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 Flat Rock, and the historic housing here shapes the answer. Many of these 1800s homes had their oversized open hearths fitted with gas log sets or sealed inserts, most on standing pilots — so when the gas is shut off for service or a propane tank empties, you relight by hand, and there's air in the line to purge before it holds.
Old Hearths, Standing Pilots
Flat Rock's character comes from homes dating to the 1800s with big open masonry fireplaces and aging clay flue liners — and a lot of those got a gas log set or a sealed insert dropped in to tame the draft. Those conversions usually run a standing millivolt pilot, which you relight through the unit's printed OFF-PILOT-ON steps, holding the knob down while the flame sputters and catches. If yours is a vented log set, remember it's decorative-first, so a stubborn relight is worth patience rather than force.
Air Out, Then Look Closer
The trapped air clears within a dozen honest attempts on most units. If the pilot still won't hold past that, the issue has moved beyond air — a clogged orifice, a weak thermocouple, or, in these older converted hearths, a liner or draft quirk from the original oversized flue. Stop forcing gas into the firebox at that point and let it air out. Forcing it just pools unburned gas where you don't want it.
Propane and the Permit
For Flat Rock's propane properties, an empty tank means your supplier's leak and pressure test comes before any relight — no exceptions. We're a licensed gas contractor 30 minutes south who pulls the permit with Henderson County and pressure-tests every line. If the unit won't light after a proper restore, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Flat Rock
We install and service fireplaces throughout Flat Rock and the rest of Henderson County — just 30 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?