Is it safe to relight the pilot myself, or should a professional do it?
In Leicester, out on the rural properties toward Sandy Mush, plenty of homes run millivolt gas fireplaces on purpose — they need no house current, so they keep working when the power doesn't. Those use a standing pilot, and relighting it yourself is normal, expected seasonal operation. It's when the pilot won't hold that you've crossed from lighting into licensed repair. Call (828) 545-0525.
Why the pilot matters more here
Some remote Leicester properties have limited electrical capacity, and many homes run on propane, so a millivolt gas fireplace — the kind that generates its own tiny current from the pilot flame and needs nothing plugged in — is a deliberate, sensible choice. The trade-off is that the standing pilot is the heart of the system: it powers the valve. Relighting it by the label is routine homeowner work, and on these units you'll do it more than most. But a pilot that keeps dropping out means the thermocouple or thermopile — the sensors that turn that little flame into working voltage — is failing, and that's a service call.
Cold hollows, licensed hands
Leicester's rural valleys drain cold air, running 5 to 8 degrees below Asheville on clear winter nights, so a dependable hearth earns its keep out here — and wood heat is popular for the same off-grid reason. Whatever the fuel, the boundary holds: you relight, we repair. Opening a propane or gas valve is licensed work in Buncombe County, ours to do. Propane leaks settle low, so any smell means out and call. We're 15 minutes west.
Heat that doesn't need the grid
The same millivolt design that has you relighting the pilot is what keeps these Sandy Mush homes warm when the power's out — no circuit board, no blower, just the flame. Paired with the wood heat popular out here, it's genuine grid-independent warmth, which counts on rural lines that tend to get restored last. Keep the pilot system serviced so it's ready when a storm hits. Call (828) 545-0525 or request a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 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?