Easy fix when fireplace insert won't turn on
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- Опубліковано 1 лис 2018
- The pilot light would stay on, but the fire wouldn't turn on when you switched it on. This is a quick and easy way to try and fix without having to buy or replace expensive parts.
- Фільми й анімація
Fireplace repair guy wanted 875 bucks to fix the gas valve switch. We cleaned the thermopile and thermocouple with sand paper and bingo a fireplace that hadn’t worked in years now lit!! Thanks!!!
I am 74 and nervous around gas. My pilot light was lit but changing all the batteries did nothing. I took it all apart like you showed and cleaned the 2 parts and relit the pilot. My fireplace is now working. Thankyou for saving me over $100. for a service call.
It's the year 2O86 and we are still watching your genius, thanks.
😂😂😂you are here from future?how is in 2086 because in 2024 it is so bad😂😂?
I've lived in this house for 14 years. The fireplace never worked right. We had this ritual of flicking the switch on and off until we got lucky and it ignited, or we eventually gave up. This video is exactly what I needed. It's like new. Thank you so so much for making it
That's exactly what I've been doing with mine hahah! I am about to give this video a try as that trick no longer works
Last year my pilot light would come on but the fireplace wouldn't light. I traced it down to a faulty on / off switch. To test the switch I used two alligator clamps and a piece of wire to make a jumper. I placed the jumper across the switch and the fireplace started working. I replaced the switch for only two dollars and it worked fine. This year my pilot light worked ok, but no flame. As it turned out I didn't have the gas valve "completely" in the on position. After addressing this, the fireplace lit and was working OK. Thank you for the video!
Thought it was the wall switch itself or the wire connection. Used a nail file. WORKS! Big thanks!
Three years later and your video still helped this guy. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Great video, good job of showing the parts up close and keeping it simple on how to fix the problem. 👍👍
Thank you so much for this video!!!! I was able to fix my issue following your instructions!! Just saved me another bill for a repair I found out I can do myself!!! Thank you! Thank you!!
I cleaned everything BUT the thermopile. It worked intermittently. I watched your video, cleaned the thermopile and Bob’s your uncle, it works!!! BTW, you are a good teacher. Thank you for the video.
Thank God for UA-cam videos. I tried for 2 days to light my fireplace. Cleaning it did the trick. Thanks so much for sharing🤩
Thanks for being direct and showing exactly which part needs cleaned and why. Themapile
Thanks for posting this fix! Worked like a charm - very much appreciated.
YOU ARE BRILLIANT! I just did the trick with the sand paper and it lit right up! Thank you!!! You are amazing!
I had no clue how to fix this but cleaned out the thermopile and the pilot hood and now it works after a long stretch of erratic starts then eventually nothing. Thank you for the simple video and for the comments. Now to get the fan to work!
Thanks. It worked for me. Amazing what a little cleaning does. Saved me some money too.
Very helpful video! Simply removing the carbon deposits on the thermopile with sandpaper took care of the main burner issue. The voltage between the TP and TPTH terminals jumped from 307mVs to 480mVs after cleaning.
That totally worked. Thank you. I used an Emory board finger nail file to clean that element and its working now. I haven’t used it in 8 years. I’m so excited I didn’t have to pay for a service call. 🤑
Thank you for this fix. Our fireplace is 12 years old and was pretty clean EXCEPT for the thermopilot. My husband sanded it with fine sandpaper, and it works great now. I almost bought an electric replacement wiring kit…GREAT VIDEO! Thanks again.
Great video. I just purchased a house with an older gas insert that didn't work and doing a simple cleaning did the trick.
Great video, fixed my fireplace while the repair man was taking his sweet time.
Followed your instructions and everything then worked fine. Thanks for saving me about $200.
HA!! I am so proud of myself right now!! This fixed my problem, and now we have working gas logs again!! What an easy fix - took all of five minutes! I wonder what a repairman would have charged?? Thank you SO much!! EXACTLY what I needed, without a bunch of extra unnecessary stuff!
