Should I turn off the pilot light on my gas fireplace in the summer?
You can, and it comes down to a genuine tradeoff rather than a clear right answer. Turning it off saves a little gas and keeps a bit of unwanted heat out of the room in summer. Leaving it lit keeps the firebox slightly warm and dry, which fights the condensation and rust that plague rarely-used units. If your firebox tends to get damp or rusty, lean toward leaving it on; if it stays dry, shutting it off for the off-season is perfectly reasonable. Electronic-ignition units have no standing pilot to shut off at all.
The case for off
Most homeowners we talk to are surprised a pilot burns year-round at all. It's a small flame, but over a full Asheville summer it's months of gas doing nothing, plus a trickle of unwanted heat you don't want in July.
If your unit uses a standing pilot and you're comfortable operating the control knob's off/pilot/on dial — which is homeowner-operable — shutting it down for the off-season is reasonable and saves fuel.
The case for leaving it on
There's a real reason manufacturers often suggest leaving it lit. That tiny flame keeps the firebox a few degrees warm and dry, which fights the condensation and rust that plague rarely-used fireplaces. Some homeowners also count on the warmth to discourage insects from nesting around the burner and pilot, though that's less of a sure thing — the sheltered pilot assembly is a favorite off-season hideout either way.
Spiders and mud daubers webbing up that pilot assembly are the classic WNC off-season failure — a clogged pilot that won't light on the first cold night — and leaving the flame on is no guarantee against it. So it's a real tradeoff, not a clear win either way.
How to decide
If you have electronic or IntelliFire-style ignition, there's nothing to do — no standing pilot. If you have a standing pilot and your firebox tends to get damp or rusty, either leave the pilot on or turn it off and run the unit briefly every few weeks to dry it out.
Either way, the real safeguard is the annual tune-up: we clean the pilot and burner, clear any nesting, and make sure it lights on the first cold night. If your pilot won't relight after a summer off, don't force it — call (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- How do I shut down my gas fireplace for the summer?
- Is it good to run my gas fireplace occasionally during the off-season?
- How do I keep dust and debris out of my fireplace during the months it is not used?
- How do I get my fireplace ready for fall and winter?
- Why is there moisture or rust in a fireplace I rarely use?
- How often should a gas fireplace be serviced?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
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