How do I light the pilot on my gas fire pit?
Gas fire pits light one of two ways. For push-button electronic ignition, turn the knob to PILOT, press and hold while clicking the igniter until the pilot catches, hold about 30 seconds, then turn to ON. For a match-lit pit, hold a flame at the burner before you open the gas. Your pit's printed instructions always govern.
Push-button (electronic) ignition pits
If your pit has a push-button spark, it lights much like a gas fireplace. Turn the control knob to PILOT, press it in, and click the igniter button until the pilot catches — you'll hear it tick and see the flame. Hold the knob down about 30 seconds so the thermocouple heats and takes over, release, then turn to ON to light the ring. When the igniter clicks but nothing sparks, the culprit is almost always the little battery in the button — usually a AA or a 9-volt — not the gas. Give the igniter a fresh battery at the start of each season and you'll skip most of these headaches.
Match-lit pits and the propane tank
A match-lit pit follows the same golden rule as any open burner: flame first, gas second. Hold your lighter at the burner, then open the gas. Most fire pits around here run on propane — the Napoleon Uptown we carry is a 60,000-BTU LP unit — so start at the tank: open the tank valve slowly, give it a moment, then work the pit's own valve. Out in Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and the cabins, propane is simply how outdoor fire happens, since the gas mains don't reach.
Outdoor realities
Wind is the enemy of a pilot — a gust across an open patio will blow it out mid-light, so shield it while you're getting it going. After a pit sits through a wet mountain winter, spiders and debris love to nest in the burner, so a pilot that suddenly won't hold in spring usually just needs cleaning. Never run a pit under a solid covered porch or low pergola without confirming it's rated for it. And if it won't hold or you smell gas, shut the tank and call us at (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- How do I use the push-button or electronic ignition on a gas fire pit?
- How do I light a match-lit gas fire pit?
- What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
- How do I adjust the flame height on my gas fire pit?
- What's the proper way to shut down a gas fire pit after using it?
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
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