Gas Fireplace Won't Light?

This video will show you how to troubleshoot your gas fireplace in easy steps to follow. This fireplace hasn't been used in 4 years and the video shows the steps to not only get the pilot light to light and stay lit, but also how to troubleshoot why the main burner won't light.
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00:00 Intro
01:07 Accessing The Gas Ignition Controls
02:52 The Gas Controls
03:13 Getting The Pilot Lit
05:57 Testing The Thermopile
07:15 Jumping The Gas Valve
08:41 Testing The Wall Switch
10:48 Disassembling The Log Set and Cleaning The Thermopile & Pilot Assembly
• Gas Fireplace Won't Li...

[@user-yj3ie7xp4e]

EXcellent instructions for a woman who is a new homeowner with no experience in home repair. I was able to change the switch and get my fireplace working. Very appreciated!!!

[@MikeKlimek]

Way to go Deborah!

[@chrisfuoco5474]

Hey Mike - I used your video to trouble shoot my propane stove. Turns out the pilot would light (sort of) but it wasn't heating the thermopile enough to generate enough electricity to open the gas valve... so using the tips in your video I took the stove apart; cleaned the pilot light, cleaned the thermopile with sandpaper and a wire brush (it went from rusty oxidized colour to nice clean looking steel), then vacuumed out the whole thing. End result, pilot light lit solid blue flame (no more orange) and higher flame height coming out. And the thermopile registered higher milivolts on the multimeter... problem solved, stove works perfectly now! Great job on the video. Thanks for the detailed explanation.

[@MikeKlimek]

Glad it helped you Chris!

[@user-mi6jd4cm1h]

Thanks. Great video. With your help fixed my fireplace in 20 minutes

[@Dontbustthecrust]

Good stuff! I'm in property management. I'm using this to train my team of call center agents. They are all in the Philippines and have never seen a fireplace before.

[@MikeKlimek]

Glad to help you Jake!

[@hittmanmusic]

I love how detailed and simple you made this look. Thank you.

[@MikeKlimek]

You're welcome Daryl!

[@michaelpetty9905]

Thanks video help me restart fireplace after 14 years of no use

[@MikeKlimek]

Way to go Michael!

[@sg8581]

Thanks ! Your video helped fix my fireplace problem.

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome-glad it helped you!

[@user-ul8cr4tu7j]

Thanks Mike. Big help. You got us going before having our Thanksgiving get together.

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome Chris-glad to help!

[@claudiah8199]

Thank you so much! Your video was perfect and helped me to get my fireplace back to working properly.

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome Claudia-glad it helped you!

[@guillec7828]

I followed all your steps and fixed my problem within ten minutes. I had been struggling troubleshooting everything and no luck.

[@gregd4391]

If the pilot light is working, but the fire will not turn on, try checking the wall switch. If the wires are connected to the quick-connect/push-connections, this might be the problem. Remove the wires and connect them to the screw connections.

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome Guille great to hear!

[@samanthapatterson8391]

A and ​@@gregd4391

[@itzmrchan]

Thank you I’m gonna try to fix mine

[@sfperrin]

Great video, it helped me identify the issue I was having. Very much appreciate it!

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome-glad you got it figured out!

[@joseontiveros5271]

Thanks bro also help me too !!!! Thumbs up 👍👍👍

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome Jose!@@joseontiveros5271

[@bishopgeorge1333]

Okay, I'm glad that I came across your video so what if I try the wall switch and that was good, I try the multimeter on the THTP/TP point and that read 470 and those read good so what else can I try I bought a whole pilot assembly waiting to be installed but I want to try all I can before I open the package, oh yeah, I try putting a paper clip on both of the THTP/TP point and that didn't work? The assembly that I have have both the thermopile and the themocouple so I would have to replace both because it come in a assembly

[@xHabsFan10x]

Jumping the gas valve worked, but when I took the switch apart and touch the wires, still nothing happened. Thoughts on where to go next? Seems like maybe I need to replace the wires?