Rick Brown , hi ,
Are you into meeting friends , you know , getting to know each other ,
I like you
The key, as stated above, clean the thermopile first, clear the pilot with forced air or compressor, light the pilot (now burning pure blue, no yellow or red as mine was), and turn it on. I fought with this last year and for an hour today until I followed the suggestions to the letter. The thermopile simply won’t turn the gas on with a yellow flame, period.
Exceptional video! This was truly an educational experience easy to follow with excellent instructions. My 22 year old gas fireplace insert had the exact same intermittent problem, today it’s been fixed and it is fully functional thanks to you.
For those who would rather troubleshoot the problem and fix it themselves, this is the video that delivers the perfect outcome. Thanks for sharing your time and expert skills. Cheers
Just got my gas furnace running again thanks to you. Thought it take hundreds in a service call, ended up being three minutes with sandpaper.
THANK YOU!!! That’s what was wrong with mine and now working killer! 👊🙏✌️
I couldn’t find the thermopile but I did give the tea a good scrub and successfully restored the fire in the fireplace. Imagine how much I would have been out of had I called a tech for service
Thank you for the video. Saved me a call to get it fixed
My thermo pile and coupler didn't have a lot of buildup on them, simply cleaning them didn't work. I did notice that the flame was not reaching all the way to the pile. The flame was weak and I could even see that some of the pilot flame was leaking out, having a small flame under the bracket that holds the pilot. My guess was that the pilot hole was partially plugged up. I took the whole pilot assembly out. That means unscrewing where the gas and couple lines are attached to the electrical connections box. Once out I could really clean the pilot holes. In my case it was the inside of the pilot that was full of crud. I used water from the sink, a pin to poke up in there, and a toothbrush.
It took some time, but this is not hard work.
When reassembled the pilot was strong and the flames encircled the pile and coupler with a good blue flame. The wall switch turned on the main burners and all was well. In my home, the gas fireplace keeps the whole up living space pretty warm and the furnace rarely comes on. And this is in 0 degree weather during this freeze we are having.
THANKS FOR THE VIDEO! VERY HELPFUL!
Got my fireplace working. Thanks!
Just a quick thanks. Worked like a charm.
Thanks for the help! Mine just needed some screws loosened for the electrical connections and screwed back down.
Great video. Solved the problem. Thanks!
Just watched this video. The real problem with this fireplace was not a dirty thermopile as proven when it still didn't work. The real problem was the dirty pilot causing a low heat dirty flame, which In turn causes low voltage from the thermopile. Cleaning the thermopile will help slightly but won't fix the problem. This is the the most common mistake made by most techs. They either clean or most often replace the thermopile. This usually only works for a few months. The pilot flame should never be red. The red flame is a dead giveaway that the pilot air mixer is partially clogged and needs to be cleaned out. The easiest way do do this is to shut the pilot off and then with a can of compressed air put the end of the air hose in the pilot hood angling down towards the orifice if you can and give it a short burst of air. About 99 percent of the time This will clean out the pilot and give you a stiffer hotter blue flame, and if your thermopile is good this will increase the millivolts produced by the thermopile much much more than what was done in this video. I've seen techs go as far as to tell a customer they need a new gas valve and pilot assembly for this same problem, then I get a call cause they want a second opinion, and more often then not it's just a dirty pilot. Just like an acetylene torch needs air mixed with the acetylene gas to achieve a hot blue flame, so does a pilot need the proper amount of air mixed with the gas.
