Why does my pilot light blow out on windy days?
In Leicester, a wind-blown pilot ties into rural life out here — many homes run on propane, some remote properties have limited electrical capacity, and a low tank or starved flame lets the cold-drainage gusts snuff it. On these millivolt, no-electricity systems, a strong pilot matters even more, so we steady the fuel and set the flame right.
Propane, wood, and off-grid realities
Leicester is spread across large rural lots — Sandy Mush, Turkey Creek, Newfound — where a lot of homes run propane or wood heat, and some remote properties have limited electrical capacity. That last part matters for a wind problem: many of these fireplaces are standing-pilot, millivolt systems with no electronics, which is exactly what you want for heat when the grid's down, but it means the pilot has to stay lit on its own. When the propane runs low or the flame burns lazy, a gust finishes the job.
Cold nights find the weak flame
On clear winter nights the cold-air drainage runs these rural valleys 5 to 8 degrees colder than Asheville, and colder, denser air makes the flue more downdraft-prone — the column is heavier and reverses more easily when wind hits the top. A pilot already marginal from a low tank, a frosted regulator, or a summer's worth of spider webbing in the orifice is the first casualty. We confirm the propane's delivering steady pressure and clean the pilot back to a firm blue cone that can hold its own.
The venting, done right
Then we address the termination — a wind-resistant cap cures most chronic downdraft on open and B-vent systems. Connecting or tuning propane and opening the sealed gas control is licensed work; the tank stays with your supplier, but the piping, regulator, and appliance are ours to permit with Buncombe County and pressure-test. Leicester's about 15 minutes west of our shop. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.