gas fireplace problem

[mazdarotary]

Hey guys,



Well it has been a little cool around here the last day or so,and my wife asked me to turn on the gas fireplace tonight. Well I had the gas off during the summer,and now the fireplace doesn't want to work. The problem seems to be with the pilot,but I am not sure. We moved into the house a little over a year ago,and I have turned the fireplace on before with no trouble.



What I have been trying is turning the knob to the pilot setting,and holding in the knob while pushing the start button. The pilot lights after a push or two,and as long as I hold the knob in the pilot stays lit. It seems as though the pilot isn't as bright as I remember it in the past,and like I said it goes out as soon as I let off the knob. When I try to turn the knob to the ON position while the pilot is going I can't turn it unless I release the knob,and when I do that the pilot goes out. Any help would be appreciated. I can't afford to pay anyone to fix this,and I would like to get it fixed myself. Thanks in advance.





Chris

 

[HOBrian]

The pilot light has to be lit for a certain amount of time before you can move the knob. Think of your water heater, it should be the same procedure.

If the flame is not as bright as it use to be it may no be making enough heat to produce the required millamps(sp?) to let you turn the knob without the flame going out.

Hope this helped

 

[mazdarotary]

Thanks for the reply. I have had the knob pushed in with the pilot going for 5+ minutes,and still no luck. I don't have a water heater like that,but I do have a similar system in my camper,and I know I am doing it right,but the pilot seems weak. Anymore help?



Chris

 

[Jim Smith]

spider webs blocking the gas flow. Push a small wire into the orifice and that might clean it out. sometimes spiders like to near gas.

 

[PToombs]

Does it have a thermocouple? When the one on the hot water heater or furnace goes bad, they act just like that.

 

[mgoncalves]

HVAC contractor here. You need to replace the thermocouple, and clean the pilot orifice and pilot hood assembly. If you're not comfortable with that, call someone and tell them that's what you want done.



Real simple, and takes me 10 minutes max.