How much gas does a standing pilot light use?
A standing pilot uses a small, steady amount of gas — think of it like leaving a nightlight burning. Because it runs continuously, day and night, that little draw adds up over a full idle summer to a modest line item on your gas or propane bill. It's never a big number, but it's not nothing, which is why many people shut it off in the off-season.
A small flame, running nonstop
The reason a pilot registers on the bill at all is time, not size. The flame itself is tiny, but it burns 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether or not you ever light the fireplace. Over a month, or a whole warm season with the unit otherwise idle, that continuous trickle is what shows up. We won't quote you a dollar figure — it swings with gas prices, whether you're on a natural-gas main or propane, and the specific unit — but it's a small, predictable amount.
Natural gas vs. propane matters
If you're on a natural-gas main in Asheville, Hendersonville, Fletcher, or Arden, a standing pilot's cost is genuinely minor. Out in propane country — Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and the cabins — propane runs pricier per unit of energy, so that same pilot is a slightly more noticeable trickle out of your tank between fills. It's a common reason our propane customers switch theirs off over the summer, and one reason electronic-ignition units, which burn no standing pilot at all, appeal to folks on LP.
The bigger picture
For most homes the standing-pilot cost isn't worth losing sleep over — it's the tradeoff for having the fireplace instantly ready and the firebox kept dry against spiders and moisture. If it bugs you, shut it off in summer, or ask us about a unit with electronic or battery-backup ignition that skips the standing pilot entirely. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll walk through what fits your setup.
Related questions
- Should I leave my gas fireplace pilot light on all summer or turn it off?
- Does the pilot light give off enough heat to warm up the room in summer?
- Are there benefits to leaving the pilot lit year-round, like keeping moisture and spiders out?
- How do I shut the pilot light off for the summer?
- Does turning the flame down make my gas fireplace use less gas?
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
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