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, and in Leicester the propane-and-wood reality shapes the relight. On these rural properties — many on propane, some with limited electrical capacity — the empty-tank case is common, and it's often a standing-pilot unit you relight by hand. The pilot goes out whenever supply's cut, and there's air in the line to purge before the burner catches.
Propane, Long Runs, and Millivolt Simplicity
Leicester is rural large-property country — Sandy Mush, Turkey Creek, Newfound Road — with many homes on propane and some running on limited electrical capacity. That's part of why standing-pilot and millivolt units make sense out here: they light and run without depending on house power. After an interruption you relight one by hand through its printed OFF-PILOT-ON steps. And because the tank often sits well off from the house, the buried line holds more air, so expect the pilot to sputter through more attempts than a short in-town hookup would need.
Empty Tank Means Test First
If the tank ran completely dry rather than being valved off, don't relight yet. Your propane supplier must run a leak and pressure test on the system, because a drained tank can pull air and moisture into all that line. Relighting is the final step after the test clears. Push past a dozen tries with no flame afterward and the cause has moved past air — a clogged orifice or weak thermocouple — so stop forcing gas into the box.
Cold Valleys and a Fast Drive
Cold-air drainage runs Leicester's rural valleys five to eight degrees colder than Asheville on clear nights, so a dependable relight earns its keep. We're a licensed gas contractor just 15 minutes west, pulling the permit with Buncombe County on line work. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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- 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?
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