Should I turn off my fireplace pilot light in summer to save gas?
You can, and plenty of folks do — killing a standing pilot for the off-season saves that steady trickle of gas and keeps the firebox cooler in July. The catch: a lit pilot keeps the burner dry and discourages nesting, and makes fall relighting effortless. If you shut it off, plan on a professional relight and tune-up before you need heat.
The case for off
Through a WNC summer you're not using the fireplace, so a year-round standing pilot is pure waste — a few gallons of propane or a few therms of gas, plus a little unwanted heat in a room you're cooling. Shutting the pilot off for the season is a legitimate, safe way to save. And if you have an electronic-ignition unit, the question doesn't even come up — there's no standing pilot to turn off.
The case for leaving it lit
That small flame does two quiet jobs: it keeps the firebox warm and dry so components don't collect condensation and corrode, and it discourages the thing we see every single fall — spiders and dust building nests in the pilot assembly and burner orifices over the off-season. A lit pilot won't fully prevent it, but a cold, open firebox all summer is an open invitation to exactly that.
Either way, service it before fall
Whether you left the pilot on or off, the right move is an annual tune-up in late summer or early fall — before you're depending on it. We clean the burner and pilot assembly, check the safety controls, and relight it properly, which is never a DIY job on the gas side. Maintenance starts from $189. Call (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- How much gas does a standing pilot light use per month?
- Does electronic ignition really use less gas than a standing pilot light?
- Do I need to relight the pilot after a propane refill?
- Should I shut off the propane at the tank when I close up my cabin for the season?
- Should I set up automatic propane delivery or stay on will-call if I use my fireplace a lot?
- How do I know if my house has natural gas or propane?
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