My Fireplace Will Not Turn On. What Should I Do?
Before anything else: if you smell gas, do not troubleshoot. Leave the home, and from a safe distance contact your gas utility or emergency services. Do not operate switches, appliances, or anything else that could produce a spark on your way out.
With that said, a fireplace that will not start is very often something simple, and there are a handful of basic checks worth running before you call for service. These apply to most gas units and are safe for a homeowner to do.
Start with the obvious. Confirm the wall switch is in the on position, and check whether anyone has flipped it while cleaning or rearranging furniture. If your unit runs on a remote, replace the batteries in both the handset and the receiver, since weak batteries are one of the single most common causes of a fireplace that suddenly stops responding. If a thermostat controls the unit, verify that its setting is actually above the current room temperature. Check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker, and check any dedicated on/off switch near the unit, which is sometimes hidden behind a louver or in a nearby cabinet.
If your unit has a standing pilot, check whether the pilot is lit. Many models have lighting instructions printed on a label behind the lower access panel. If your unit uses electronic ignition, listen for the clicking of the igniter when you call for flame, which tells you the control is at least trying.
Also consider whether anything has changed recently. A power outage, a recent service visit to another appliance, or work done near the gas meter can all leave a fireplace in an unexpected state.
Where to stop. If the basics do not resolve it, stop there. Do not remove burner assemblies, adjust the gas valve, clean or bend pilot and thermocouple components, or attempt repairs on venting. Fireplace systems combine gas, electricity, high temperatures, and combustion exhaust. A misdiagnosed or improvised repair can create a genuinely dangerous situation, and it can also void manufacturer coverage.
The same caution applies to wood and pellet units. If a wood-burning fireplace is smoking into the room, or a pellet stove is failing to ignite or shutting down mid-cycle, those symptoms often point to venting, airflow, or feed system issues that need a technician.
When you call. Have the manufacturer, model number, and fuel type ready if you can, along with a description of exactly what happens when you try to start the unit. That information helps our technicians arrive prepared. Our page on servicing fireplaces we did not install explains where to find the model information.
Many no-start calls trace back to deferred maintenance, so if it has been a while, see how often a fireplace should be serviced.
Request service online, contact us, or call 608-788-7200.