EASY: Fix Gas Fireplace Not Starting
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- If you flip the switch on your gas fireplace and the fireplace doesn't turn on this is probably the video for you. we have the fix. Most likely it's wrong is the switch itself And then the question you're going to get to is how to fix the switch on a gas fireplace? How to change the switch on a gas fireplace? is it safe to change the switch on a fireplace by yourself? how can you tell if it is safe to change a switch on a fireplace?
Easy fix for gas fireplace doesn't turn on with switch. Easy fix for gas fireplace won't turn on with switch.
We explain that a fireplace switch is almost certainly piezoelectric current will not hurt you. A Pizo Electric Matchless starter is not connected to your home wiring so you can safely swap it out without turning the electricity off in your house. It's pretty easy and you can do it.
This is an easy DIY fix that anyone can do for less than a dollar. You do not need a rofessional to help you with this. if you're old you can do this If you're young you can do this If you have never touched electricity before you can do this. the only thing you have to be careful with is when you pull the switch out of the wall that you can see the wires are very very thin. If the wires are thick then there's something else going on here. if the wires are thin like we show in the video they will only handle very low voltage like a piezoelectric fireplace starter which will not hurt you. - Věda a technologie
Yes it worked!!! Finally am able to use my fireplace again. Wow so easy
Just went to home depot, bought the switch, and now it works. Thank you my friend.
Thanks for the tip. it was the switch, changed it and it works perfectly.
Thank you!! Finally something useful and actually make sense!!!
Thanks man, short and sweet!
Believe it or not. The switch was my issue. Thanks for posting!!!
Great video!
I started off having issues with the switch working intermittently, but now it doesn’t work at all. I went to a fireplace store and the employee told me that I probably needed a new switch. He suggested that since the voltage was less than a AA battery, I should touch one of the wires to my tongue to see if I felt a tingle. He obviously doesn’t understand the difference between AC and DC voltage. 🙄I’m sure he could tell from the look on my face, that I thought it was a stupid idea! 🤬 I pretty much stopped listening to him after that. Perhaps he has never heard of a multimeter.
I’m glad I watched your video. At least now I know what type of switch to get.
Thanks again.
Fixed my problem. Should have tried this first!
Having some trouble with my gas fireplace. Going to give this a try and hopefully it’s the same problem.
Worked perfectly! Told by a handyman that I needed a new igniter. Then I saw your video, thankfully!! Great video and very well explained.
Glad it helped
I can't believe it ,it works for me too thank you very much ❤❤❤❤❤
❤ I will definitely do this...
This worked for me!
Going to try this..Hope I can do it..🤞
Grazie! Saved me $$$
life saver!
I don't have a wall switch, just the small black switch on the face of the fireplace. For a couple of years the switch didn't work consistently and now it just doesn't work at all. Do you have any information on replacing that switch?
To the point !! Wish I had a wall switch, my issue- fireplace switch bottom right worked in A.M and not in afternoon, turned breaker off and again nothing...
Damn... perhaps a failed fan motor in your case
The real problem is the system was likely a Millivolt System. They run the gas valve off of about 500 to 700 millivolts that is produced from a Thermopile that is mounted in the pilot assembly bracket, and provides enough power to keep the Pilot gas valve open and also open the main gas valve on demand too. This type of system will run during a power outage, but if there is a blower fan on the fireplace as well, that will not come on in a power outage, unless it will run on battery backup power. So what happens is that when you just use a regular wall mounted light switch instead of a low voltage switch or a proper millivolt thermostat, the regular wall switch has to much resistance in it's switching mechanism to allow enough millivoltage through to the gas valve to open the main valve, especially after the thermopile wears out, or over time just weaken a bit. Then it wont overcome the resistance in the Wall Switch because remember it is on about 1/2 of a volt. Chances are after about another year another new switch will be needed. Perhaps the heavier resistance in the regular switch causes a problem. If you put a millivolt thermostat on the wall instead, you would likely never have the problem again. HVAC installation contractors just cheap out and use a regular wall switch instead. So if you put in the Millivolt Thermostat, not only will it work great again, but you will now have a thermostat switch instead of just on and off. Now if you have 24 volts controlling the gas valve, instead of only millivolt, then the regular light switch on the wall for control will likely work trouble free for much longer than the millivolt power scenario.
Is there a way to convert to thermostat?
link to the switch? Is it a regular wall switch or special for low voltage?
I sometimes get fireplace going with on off switch. If i'm lucky enough it will start, but after a few minutes goes back to pilot only. Stumped?
Question; On mine, Pilot light is on, switch doesn't turn on flame. I bypassed the switch by touching the wires together and still nothing. I am able to turn flame on and off by using the toggle switch that's by the gas valve. Any suggestions?
I try to do everything that you explained and still wont star pilot does but no flame can you device me
This is a temporary fix. Whats going on is the thermopile is dirty and not creating as much electricity as it should when clean . The white haze build up on the glass also gets deposited on the thermopile. Also where the thermopile connects to the valve dust builds up . since the thermopile only creates a small amount of electricity .750 v , dust particles at the valve connection , white haze build up on the t-pile at the pilot is a big deal in the world of millivolts. Even if there is extra length of wire , minimizing the amount of low volt wire from valve to switch will help a great deal. This is why sometimes the wall switch doesn't work but the switch under the fireplace does.