I’ve got an issue of no fire but I think it’s not getting power to switch (24v) I didn’t have a tester but no little spark when taking wires off wall switch and touching them together.. I’d be more prepared if wasn’t middle of the night :-/
I thought there’d be a transformer behind the panel on the floor but there’s not. So I’m heading under the house tomorrow (is on a slab) to see if maybe they put it there. Hope to get to the issue by then as it’s pretty chilly 🥶 right now. Thanks for video and got your clarification of this particular cause :)
Thank you for this advice. Our fireplace pilot is yellow flame and so is the fireplace flames. We have a milliamp wall switch. Sometimes it lights sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it goes out. The fireplace is original to when the house was built 50 years ago ! I wanted to convert it from logs to glass but I can see now that this would likely be unsafe due to blocking the pilot and thermo coupler. So I will try some cleaning of both those. A bit disappointed that conversion to glass is impractical but hopefully will have a better working and safer fireplace.
Even new, my pilot light has always been blue at the bottom and yellow the rest but I cleaned out both the thermopile and pilot hood. Still mostly yellow but it works.
Thank you
@@BillMacFeat 24 volts? Most old style fireplaces use millivolts. New models usually work at about 3ish volts. Unless it’s a fp with a hot surface igniter. Then you’ll find a transformer. But it’ll be In The firebox.
@@blueg3027 you’re correct. I come from HVAC background working primarily on old furnaces and after realizing there wasn’t anything else running to the switch I replaced thermopile and voila I got fire.. I was a bit out of my element with this thing for sure but grateful for all the tips on here :)
Worked like a charm. Thanks very much.
Thank you ! You help me fix my fireplace !
Thanks! This did it with a piece of sandpaper. Thanks a lot!
Hi！Thank you for sharing this video to us！It helped me to fix my fireplace！
Easy to setup and install regardless of the type of gas used (natural gas or propane). I highly recommend this product.
Awesome fix !!! Worked for me !!!
TYVM, Who knew it just needed cleaned. I think that no one had ever done it in mine. 10 minute fix.
Thanks. I had the same problem and it is fixed now.
Worked like a charm thanks!
Thank you for posting this video! I did this as you said and just like magic my Quadra fire fired right up and works. Thanks again!
I read some of comments but not all. One poo-pooed this video. Well, I took some sand paper and tried what video said. At first, I didnt even think mine was dirty and also did not think the sandpaper did anything. But on closer inspection, I did see some cleaner spots. So then I went at it it two cylindrical metal areas since both had residue. Went and turned breaker back on, lit the pilot, flipped the switch, came right on. Beautiful. As far as color of pilot flame, blue. Color of fireplace flame, blue with some orange here and there. Not concerned about much right now...I got fire! And a fire place that lights when I hit the switch.
Worked!!! Thanks so much
Did the trick, and very easy to follow your instructions. And a bonus, we have the exact same fireplace! Thank you!
Saved me a bunch !! Thanks
Thank you. Big help!
Thank you this video was a great help.
Ok you solved the problem in less than two minutes but I subscribed anyway. Nice work
Thank you this helped so much
Thank you... that worked for me!
Worked. Thanks!!!
Thank you it really helped out for me👍🏻
worked like a charm thanks
Thank you i will try these fixes.
This worked for me also, thanks
Thank you for the fix
Thanks friend!!
Thank you!
Bingo! Thanks for this.
Thank you! This was super helpful. Now I feel like a rockstar who can fix her own fireplace.
Girl you are a RockStar and today now so am I.😉
In a way this was helpful because it told me there is a sand buildup blocking our gas holes. We scooped some sand up - and presto bingo. Thanks.
This video saved me some money. Excellent. But are thermopiles replaceable?
Thank you it worked
Thank You!
Worked! TY
Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!!
Great video saved me $250.00
Hello, first able, thank you for video, it was exactly what I was looking for after searching for a while. I did all you showed, still did not work. Do you think that the electric section needs fixing?
thank you
Thank you for the video I do have a question my fireplace when I turn on the switch fire up for 5 to 10 second then turn off if you have a answer let me know please
I did this last year and it worked perfectly. My question is this....Is it normal to have to do this each year? Thank you.