[@MikeKlimek]

Your on the right track, but before you do that make sure the wires are connected to the terminals at the valve. You might need to remove them clean the terminals and wire ends and reinstall.

[@Joseph-xt2qg]

You helped me fix it! Thanks!!

[@MikeKlimek]

You're welcome Joseph!

[@akautocollisionltd.7480]

Thank you..

[@MikeKlimek]

You're welcome!

[@BradleyLindseyJr]

I want to thank you, our fireplace stopped working, never had one of these before nor done work on any of these before, did everything you did and got it working when the switch did nothing. Turns out it’s the thermopile not getting hot enough. After heating it with a lighter it works, we got working heat. Need to figure out why our pilot light is weak to heat the thermopile, we cleaned it but no luck, stays lit but is weak. We plan to replace that part and see if that works so we don’t have to heat the thermopile each time

[@MikeKlimek]

You might just need to vacuum out the pilot. Do you have orange/yellow tips on the ends of the flame?

[@BradleyLindseyJr]

@@MikeKlimek we tried to vacuum it, we have small blue flames, our flames coming out are 1/3rd the size of the ones in your video, solid blue but very small. The flames are to small to properly heat the thermopile

[@MikeKlimek]

OK, sounds like the pilot is good then. Make sure that the gas valve at the wall is open fully, and check to make sure the appliance valve (near the controls) is opened fully.@@BradleyLindseyJr

[@DLDL288]

Thanks for sharing ❤🇺🇸

[@MikeKlimek]

Welcome David!

[@lgreene4628]

Thank you! I watched you video and 3 minutes later my fireplace was working again.

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome Larry-that's great to hear!

[@1dartow]

OMG...I have been messing with this pitot light for an hour. I took a can of compressed air squirted the pilot it for less than a second and it lit on the first push of the igniter. I guess it was cobb webs in the gas for the pilot. Thank you.

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome-glad it helped you!

[@user-dc3qj3dl4u]

The best video quality I have ever seen in one of these help videos. Thanks much. Great information

[@MikeKlimek]

Thank you Tom-glad it helped you!

[@rustycolon9368]

Hey Mike, Why don't you want the pilot light to have any orange tips?

[@MikeKlimek]

Typically means the pilot is starved. Cleaning usually fixes it

[@jee123tube]

Great video, looks like my thermal pile is reading .170.. I'm going to clean it well and see if that improves, but if I need to replace it... where can I find it? Amazon link? TIA

[@dhall9651]

thanks for the video! my switch was bad also so i replaced it. $3 fix

[@MikeKlimek]

$3.00 Cha-Ching!

[@user-tz9ww6oo9m]

Hello Mike - You have some great videos that are very helpful. My question is I have a Skytech 1001 - a remote. It's abut 4 yrs. old and I have replace all the batteries necessary and I won't ignite. I also have a battery pack instead of a plug in unit. I can order the new remote and install that but I am wondering if it might ne a damaged battery pack. I am having problems finding a replacement battery pack. Any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance. Jim

[@MikeKlimek]

Hi Jim, I won't be much help with the Skytech 1001 but there is a lot of options and places to purchase. Here is one: www.fireplaceremotecontrols.com/skytech-mrck-sr-1001-fireplace-remote-control-with-flame-adjustment-for-servo-motor-gas-valves.html

[@jamilrahman2283]

Very helpful video. One question, you mentioned the wall switch is not very high voltage. But from where it gets the power, is it connected to the main switch box of my house ? I saw you worked without turning off the main switch and used bare hand.

[@pauldeserres8169]

No, these are not connected to the main panel as it only works from the small amount of DC power generated by the thermopile.

[@muzical2u]

I haven’t used my fireplace since last Winter. I’ve got the Pilot lit and I’m going to clean it, since I have orange tips. Do I need to disconnect and bypass the remote box to manually light it?

