a long time.

While holding the button in, push the ignition switch. You should hear it clicking. Hopefully it will light. If it does, continue to hold the pilot button for a minute before rotating it over to on.

If your pilot light lights initially but won’t stay on once rotated to the on position, relight it and hold the pilot light in longer until the burner assembly parts have a chance to warm up before moving to the on position.

If it doesn’t light or still refuses to stay lit, check for and remove corrosion around burner assembly components. How do you clean a thermocouple on a gas fireplace? Simply use a green scuff pad or very fine sandpaper to gently wipe away any buildup.

In contrast, an intermittent pilot light system is supposed to light automatically when you turn the fireplace on so not all of these steps will apply to that type of system.

Step 3 - Check for Spark

With either system, check to make sure you’re getting a spark by watching the burner assembly while turning the unit on.

You should see a blue static-like spark in the area of the pilot light.

If you don’t see a spark, check that the ignition module is plugged in. Also try cleaning the parts as outlined above.

Step 4 - Get Gas

If your unit is getting both power and spark, the next phase of the troubleshooting process involves making sure it’s receiving gas.

There is a manual gas shutoff valve inside the service department. Make sure it is in the on position.

For most units, the on position is identified by the valve lining up with the gas lines. If it is perpendicular rather than parallel to the lines, rotate it to the on position.

Step 5 - Replace Parts

If you’ve worked through the process of varying power and gas, but the pilot light still won’t light or remain lit, replace the burner assembly components.

Surprisingly there aren’t that many components to a gas fireplace so when evaluating what causes a gas fireplace not to light, the troubleshooting is pretty basic.

However, if you've tried everything on this list to identify what can go wrong with a gas fireplace then it might be time to call in a professional.