Is it safe to relight the pilot myself, or should a professional do it?
In Mars Hill, it splits by where you are. Near the university, easy-use gas fireplaces dominate the rentals, and relighting a standing pilot on those is normal homeowner operation. Out in the Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek valleys, many homes run on propane or burn wood — and a wood stove has no pilot to relight at all. Whatever you've got, repair stays our licensed work. Call (828) 545-0525.
Campus gas, country propane
This is one of the colder spots we serve, and the fireplace picture divides cleanly. The academic-year rentals around Mars Hill University favor simple, dependable gas units — standing-pilot models you can relight yourself by the printed sequence, or electronic-ignition ones with nothing to relight. Up the rural valleys, propane and wood do the heavy lifting. On a propane standing pilot the relight is the same homeowner task; on a wood stove there's no pilot in the picture, just a fire you build. Knowing which you own tells you whether relight is even the right question.
The boundary that doesn't move
Across all of it, one rule holds: lighting is yours, mechanical repair is ours. Opening a propane valve, swapping a thermocouple, or clearing a fouled orifice is licensed gas work in Madison County, and we're the contractor who does it. Because propane settles low if it leaks, any gas smell means everyone out of the house first, then call from outside. A standing pilot that won't hold after a couple of tries is pointing at a dirty sensor, not your method.
Backup heat up the cold valleys
In the rural valleys where propane and wood do the work, a non-electric hearth isn't just cozy — it's the heat that stays on when a storm drops the lines, which happens up here. A standing-pilot propane unit or a wood stove keeps going with the grid down, no circuit board required. Keep it serviced before the cold, since we're 30 minutes off and you won't want to wait. Request a free assessment or call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Mars Hill
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mars Hill and the rest of Madison County — just 30 minutes north 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?