Is it safe to relight the pilot myself, or should a professional do it?
In Canton, one question comes first: did your fireplace or its gas controls go through floodwater? If so, do not relight it — a submerged gas valve or control isn't something you dry out and relight, it's something we inspect and usually replace. On a unit that never flooded, relighting a standing pilot yourself is normal and safe. Call (828) 545-0525 before relighting anything that got wet.
Water and gas don't mix
The Pigeon River valley took on serious water in recent years, and a lot of Canton hearths and gas appliances came out of it damaged. This matters for relighting: once a gas valve, control board, or millivolt system has been submerged, its internals corrode and its safety function can't be trusted — the manufacturer's instructions say replace, not relight. Trying to spark a flood-exposed unit is the one relight we tell people never to attempt. We check the gas connections, verify the valve, and make the call on repair versus replacement. That's licensed gas work in Haywood County, and exactly our lane.
For the units that stayed dry
If your fireplace never saw the flood, it works like any other standing-pilot gas hearth — follow the lighting label and you're fine. Canton's valley-floor fog and dampness are still tough on hardware, rusting dampers and chimney caps earlier than you'd expect, so a corroded pilot assembly that won't hold is common enough. Stop and call if you smell gas (leave the house first) or if the flame burns weak and yellow. And for homes getting new or replacement units after the flooding, that work is permitted through Haywood County and inspected — one accountable shop for the appliance, the gas line, and the sign-off, so nothing gets stranded between trades — and the permit protects your home sale and your insurance. We're 20 minutes west, and after everything this valley has been through, we'd rather you call us to check a questionable unit than gamble on it: (828) 545-0525.
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
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
- How long should I wait before trying again if the pilot doesn't catch on the first try?
- How do I completely shut off the gas to my fireplace, and where is the shutoff valve?
- I rent my home — is it OK for me to light the pilot and use the gas fireplace myself, or should I go through my landlord?
- 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?