Do I need to relight the pilot after my propane tank runs empty or the gas is shut off for service, and is there air in the line to work through?
Yes on both in Arden. Many of these Royal Pines and Skyland homes had their tired open masonry fireplaces converted to sealed gas inserts — so when the gas is shut off for service, the pilot or igniter drops and must be relit once it's back, and there's air in the line to purge before the insert will hold a flame.
From Drafty Box to Sealed Insert
Arden's 1980s and '90s neighborhoods were built with open masonry fireplaces that pull heat out of a room, and a lot of owners here have since dropped in sealed gas inserts to turn them into real heaters. Those inserts commonly run electronic ignition: after a gas interruption there's no standing flame to relight, so you switch it on and the igniter sparks. With air in the line it may click and fault for the first several cycles. Reset per the remote or wall switch, pause, and let the trapped air clear rather than mashing the button.
Older Log Sets Light by Hand
If your conversion was a vented gas log set rather than an insert, it more likely runs a standing pilot you relight through the printed sequence, holding the knob down while the pilot sputters and catches. Remember a vented log set is decorative-first — a stubborn relight is worth patience. Air purges within a dozen tries; past that, a clogged orifice or weak thermocouple is the likelier cause, and forcing it just pools unburned gas.
Natural Gas, and Help Nearby
Arden sits on natural-gas mains, so most interruptions are brief service shut-offs and the line holds little air — relights are usually quick. We're a licensed gas contractor 15 minutes south, pulling the permit with Buncombe County. If the unit won't light after supply's restored, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Arden
We install and service fireplaces throughout Arden and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
- How long do I hold the pilot knob down when lighting it, and why won't it stay lit if I let go too soon?
- How long should I wait before trying again if the pilot doesn't catch on the first try?
- Is it safe to relight the pilot myself, or should a professional do it?
- How do I turn the pilot light off completely?