In Canton, the standing-pilot question comes with a caveat the flooding taught us: if your gas fireplace took on water, get the pilot assembly and gas connections inspected before you rely on that flame. A pilot that won't hold or burns strangely usually signals a fouled or water-affected part — not a usage problem. On the gas main, its cost stays minor.
After the water, inspect before you trust the flame
Canton's Pigeon River valley homes saw hearths and gas appliances water-damaged in recent flooding, and a standing pilot is a sensitive thing — moisture, silt, or corrosion in the pilot assembly, orifice, or gas connections can make it burn poorly, refuse to stay lit, or run dirty. If your fireplace was anywhere near the water, that's a licensed-gas inspection before you count on it, not a relight-and-hope. We'll pressure-test the line and check the connections; that's our lane, and it's licensed work we permit through Haywood County.
Usage, once it's sound
A healthy standing pilot uses a small, steady amount of gas — the cost is about time, not size, since it burns around the clock. Where Canton homes are on the natural-gas main, that's minor. Out on propane, common in the valley, it's a slightly more noticeable trickle out of the tank. Either way it's never a big number, but the valley-floor fog and dampness that rust dampers and caps early here are a reason many keep the pilot lit — its small warmth helps hold moisture at bay through a wet winter.
Skip the pilot, or keep it
If you're rebuilding and choosing a new unit, electronic ignition skips the standing pilot entirely, and battery-backup versions still light when the power's out — worth real thought after days without it. Or keep a millivolt pilot for grid-free simplicity that needs no circuit at all. Either path is one accountable licensed company for the appliance, venting, and gas line. We're 20 minutes west. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll help you pick.
Fireplace help in Canton
We install and service fireplaces throughout Canton and the rest of Haywood County — just 20 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
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?