Is it safe to relight the pilot myself, or should a professional do it?
In Fletcher, a lot of fireplaces are the builder-grade gas units that went into the 1990s subdivisions — classic standing-pilot models you absolutely can relight yourself. The catch is age: thirty years on, that pilot assembly is the first thing to clog, so relights that used to be easy start needing two or three tries. That's the signal to have it cleaned. Call (828) 545-0525.
The 30-year-old pilot
Fletcher sits on natural-gas mains, and the 1990s subdivisions here are full of builder-grade direct-vent fireplaces with standing pilots — reliable, relightable, and now getting on in years. A standing pilot burns continuously, and after decades the small orifice that feeds it collects dust, lint, and the summer's cobwebs until the flame gets starved. Relighting by the label is fine, and a cold-start second try is ordinary. But when a pilot that always lit now fights you every time, that's not technique — it's a clogged assembly or a tired thermocouple asking for a cleaning, and that's service work.
Homes, and the businesses too
The I-26 and airport corridor means we service plenty of commercial gas fireplaces and outdoor features around Fletcher as well, and the rule is identical: relighting is operation, but opening the valve or replacing parts is licensed gas work reserved for a contractor like us in Henderson County. Smell gas, clear the building and call from outside. A yellow, lazy flame instead of crisp blue means stop.
Book the tune-up before fall
A thirty-year-old standing pilot rewards a yearly cleaning more than almost any unit we service — clear the orifice, test the thermocouple, and those two-or-three-try relights go back to lighting first time. Late summer is the moment, before the corridor's homes and businesses all fire up at once — the season when our schedule fills fastest. Common parts ride on our truck, so most fixes are a single visit and you're not left cold while a part gets ordered. We're 20 minutes south; call (828) 545-0525 or request a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Fletcher
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fletcher and the rest of Henderson County — just 20 minutes south 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?