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 counts for Hendersonville. Whenever the supply is cut — a service shut-off on the Henderson County gas mains, or a propane top-off that ran dry — the pilot or igniter drops out and has to come back once gas returns, and the air now sitting in the line has to purge before your fireplace will stay lit.
Built for the Low-Maintenance Crowd
A lot of Hendersonville's retirees chose exactly what this town is known for — quiet, sealed direct-vent gas that lights at the flip of a switch. Those units typically use electronic ignition rather than a standing flame, which changes what you do after an interruption. There's nothing to hold a match to; you switch it on and the igniter sparks. With air in the line it may spark, fault, and lock out for the first few cycles. The fix isn't to keep mashing the button — it's to reset per the remote or wall control, wait, and let the trapped air clear so the igniter can prove a flame.
Older Main Street Homes Play It Differently
Downtown and Laurel Park still hold plenty of older homes with standing-pilot log sets, and those relight by hand through the printed sequence — hold the knob down through each attempt while the pilot sputters and finally catches. Give it a genuine dozen tries at most; past that, a clogged orifice or tired thermocouple is more likely than stubborn air. The clay-heavy soil around here is hard on masonry chimneys, but that's a separate matter from the gas side of the relight.
When to Hand It Off
If it's a propane place that ran empty, the tank refill comes with a required leak and pressure test by your supplier before you relight — that's code, not a courtesy. We're a licensed gas contractor 25 minutes north; if the unit won't light after a proper restore, call (828) 545-0525 and we'll pull a Henderson County permit for any line work and check the whole system.
Fireplace help in Hendersonville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Hendersonville and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 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?