If the pilot wont stay lit , replace your thermocouple .
If your fireplace turns on and the flame lifts off the burner a little bit is see through blue and weak looking , you have a venting problem either not enough fresh air or the exhaust is blocked . WARNING IF ANY FIRE IS STARVING ITSELF FROM OXYGEN , NEVER EVER INTRODUCE FRESH AIR WHILE THE FLAME IS ON !!!
Sometimes the flame will be so transparent it will appear to be off . And if you were to open the sealed glass while its trying to find oxygen it will for sure get you faster than you can blink your eyes.
Direct vent gas fireplace venting is typically a 4 inch vent inside a 7 inch vent or 5inch vent inside a 8 inch vent. the smaller vent is your exhaust and the outer larger diameter is fresh air.
Since the exhaust is hot air and is expanding , if any pin holes or leaks occur in the exhaust vent it will get sucked right into the fresh air. Depending on how large the leak is will determine how well your fireplace runs . If the leak is small you will be able to see it in the characteristics of the flame .
Burbank Gas Fireplaces
Salt Lake City Utah
I have an electric start fireplace, no pilot, is this still likely to be the issue? It's works intermittently which is part of the annoyance.
I have the same issue
Clean your sensor at the pilot light . Looking at your pilot and notice which one is sparking .
Thats your ignitor. The other probe that is not sparking is your sensor . Get some sand paper fine grit preferably and clean the sensor. If after you clean the sensor and flip the switch and the piot lights up the sensor should recognize the heat within 13 seconds or so if the pilot light is on and you see the ignitor still sparking well past the amount of time it takes to heat up then your sensor is bad .
Install a " condensation" switch on all electronic ignition gas fireplaces or IPI units . A condensation switch is nothing more than a pilot light .
Tks all❤
What if the pilot light is out?
Check with your local gas company. I just found out that in my city/province the gas company will come and light a pilot light for free. They will also tell you if the unit is working properly. The won’t fix problems for free, but at least you know what you’re dealing with so you can hire the appropriate professional.
Just an FYI, if you don’t want to pay for the natural gas or can’t get the pilot light going, make sure you cover the vent outside or the fireplace inside; especially if you live in an area that gets cold. Cold air from outside can come into the house through the vent. More so if the fireplace is in a basement, because cold air sinks. The pilot light produces just enough heat to keep the air rising and pushing the cold air outside. My dad thought he would save money, and turn off the pilot light on their basement fireplace because he never used it. Winter in Canada is pretty cold. During a visit, I realized that cold air was coming from the fireplace. Of course it was late at night and everyone else was already in bed. I managed to seal the fireplace with a garbage bag and medical tape. There was so much cold air, that you could actually see the air pushing the plastic bag out, but thankfully it was blocked from getting into the house. Needless to say, the next morning the pilot light was relit 🔥. Unless you block off the cold air, you won’t save any money, because your furnace will work harder to warm up the house.
I've replaced the switch and it still doesn't work. Pilot is lite!
What if the fireplave stays on and doesn’t turn off?
find the valve and then look for a secondary switch under the fireplace that may be on or so dirty that the dust has built up so much its completing the Cricut. what happens sometimes is they have multiple wires that are connected to the same switch going to a secondary switch and the spade connectors are touching somewhere acting as is you have the switch on
this did not fix it. any other suggestions?
Same
Same
Same
Probably the thermopile
This is a temporary fix. Whats going on is the thermopile is dirty and not creating as much electricity as it should when clean . The white haze build up on the glass also gets deposited on the thermopile. Also where the thermopile connects to the valve dust builds up . since the thermopile only creates a small amount of electricity .750 v , dust particles at the valve connection , white haze build up on the t-pile at the pilot is a big deal in the world of millivolts. Even if there is extra length of wire , minimizing the amount of low volt wire from valve to switch will help a great deal. This is why sometimes the wall switch doesn't work but the switch under the fireplace does.
If the pilot wont stay lit , replace your thermocouple .
If your fireplace turns on and the flame lifts off the burner a little bit is see through blue and weak looking , you have a venting problem either not enough fresh air or the exhaust is blocked . WARNING IF ANY FIRE IS STARVING ITSELF FROM OXYGEN , NEVER EVER INTRODUCE FRESH AIR WHILE THE FLAME IS ON !!!
Sometimes the flame will be so transparent it will appear to be off . And if you were to open the sealed glass while its trying to find oxygen it will for sure get you faster than you can blink your eyes.
Direct vent gas fireplace venting is typically a 4 inch vent inside a 7 inch vent or 5inch vent inside a 8 inch vent. the smaller vent is your exhaust and the outer larger diameter is fresh air.
Since the exhaust is hot air and is expanding , if any pin holes or leaks occur in the exhaust vent it will get sucked right into the fresh air. Depending on how large the leak is will determine how well your fireplace runs . If the leak is small you will be able to see it in the characteristics of the flame .
Burbank Gas Fireplaces
Salt Lake City Utah