Thanks. I used to turn my pilot light off in the summer months, but that always meant a greater chance of the fireplace not starting in the Fall. I kept it on all year last year and had no problems. This year, with the high price of gas, I turned it off. It then took me forever to get it started. Do you recommend leaving the pilot on all year to make sure it keeps it clean and free dust and webs that prevent the burner from igniting?
My pilot light had been on about 9 years. Worked all that time. Finally shut off and cleaned the thermopile, as it was starting to work on and off.
What about electric fireplace do you have to buy a new insert mine the flame stopped coming up and it stop heating after about five minutes please let me know this video just came up on my iPad screen it would be nice to get a feed back thanks in advance 👍
Thanks
Thnx bro
That fixed my problem also!
Hi how take my pilot apart on my fireplace because I must change the propane orfice to gas natural I have the orfice
Wish you could come here and help me figure it out! Great job on the video tho!
Great! I'm having this same issue and I will try it now, if you read your comments you'll definitely know if it works for me...
Thanks again.
Our pilot starts and fireplace starts as well. It works for probably for a minute or two and then it all shuts down and cuts of the gas.
Can you tell me what might be the problem. I appreciate your response.
So the gas Valve stays on pilot?
What if the thermopile is new?
My gas fireplace doesn't turn pilot light is on?
I replaced the thermopile but still wont light up. Pilot light is on though
How do I know if gas is coming into heatilLator fireplace
Anyone can explain to me why some pilot assemblies have thermocouple only, some have thermopile only and some have both of them???? Thanks
Thermocouple only is used mainly for manually operated gas valves on gas logsets installed into existing wood burning fireplaces. Thermopile only was used mainly on older gas fireplaces. The thermopile provided the necessary voltage for both the pilot and the burner. This worked fine, but in the rare event that the burner and pilot went out at the same time due to a temporary interruption in the gas supply or someone accidently turning the gas off and then right back on, raw gas would continue to flow into the fireplace for some fireplaces up to 2min before finally shutting down. For this reason most gas fireplaces went to a combination Thermocouple thermopile setup where the Thermocouple ran the pilot and the thermopile ran the burner. A thermopile produces much more milivolts than a Thermocouple,and since a pilot takes much less voltage to run than a burner a Thermocouple was used for the pilot. So if the same scenario where to happen the Thermocouple voltage would drop out much quicker and shut the gas down to the pilot and burner in just 15 to 30 seconds. This results in less chance of an explosion when attempting to relight the pilot. Most fireplaces nowadays are electronic ignition with a flame sensor. These are nice but in the long run not as dependable as a Thermocouple thermopile system.
Tom Hanks narrating?
Don't insult the narrator
My fireplace wouldn't kick on just like this i cleaned the thermopile and the connection all the connections and then nothing but then I held a lighter to the Thermo pile and bam she lit up. So what needs to be replaced in the near future the thermo pile?
Help please, pilot light stays lit and burner turns on for a minute then turns off,after doing that a few times it will stay on.
Bad thermopile
@@Oz-ov1uu bad thermopile.Correct.
I put mine in pilot and the light stays on ofter i change it to pilot to on the light goes off what you think is wrong
Hold the gas button that you would use to light the pilot for 30 seconds to 1 minute, than the pilot will stay lit. You have to hold it longer so the gas has a steady flow... Trust me that will solve your issue, its the same with a gas hot water heater next to your boiler to heat the home.
Thank you it help me know my heater stays on 👍
When thermostat turns fireplace off,pilot light doesn't stay lit.
On most fireplaces Thermocouple controls the pilot, if it doesnt stay lit when you let go and the flame is good with good contact replace the thermocouple.
FYI cleaning a Tpile or tcouple is just a short term solution
Ditto previous post
Great video. Could have been 20 seconds long though. LOL.
Sound volume is terrible.
I think its fine. He moves around a lot but we still hear him fine.
SPEAK UP
Shut, it did not work for me. Thanks anyway.
"Usually what that means, is you've got a bad murpletron...." STOP MUMBLING.