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 Fletcher, and if you're calling us for the follow-up, the permit can land in one of two counties. Fletcher sits right on the Buncombe–Henderson line. As for the relight itself: whenever the gas is cut, the pilot or igniter drops out and must come back once supply returns, with air in the line to purge before the burner holds.
Which County Pulls the Permit
Fletcher straddles the Buncombe–Henderson line, so which office issues the permit on any gas-line work depends on your exact address — some Fletcher homes are Henderson County, others Buncombe. It's the kind of detail a licensed gas contractor sorts out before touching the line, and one a showroom or handyman can't handle for you at all: in North Carolina, running or connecting gas is licensed work, and we permit and pressure-test every line we run regardless of which county you're in.
Builder-Grade Units and the Air Purge
The 1990s subdivisions here came with builder-grade gas fireplaces — often basic standing-pilot units you relight through the printed OFF-PILOT-ON sequence, holding the knob while the pilot sputters and catches as air clears. Newer I-26-corridor construction and the commercial spaces around the airport lean toward electronic-ignition units that spark by switch and may lock out a few cycles against the air before firing; reset per the control and let the line purge. Either way, most interruptions on Fletcher's natural-gas mains are short service shut-offs, so the relight is usually quick.
When It Won't Take
Past a dozen honest tries, suspect a clogged orifice or weak thermocouple rather than air, and stop forcing gas into the firebox. We're a licensed gas contractor 20 minutes south — call (828) 545-0525 and we'll relight, test, and pull the correct county's permit for any line work.
Fireplace help in Fletcher
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fletcher and the rest of Henderson County — just 20 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?