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 — and in Canton there's a hard-won third step. After the flooding this valley has seen, a pilot that went out when gas was shut off shouldn't just be relit; the gas connections and controls need a look first. The flame does have to come back once supply returns, and there's air in the line to purge — but not before the appliance is verified safe.
Don't Relight Water-Touched Equipment Blind
Canton sits on the Pigeon River valley floor, and homes here have had hearths and gas appliances water-damaged when the river came up. If your gas was shut off during high water — or the unit itself took on any moisture — relighting the pilot is not the first move. A valve, a control, or a pilot assembly that sat in floodwater can look fine and still be compromised, and inspecting those gas connections before restoring service is exactly what this valley has learned to do the hard way. When in doubt, leave it off and call us.
The Normal Purge, Once It's Cleared to Light
On a unit that's verified sound, the relight itself is ordinary: the pilot goes out any time supply is interrupted and comes back through the unit's lighting sequence, and the air now in the line makes it sputter for the first several tries before it holds. Valley-floor fog and dampness also rust dampers and pilot parts earlier than you'd expect here, so a pilot that won't stay lit after a fair number of attempts often points to a corroded thermocouple rather than trapped air.
Licensed, and 20 Minutes West
We're a licensed gas contractor who pulls the permit with Haywood County and pressure-tests every line we touch — the right people to check a flood-exposed system before it goes back into service. For the propane properties around Canton, an empty tank also requires your supplier's leak and pressure test first. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Canton
We install and service fireplaces throughout Canton and the rest of Haywood County — just 20 minutes west 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?