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 to both in Black Mountain. Any time the gas is interrupted — a service shut-off on the valley's natural-gas lines, or a Montreat cabin's propane running out — the pilot drops and has to be relit once supply returns, and trapped air has to work through before the burner holds steady, which the cold morning air here doesn't make easier.
Cold-Air Pooling Fights Your Relight
The Swannanoa Valley sits under a temperature inversion that leaves Black Mountain mornings ten to fifteen degrees colder than Asheville, and that has a real effect on relighting. Cold, dense air settles in the flue like a plug, and on a chilly still morning a freshly relit pilot can struggle against downdraft while the burner is trying to catch. Follow the unit's lighting sequence, hold the knob through each try, and give it more patience than you would on a mild day — the air purges, but the cold slows the appliance down.
Downtown Gas vs. Montreat Propane
In-town Black Mountain runs mostly on natural-gas mains, where interruptions are usually a short service shut-off — a briefly closed line carries less air, so relighting tends to take only a few tries. Up in heavily wooded Montreat, more homes are on propane, and a tank that emptied needs your supplier's leak and pressure test before you relight at all. Know which situation is yours before you start.
One Call, Fifteen Minutes Out
We're a licensed gas contractor just 15 minutes east, and we pull the permit with Buncombe County on any gas-line work. If the pilot won't hold after several honest attempts — or you'd simply rather a professional handle the relight and check the flue — call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Black Mountain
We install and service fireplaces throughout Black Mountain and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east 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?