Are there benefits to leaving the pilot lit year-round, like keeping moisture and spiders out?
Yes, there's a real benefit — a lit pilot keeps the firebox warm and dry, which discourages the spiders, dust, and moisture that clog a cold burner over the off-season. That's the classic reason installers leave it on. The tradeoff is a small amount of gas burned all summer. Neither choice is wrong; it comes down to saving the gas versus keeping the unit primed.
The spider problem is real in WNC
This isn't folklore. The single most common late-summer failure we clear every fall is a pilot assembly or burner orifice packed with spider webs and dust that moved in while the fireplace sat cold and dark all summer. Spiders are drawn to the faint smell of gas and the sheltered space. A standing pilot's small flame keeps that firebox warm enough and active enough to make it a less inviting home — so yes, leaving it lit genuinely cuts down on the problem.
Moisture, too
In our humid mountain summers, a cold metal firebox can collect condensation, and over years that encourages surface rust on burner components. The gentle, constant warmth of a pilot keeps things dry — the same logic as a light bulb left in a damp closet. On propane units in particular, where a clogged or corroded orifice throws the fuel mix off, a dry firebox is worth something.
The honest tradeoff
All of that is real, but so is the small, continuous gas draw a standing pilot uses all summer — more noticeable on propane than on a natural-gas main. Our take: if the spider-and-moisture protection is worth a little gas to you, leave it lit. If you'd rather save the fuel, shut it off and simply book an annual tune-up in late summer, which clears out any nests regardless. That yearly service matters either way. Call (828) 545-0525 to schedule.
Related questions
- Should I leave my gas fireplace pilot light on all summer or turn it off?
- How much gas does a standing pilot light use?
- Does the pilot light give off enough heat to warm up the room in summer?
- How do I shut the pilot light off for the summer?
- How do I turn on my gas fireplace?
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
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