How Do You Light the Pilot on a Gas-Log Fireplace?
Light the pilot on a gas-log fireplace by turning the gas flow knob to the “pilot” setting, holding the knob in and using a match to ignite the pilot. After lighting the pilot, continue to hold the control knob in for about 30 seconds, or the pilot may go out.
Once the pilot stays lit by itself, turn the gas flow knob to the “on” position. For regular gas-logs, this starts the logs burning. In remote control logs, turning the knob to “on” does not actually activate the logs, it only allows the user to turn the logs on using the remote control.
If the pilot light does not light, several problems could be responsible. The regulator is the valve responsible for transporting gas from the building’s gas supply line to the burner inside the gas-logs. If the regulator stops working, gas cannot travel from the gas line to the pilot light. A clog or kink in the gas line can also stop a pilot from lighting.
If the pilot light starts burning but does not stay lit even after holding the control valve in for 30 seconds, the thermocouple may require replacement. The thermocouple is a device that detects when the pilot light is burning. When the thermocouple does not detect a burning pilot, it automatically shuts off gas flow, preventing a leak. A faulty thermocouple shuts off the gas flow even when the pilot light is burning safely.
