Light a Gas Fireplace

A gas fireplace provides warmth without having to use firewood, so there's no need to sweep ashes away once the fire has gone out. Gas fireplaces are either powered by a natural gas line or a propane gas tank. It only takes a few steps to light and get your gas fireplace running. Follow these steps to light a gas fireplace.

Steps

Turning On the Gas at the Source

  1. Find the gas source. Gas for your fireplace will come from either a line of natural gas, usually connected to a utility company, or from a liquid propane tank outside your home. Go outside and look for the gas source to get the process started.
    • Natural gas lines are piped in from the street with a gas meter outside. Look around your house and property.
    • Propane is stored in a tank that will be either aboveground or buried.
  2. Open the gas line. This lets the gas flow from the line or tank into your home, so you can light your gas log.
    • If you have a natural gas line, check out the meter. Most meters have a flat valve that can be turned to either align with the pipe or not. If the gas is already on, the valve will be positioned parallel to the pipe. If the valve is set perpendicular to the pipe, the gas is off, so you'll need to turn it.[1]
    • If you have a propane tank, there should be a round valve that you turn counterclockwise to turn on the gas. The gauge will indicate if gas is flowing.

Turning On the Gas Inside

  1. Locate the fireplace valve. It should be inside the access panel at the bottom of the fireplace. This controls the flow of gas to the fireplace.[1]
    • Some units have a switch on the wall that you can use to operate the gas flow.
    • Other units have a hidden switch inside the mantel.[1]
  2. Turn on the fireplace valve. You need to start the flow of gas before you try to ignite the fire log in the fireplace. Make sure the gas switch is flipped to "on."

Lighting the Fireplace

  1. Open the fireplace controls. The controls are usually on the floor of the fireplace. They are typically located behind a metal plate or grate. Raise or lower the cover over the fireplace controls to gain access.
  2. Find the ignition button. Most newer gas logs come with a red ignition button. If you do not have an ignition button, you will light the log with matches and the key valve on your fireplace once you have lit the pilot light.
  3. Locate the control knob. The control knob will have the words "On," "Off" and "Pilot" on it. If the knob is not in the "off" position, turn the knob to "Off." Wait for a few minutes before continuing to light the pilot light.
  4. Light the pilot light. Turn the knob to "Pilot". Press down the control knob. Continue to press the control knob while depressing the ignition switch one time every second. Stop pressing the ignition switch when the pilot lights. Keep pressing the control knob for 30 seconds. Gradually disengage the control knob.
    • Repeat the process after a few minutes if the pilot light does not ignite. It might take awhile for the gas to enter the fireplace if it has been off for awhile.
    • If the pilot light still does not ignite, call your gas company.
  5. Turn the control knob to "On" when you have a sustained pilot light. Move away quickly from the fireplace so you won't get burned.
    • Some fireplace have an ignition button. Flip the ignition button to "On."
    • If you don't have an ignition button, light the gas logs by holding a long match near the log. Turn on the key valve to bring in gas. The height of the flame will depend on how much gas you let in with the key valve.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/dec/29/steps-outlined-getting-gas-fireplace-pilot-light-g/

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