How to fix a gas fireplace pilot light from going out?

Question

I can get the pilot lit and after a few minutes it goes out. What can I do or check?

Answer 1

Jackie their is dust inside the ODS chamber located directly behind the pilot. ODS means oxygen depletion system. It thinks their is not enough oxygen in the room and is shutting down. I use a marvelous product called rustbuster. Any HVAC store or ace hardware has it. It comes with a telescoping spout that makes it easy. I just flush the pilot out and let it dry. blow it out with some air and light it. The pilot flame should be Blue and 2 inches long and pretty. The thermo couple on these is expensive and will NOT fix the problem. I worked at an appliance parts store for 11 years. I know what I am talking about.

Answer 2

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 3

If the pilot lights and stays lit on it's own, then goes out after a little bit the problem could be more serious. I would suspect the chimney is not venting properly and the pilot is smothering itself in CO. This sounds like you might want to get someone in to look at it. Fireplaces can be a really deadly source of Carbon Monoxide if not maintained properly. Get it checked before you kill your family.

Answer 4

Get a peice of straw (nothing metal) and unclog the pilot light. If using metal like a wire or needle turn off the gas.

EDIT: Ray T sound right so listen to him.And get your fireplace inspected.

Answer 5

Yes you need to change your Thermocouple.
Look for a very very small copper tube that the pilot flame burns on. The end that flame hits will be bigger than the rest of the coupler. Change this out and you should be ok.
You can buy these at any hardware store. May be better to take the old one with you when you to buy one.

Answer 6

you may have a thermopile rather than a thermocouple.a thermopile generates a tiny amount of electicity to operate the control. if your pilot flame is too small or not directed,on the thermopile, or themo couple it will go out. a pilot uses up such a small amount of ox (O2) it shouldn't be able to use all ox in just minutes.

Answer 7

You should make sure everything around the pilot liight is clean, no dust. You should make sure you have the air jet adjusted correctly. I just open the air jet a little at a time until my pilot light stops dying out.

Answer 8

sounds like a bad thermocouple

Answer 9

your couplings have gone