[@seanmulderig9888]

Great explanation and tutorial. My pilot is strong and blue. I have 706 Milivolts at the thermopile. When I try and jump it the burner doesn’t ignite….. Does this mean I have a bad gas valve? Thx! Sean

[@MikeKlimek]

Unfortunately that's about the only thing left

[@user-gh5cg9vg2h]

Thank you for the great video Mike. I tested the thermopile and am getting between 300 to 400 millivolts. I have an Ambient remote that can either run on auto(thermostat mode) or just on off. I see that the transmitter sends the signal to the receiver but does not open the valve. I jumped the valve out with the paperclip and it lights and stays lit. Should I just give the thermopile a good cleaning? The pilot light is blue and seems strong. I let the pilot run year round. Thank You

[@MikeKlimek]

If your reading is 300 I would clean it, if it is 400 it is good...although probably not a bad idea to clean the thermopile. Since you can jump it and the burner lights it would suggest it is a switching problem, but you have a remote instead of a switch. Any issues with your remote?

[@user-gh5cg9vg2h]

I don't think so. I press the on button or off button and I see the receiver light blink meaning it got the signal. I also set the remote on auto and it will not open the valve when calling for heat. Thank You@@MikeKlimek

[@ordon3858]

Yay!! I am woman!! It worked

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome!!!

[@MikeKlimek]

Thanks for watching! Leave any questions or comments below:

[@joshuagallagher5776]

Hey Mike thanks for the video. I’ve been trying to get my gas fireplace to turn on and I’ve tried just about every trick. I can get the pilot light to stay on. But when I switch it to the “on position” it goes out. I tried to replace the thermopile and same story. Any ideas?

[@MikeKlimek]

What is the reading on your thermopile?

[@rjramozii]

6:00 Thank you for this video. I’ve learned my thermopile won’t surpass 145m. Blue flame covered the TP for a while still won’t climb over 145m. This means I need a new thermopile correct?

[@rjramozii]

Also how would I find the correct Thermopile assembly that fits my fireplace? I have a Marco direct-vent gas fireplace model 794153B.

[@MikeKlimek]

Possibly. Before you get a new one, make sure the pilot is all blue and positioned so it envelopes the thermopile. If you add a 2nd flame from a lighter to the thermopile what does it read?

[@BluEyeDevil1]

Mike, sounds like my fireplace is sputtering gas when lighting the pilot, pilot light but goes out after an about a minute. I called a friend and he said let it run and watch the pilot until all air is purged from line..... what do you suggest.

[@MikeKlimek]

It would be unusual that a pilot sputters due to gas flow. Once the gas flows it is usually reliable. Did you test your thermocouple and if so what did it read? What does your pilot look like-all blue or are there any yellow tips on the end?

[@harlanisensee9548]

11/20/23 Mike: Thank you for the info on my fire place. I hadn’t used it since last year because of no lighting. I followed you instructions and found a high resistance in the start Wiring. It lights every time now! Thanks again!

[@MikeKlimek]

Awesome Harlan, glad to hear it!@@harlanisensee9548

[@leonbennett3871]

My 1001 skytech receiver has no learn button

[@anthonyperkins5856]

This is the exact problem im having.

[@BillyEddie1]

What if you don’t have a wall switch and gas isn’t flowing to logs?

[@MikeKlimek]

How do you turn on the fireplace from pilot to burner? Remote?

[@BillyEddie1]

@@MikeKlimek either igniter button or hand held lighter.

[@MikeKlimek]

OK so then it is a gas delivery problem. I assume you have used it before and so you know it has worked in the past. You probably have a key on the wall that you open, but you probably have a 2nd valve at the gas line near the burner. Check to make sure that knob is parallel to the gas pipe.@@BillyEddie1

[@BillyEddie1]

Yes, I used the logs last year with no issues. When the season ended I simply turned the gas off at the key in the wall. That’s it. One valve only, the key one on the wall. No valve on the pipe leading to the logs. I can’t hear the gas flowing.

[@MikeKlimek]

Strange. It has to be either the valve or maybe an obstruction in the line. I would try to isolate the problem. Disconnect the flex line from the gas line and turn the valve. Hear/smell gas? If yes clean out or replace the flex line. If you don't there has to be an issue with the valve.@@BillyEddie1