Wait five minutes with the knob on OFF, then turn it to PILOT. Hold it in, press the igniter until the pilot lights, hold 30 seconds more, then turn to ON. If you smell gas, do not light it: leave and call your gas utility.
If you have a gas fireplace, you should know the safest way to start it, and what to do first if you smell gas.
I’ll cover two different methods which you will use depending on the model you have.
Before starting, I want you to know that it’s a lot easier than starting a wood-burning fireplace.
Let’s start with the first method:
How to Light a Gas Fireplace Using The Control Panel
📍 Note: If you smell gas at any point, do not light the fireplace. Leave the house right away without switching lights or appliances on or off, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside or a neighbor’s home. If your fireplace has a damper or flue, open it fully before lighting. Sealed direct-vent units have none, so follow your manual.
Step 1: Locate the control panel
The control panel is usually located behind the fireplace’s front screen which you can easily open without screwdrivers.
You will see “on“, “off“, and “pilot” positions on the control knob.
Step 2: Turn to the OFF position
Turn the knob position to the OFF if it isn’t already positioned like that.
You should now wait for at least 5 minutes to allow all the gasses to fully clear out.
If you still smell gas after five minutes, do not try to light it again. Leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside, as in the note above.
Get matched with a local HVAC technician
Networx matches you with vetted pros near you. Free, no obligation.
Step 3: Align the gas shut-off valve
Most modern fireplaces come with a shutoff valve which gives you more control over the gas output.
You should move it to make it parallel to the gas line which will allow the gas to enter the fireplace.
Step 4: Move to the “Pilot” position
The same control knob you twisted to the OFF position, you now need to twist to the Pilot position.
The pilot is a small flame that lights the main burner.
Step 5: Hit the control knob and ignition
In this step you light the pilot flame in your fireplace.
Push the control knob in and hold it down. While holding it, press the ignition button (usually red) several times until the pilot lights.
Keep the knob pushed in for about 30 seconds after the pilot lights, then let go. If the pilot goes out, wait five minutes and start again.
Step 6: Twist to the ON position
Once the pilot has burned for a few minutes, push in and turn the control knob to the ON position.
The main burner then lights, and on many models you can control the flame from a remote.
If the fireplace did not light, go back to Step 2, including the five-minute wait. If it will not stay lit after a couple of tries, turn the knob to OFF and call a technician.
Now, let’s talk about another method to light a gas fireplace.
Lighting A Gas Fireplace Using A Key
There are some gas fireplaces that use a metal key to start the flames and gas flow – follow the steps below if you have one.
Step 1: Remove the outer cover, so you can ignite the pilot light. Most of them are made of glass, so be careful how you put them down.
Step 2: Put the fireplace metal key into the gas valve knob, but don’t turn it on because you first need to prepare the lighter.
Step 3: Hold a lit long-neck lighter or match right next to the burner, with your hand well back from the burner and the glass.
Step 4: Turn the gas valve knob with the key counter-clockwise, slowly, and the flame should catch from the lighter. If it does not light within a few seconds, turn the gas off and wait five minutes before you try again.
Step 5: Once the flame is burning steadily, put the outer cover back.
You can control the flames with a gas valve key, so twist it counter-clockwise if you want to increase the flames or clockwise if you want to decrease them.
Why You Can’t Start Your Gas Fireplace
There could be a ton of reasons why you can’t start your gas fireplace.
It might be due to a step done out of order, or to a fault in the fireplace itself.
Here are some of the most common problems:
- Clogged burner plate – it prevents gas from transitioning to pilot light.
- Worn-out thermocouple – you will recognize it if your pilot light shuts off a couple of seconds after you turned it on.
- Damaged thermopiles – they create electricity and if they’re damaged, you will probably have to buy a new thermopile.
As I said earlier, there could be tons of other reasons – these are just the most common ones.
However, I would recommend always hiring a professional if you can’t start your gas fireplace.
If you successfully started your gas fireplace after reading our guide, you should share it with your friends and family and help them prepare for cold days.
Content writer from Croatia. Dominic studies Information Science at the University of Sarajevo, which helps him research and organize his work.
