Gas Fireplace ?

[SummerIslander]

I had a full-size gas fireplace insert installed in my parents' 2-story year-round home in upstate NY years ago when my dad got too old to haul logs inside. Primarily it was for emergency backup heat when the electricity went out, they had some long outages. It works well and produces a lot of heat even with the electricity/blower not working, enough to keep the core of the house around 60 in winter with power out. So good to enjoy and a good backup for outages.

I've looked at a lot of freestanding gas fireplaces also. If there is space and you don't mind the higher price, these probably produce even more usable heat. Noisy blowers are the most annoying part, they use cheap fans that end up rattling after awhile. Getting one with variable blower speed.

Re gas starting issues, the service guy said that if you turn off the gas in summer, spiders like to build nests in the pilot light hole so the pilot light won't ignite in fall. He recommended either leaving the pilot on all summer, or making sure you get it serviced in fall before starting. They should also be serviced at least every other year, not maintenance-free.

[8gv]

Originally Posted by SummerIslander

I had a full-size gas fireplace insert installed in my parents' 2-story year-round home in upstate NY years ago when my dad got too old to haul logs inside. Primarily it was for emergency backup heat when the electricity went out, they had some long outages. It works well and produces a lot of heat even with the electricity/blower not working, enough to keep the core of the house around 60 in winter with power out. So good to enjoy and a good backup for outages.

I've looked at a lot of freestanding gas fireplaces also. If there is space and you don't mind the higher price, these probably produce even more usable heat. Noisy blowers are the most annoying part, they use cheap fans that end up rattling after awhile. Getting one with variable blower speed.

Re gas starting issues, the service guy said that if you turn off the gas in summer, spiders like to build nests in the pilot light hole so the pilot light won't ignite in fall. He recommended either leaving the pilot on all summer, or making sure you get it serviced in fall before starting. They should also be serviced at least every other year, not maintenance-free.

This post just jogged my memory from my french frying days...

The gas valve may have a vent tube which allows air to enter and exit the non-gas side of the diaphram chamber.

I doubt yours is clogged by fryer grease but a spider condo is quite possible.

I suggest:

Turn the gas valve off.
Find the small diameter vent tube which is open on one end and attached to the gas valve on the other.
Gently unscrew the vent tube from the valve. Be careful as they are soft aluminum.
Blowing through the tube may determine if it is clogged but...
A SPIDER MIGHT BITE YOUR MOUTH CAUSING DISFIGURMENT OR FATAL NECROPSY!
So instead...
Run a pipe cleaner or other small diameter object all the way through the tube to clear any obstruction.
Inspect where the tube meets the gas valve and clean there with a soft object like a Q-tip.
CAUTION: DON'T STICK ANYTHING INTO THE GAS VALVE HOLE BECAUSE YOU COULD PUNCTURE THE DIAPHRAM AND CAUSE A GAS LEAK!
Reinstall the tube.
Test operation.

[tis]

Last fall I tried to start mine and the pilot light wouldn't start. I kept trying for two days and finally it lit. I was just about to call somebody to fix it when it came on. Keep trying before you call someone.

[Overlake97]

Both remote and receiver have fresh batteries (so that's not it), but I will try swabbing the thermocouple and thermopile and cycling the 'On, Off, Pilot" dial back and forth before trying the manual start button. Won't be able to get to it for a week or so, but will report back if either of those strategies worked.

[swnoel]

Originally Posted by Overlake97

Both remote and receiver have fresh batteries (so that's not it), but I will try swabbing the thermocouple and thermopile and cycling the 'On, Off, Pilot" dial back and forth before trying the manual start button. Won't be able to get to it for a week or so, but will report back if either of those strategies worked.

Is the gas valve in the on position? You lite the pilot then you need to turn the gas valve to the on position. It's NOT the thermocoupling... if it was it wouldn't stay lit.