Troubleshooting
Won't light, soot, smells, noises — what's wrong and what to do about it.
won't light
- Why won't my gas fireplace turn on at all?
- My gas fireplace pilot is lit but the main burner won't come on — what's wrong?
- Why does my gas fireplace click repeatedly but never light?
- Why won't my gas fireplace light after a power outage?
- Why won't my gas fireplace light the first time I try it in the fall?
- Why does my gas fireplace take several tries before it lights?
- Why won't my propane fireplace light after the tank ran empty and was refilled?
- Why won't my gas fireplace light when it's very cold outside?
- Why won't my gas fireplace turn off?
- Nothing happens when I flip the switch on my fireplace — where do I start troubleshooting?
- How do I tell whether my gas fireplace has a standing pilot or electronic ignition?
- Can I light my gas fireplace manually if the ignition system fails?
pilot light problems
- Why does my gas fireplace pilot light keep going out?
- How do I relight the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
- Why does the pilot go out as soon as I release the control knob?
- Why does my pilot light go out when I turn on the main burner?
- Why does my pilot light blow out on windy days?
- Why is my pilot flame weak, small, or split?
- Why is my pilot flame yellow instead of blue?
- What is a thermocouple and how do I know if mine is failing?
- What is a thermopile and how do I test it with a multimeter?
- Can spiders or insects clog a gas fireplace pilot?
- Why is there a small flame in my fireplace even when it's turned off?
flame appearance
- Why are my gas fireplace flames blue instead of yellow?
- Why are the flames in my gas fireplace so small and low?
- Why does my gas fireplace flame look lazy or weak?
- Why is only part of my gas fireplace burner lighting?
- Why does the flame lift off the burner or seem to float?
- Why are my gas fireplace flames suddenly too tall?
- Why don't the embers in my gas log set glow anymore?
- Why does the flame on my linear gas fireplace look uneven along the burner?
- Why does my gas fireplace burn differently after being converted between natural gas and propane?
- Does high elevation affect how my gas fireplace burns?
soot problems
- Why is black soot forming on my gas fireplace logs?
- Why is my gas fireplace glass turning black?
- Why is there soot on the wall or mantel above my fireplace?
- Why do my vented gas logs produce soot even though they're vented?
- Can rearranging the logs in a gas fireplace cause sooting?
- Is soot from a gas fireplace a sign of a carbon monoxide problem?
- How do I clean soot off gas fireplace glass and logs?
- Why did the fire glass in my linear fireplace turn black?
- Why does my see-through gas fireplace soot up more than a regular fireplace?
- What is the white or gray flaky buildup on my gas logs?
odors and smells
- Why does my gas fireplace smell like burning dust the first time I use it each season?
- Why does my brand-new gas fireplace smell when it runs?
- Why does my fireplace smell like rotten eggs even when it's off?
- Why does my gas fireplace smell like burning plastic or chemicals?
- Why does my ventless gas fireplace smell when it's running?
- Why does my ventless fireplace give me a headache or make the air feel stuffy?
- Why do I smell exhaust fumes when my direct-vent fireplace is running?
- Why does my wood-burning fireplace smell bad in the summer?
- Why does my fireplace smell musty?
- Why does my electric fireplace smell like something is burning?
noises
- Why does my gas fireplace make a boom or loud whoosh when it ignites?
- Why does my gas fireplace whistle while it's burning?
- Why does my gas fireplace make a constant clicking noise?
- Why does my gas fireplace hum or buzz?
- Why does my fireplace make ticking or popping sounds as it heats up and cools down?
- Why does my pilot light make a hissing noise?
- Why does my gas fireplace roar or sound louder than it used to?
- Why does my chimney howl or moan when it's windy?
- Why does my wood stove make banging or clanging noises?
remote and controls
- Why is my gas fireplace remote not working?
- My remote says the fireplace is on but nothing lights — what's wrong?
- How do I re-sync or pair a fireplace remote with its receiver?
- Where is the receiver box for my fireplace remote located?
- Do gas fireplaces have batteries, and can dead batteries stop the fireplace from working?
- Why won't my fireplace light even after I changed the batteries in the remote and receiver?
- Why does my fireplace turn on by itself?
- Why does my fireplace keep cycling on and off in thermostat mode?
- My fireplace remote is lost or broken — can it be replaced with a universal remote?
- Why doesn't my fireplace wall switch work?
- Can I replace a fireplace wall switch with a regular light switch?
blower problems
glass problems
- Is it normal for gas fireplace glass to fog up when it first lights?
- Why is there a white cloudy film on my gas fireplace glass that won't wipe off?
- Why is there constant moisture or condensation behind my fireplace glass?
- What would cause fireplace glass to crack or shatter?
- Can cracked fireplace glass be replaced, and does it need to be special glass?
error codes
water and rust
drafts and cold air
smoke in house
- Why does smoke come into the room when I use my wood-burning fireplace?
- Why does my fireplace smoke only when I first light it?
- Why does my wood stove puff smoke into the room when I open the door?
- Why does my fireplace smoke only on windy days?
- Why does my fireplace backdraft when the furnace or a bathroom fan is running?
- Why doesn't my wood-burning insert draft as well as it used to?
wood burning issues
- Why won't my wood fire stay lit?
- Why is my wood stove burning through wood so fast?
- Why won't my wood stove get up to temperature?
- Why is my wood stove glass turning black?
- How do I know if my wood stove door gasket needs replacing?
- Why is my wood stove getting too hot or glowing red?
- How can I tell if my wood stove's catalytic combustor has failed?
- Why is black liquid dripping from my stove pipe or inside my chimney?
- Why is my fireplace damper stuck open or closed?
shuts off unexpectedly
- Why does my gas fireplace shut off by itself after a few minutes?
- Why does my gas fireplace run for 20–30 minutes and then shut down?
- Why does my ventless gas fireplace keep shutting itself off?
- Why does my gas fireplace shut down in windy or snowy weather?
- Why is my gas fireplace putting out less heat than it used to?
- Why do my windows sweat with condensation when I run my ventless fireplace?
- Why does my carbon monoxide detector go off when I use my fireplace?
- Why does the wall above my fireplace get so hot?
electric fireplace issues
- Why won't my electric fireplace turn on?
- Why does my electric fireplace show flames but blow no heat?
- Why does my electric fireplace heat work but the flame effect doesn't?
- Why does my electric fireplace flame effect flicker, strobe, or look dim?
- Why does my electric fireplace keep tripping the circuit breaker?
- Why does my electric fireplace shut off by itself?
- Why is my electric fireplace blowing cold air on the heat setting?
- Why is my electric fireplace making a clicking or grinding noise?
- Why isn't my electric fireplace remote working?
fire pit problems
- Why won't my gas fire pit ignitor spark?
- Why does my fire pit spark but not light?
- Why won't my gas fire pit stay lit?
- Why is my fire pit flame so low?
- Why does my propane fire pit flame shrink or die even with a full tank?
- Why does my gas fire pit light unevenly across the burner?
- Why do the fire glass or lava rocks in my fire pit pop and crackle?
- Will rainwater sitting in my gas fire pit damage it?
- Why won't my outdoor gas fireplace light on windy days?
- Why does my outdoor wood-burning fireplace smoke so badly?
- Why are there black stains above my outdoor fireplace opening?