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, and at Waynesville's near-2,650-foot elevation you want that relight to succeed the first cold evening you need it. Any interruption — a propane cabin gone empty or a service shut-off on the mixed lines here — puts the pilot out, and there's air in the line to purge before the burner holds, which takes more patience when everything's cold.
A Longer, Colder Heating Season Raises the Stakes
Waynesville runs ten to fifteen degrees colder than the lower valley towns and heats about three weeks longer than Asheville, so a fireplace that won't relight isn't a minor annoyance here — it's your evening warmth. Cold works against you in two small ways: a chilled flue sits in the chimney like a plug, and a cold appliance is slower to prove its pilot. Follow the unit's lighting steps, hold the knob through each attempt, and expect the flame to sputter for several tries while the air clears — that part is normal, not a failure.
Hazelwood's Older Hearths
Much of Hazelwood's older housing stock leans on drafty open fireplaces and standing-pilot gas conversions — the kind you relight by hand rather than by switch. If yours has sat idle through the off-season, the more common reason it fights you isn't air; it's summer spiders and dust clogging the pilot orifice. Air purges within a dozen honest tries. If it's still dark past that, stop forcing gas into the box and let it air out.
The Propane Side and Getting Help
For the propane cabins around Waynesville, an empty tank means your supplier must run a leak and pressure test before anything goes back into service. We're a licensed gas contractor 35 minutes west and pull the permit with Haywood County on any line work. If the relight won't take after a proper refill and test, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Waynesville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Waynesville and the rest of Haywood County — just 35 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?