have gas fireplace but pilot light won,t stay on.how do i fix it?

Question

every time i hold the pilot light button in and click the button and hold it for one min. but light won,t stay on.can anyone help me?

Answer 1

Hi,
It sounds like the Thermocouple or Flame Sensor.

The Thermocouple or Flame Sensor is there as a safety back up. If the sensor dosn't remain heated by the pilot light it will a shut off the gas.

The Thermocouple or Flame Sensor look very similar but work differently.

Try cleaning the end of the Thermocouple or Flame Sensor probe, it that doesn’t work you will need to buy a new Thermocouple or Flame Sensor.

Below are some sites for you to have a look at and one site has the part you may need to fix your furnace.


http://home.howstuffworks.com/pilot-ligh...
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-mai...

Answer 2

Just to verify that you are attempting the light properly. The instructions should be something like this....

(1) turn the gas dial to "Pilot". While pressing down on the gas dial, press the red push button a few times until the pilot is lit. (2) KEEP holding down the gas dial for about 30 seconds (to get the thermocouple warm). Then release it. If the pilot light goes out, you probably need to replace your thermocouple (see below). If it stays let, turn the gas dial to ON and enjoy your heat. Otherwise, turn to OFF and leave the whole thing alone for 5 minutes to let any gas disapate.

Replaciing a thermocouple.... This is a common home repair. (A common repair for any gas appliance with a standing pilot light.) The thermocouple is a small metal device that makes sure that there is heat where the pilot light is supposed to be. If it doesn't detect heat, it shuts off the gas valve as a safety precaution. When you are holding down the pilot knob during startup, you are essentially bypassing the thermocouple long enough to heat it up. Over time, the thermocouple degrades and dies - killing the pilot light and preventing it from staying on during an attempt to re-light it.

You can call an HVAC guy and for about $100+ or so, they will stop by (after another day or two without heat) and replace this part for you. (If you rent, get your land lord to repair it!) Occasionally you will encounter a crook (they are in all lines of work) who will tell you to replace the furnace and will try to charge you $1000s.

Want to try this repair yourself? Take a look at the heater and try to determine the length of the thermo-couple. Use the link below to get an idea of what it looks like and how it is connected. They come in different lengths. If you are in doubt you can error on the side of getting one a little too long. I think they are about $10-20 or so at Lowes. Truck yourself down to the hardware store and get one.

Turn off the gas to your house if you feel safer (good time to learn how to do this). Usually just need an adjustable wrench at the outside gas meter.

Remove the old thermocouple noting where the screws held it in place. Save the screws! You'll likely need them to install the new one. You may not need some of the parts that come with the new one. This is okay. Install the new one by screwing or snapping it into place. Turn gas back on to house. Relight your pilot light following the procedure you did before. Hold down button for at least a minute. This time the pilot light should stay on! Smell for leaks.

Paranoid? Install a CO detector near your work. Keep the wrench handy for house shutoff... but if you have a leak, first get everyone out. Have never had leaks and I've replaced several themocouples, furnace igniters, a gas clother dryer, gas cooktop, and even several whole hot water tanks, so take the precautions you want to, but don't be overly paranoid.

You may need to re-light pilot lights of other gas appliances having turned off the house gas.

This is a fairly common repair, so learning how to do this will save you a few hundred more bucks when it happens again.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Gas Fireplace Thermocouple

Answer 4

Sounds like the thermocouple, (the small bulbed end unit on which the flame of the pilot plays), is shot. When you hold the button down to light the pilot, the button physically holds the gas valve flap open, against a small magnet, inside the unit. When the pilot flame plays on the little bulb at the end of the thermocouple, it heats it up and that causes a small electrical charge to activate the magnet holding the gas valve flap. When the thermocouple is thoroughly heated, it continues to put out the electrcitiy necessary to hold the flap against the magnet and you can release the button. If the thermocouple has worn out the capability to produce the small electrical charge necessary then the flap closes as soon as you release the button and the pilot flame goes out. You will need to remove the bracket that holds the pilot light assy. w/ the thermocouple and install a new thermocouple.
They are a fairly common item of repair and should be available at your local hardware or home center, in the appropriate length needed to reach from your gas valve to the bracket.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
have gas fireplace but pilot light won,t stay on.how do i fix it?
every time i hold the pilot light button in and click the button and hold it for one min. but light won,t stay on.can anyone help me?

Answer 6

In England a lot of gas fires have oxy-depletion thermocouples which supposedly protect from carbon monoxide but actually detect lack of air rather than presence of CO. It would be advisable to use a suitably qualified engineer to do the work properly and safely to make sure the correct part is used. In the USA there seems to be many times more deaths from CO proportionate to the population levels than the UK.

Answer 7

how do you get your gas?natural gas line or propane?if it's propane,check the level on your tank,if it's not keeping pressure very well when the gas gets low it won't keep pilot lit.if the source is natural gas line,call the company service number.gas is too dangerous to mess with unless you know what you're doing!

Answer 8

Indestructible Tactical LED Flashlight : http://FlashLight.uzaev.com/?zLrA

Answer 9

Call your gas provider immediately! you may have a serious problem and it needs to be TAKEN CARE OF. If you smell gas (methyl Mercaptan) call the fire department. Take no chances.

Answer 10

first try and get back there and light it with a match those electric things get dysfunctional quick.
if it wont stay lighted upon getting the pilot light then change the THERMO-COUPLE.