The gas fireplace in the house I just bought won't turn on — what should I do first?
First, confirm the basics before assuming it's broken: make sure the gas is actually on (a valve at the wall or the propane tank may be shut off), check that the wall switch and remote batteries are live, and confirm the unit even has fuel. If you smell gas at any point, stop, leave, and call us. Otherwise, a no-start is usually a small, fixable thing.
Rule out the harmless stuff first
Before you assume anything's broken, run the checks that don't involve touching the gas train. Is the gas actually on? A valve at the wall or floor near the fireplace may be turned off, and out in propane country the tank valve may be closed or the tank empty — sellers often shut everything down when they move out.
Is the wall switch on, and is it actually wired to the fireplace? If it runs on a remote, the receiver and handset both take batteries that die. And know your ignition type: a standing pilot behaves differently than an electronic (IPI) system.
What's usually behind a no-start
Most no-starts on an inherited fireplace trace to something small and affordable. A dead thermocouple or thermopile — the sensor that proves the pilot is lit — is common. So is a pilot orifice clogged by spiders and dust after the house sat vacant, dead remote batteries, a bad switch, or simply gas that was left off.
These are inexpensive parts and quick labor, and most get fixed in a single visit. What you should not do is start pulling apart the gas valve or pilot assembly yourself — gas-train work is licensed for a reason.
One hard rule, then call us
If you smell gas at any point — a rotten-egg odor — stop, leave the house, and call from outside. That's not a diagnostic, that's a safety call, and we run a 24/7 emergency line.
If there's no smell and the basic checks don't wake it up, book a diagnostic; the fee is quoted upfront with no mystery charges, and whatever we find gets priced before we fix it. Call (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- My gas fireplace pilot light won't stay lit — does that mean I need a new fireplace?
- There are no manuals for the fireplace in my new house — how do I get them?
- My new house has a fireplace that looks like it was never used — how do I know if it works?
- Is it safe to use the fireplace in a house I just bought before having it serviced?
- How do I find the make and model of an existing fireplace?
- How long does a gas fireplace last?
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