A gas fireplace pilot light that keeps going out is usually a worn or dirty thermocouple or thermopile, a dirty pilot assembly, a draft or venting problem, low gas pressure, or a failing gas valve. On electronic ignition units, weak batteries are common. Relight it per the manual once, and if it won't hold, call a technician.
The pilot going out is not the fireplace breaking. It is usually the fireplace protecting you. Below is what each cause means, the few checks that are safe for a homeowner, and the point where the work belongs to a qualified gas fireplace technician. If you smell gas at any point, skip ahead to the safety section and leave the house.
If You Smell Gas, Stop Here and Leave the House
A pilot that keeps going out is a nuisance. A gas smell is an emergency. Southwest Gas, the natural gas utility for the Las Vegas valley, gives clear instructions for a suspected gas leak:
- Get out. Exit the building immediately, tell others to leave, and leave the doors open.
- Do not create a spark. Do not smoke or use matches or lighters, and do not turn any electric switches, thermostats, or appliance controls on or off.
- Do not start or stop an engine or use an automatic garage door.
- Call from a safe place. Once you are away from the building, call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020.
Do not try to relight the pilot, and do not go back inside until emergency officials or the utility say it is safe.
Why Does a Pilot Light Go Out on Its Own?
Every gas fireplace with a pilot has a safety system built around that small flame. Heat & Glo describes a standing safety pilot as one that prevents the flow of gas if the pilot flame is extinguished. A sensor sits in the pilot flame. As long as the sensor is hot, the gas valve stays open. When the sensor cools, the valve closes and the fireplace shuts down.
That means a pilot that "keeps going out" can be one of two things. Either the flame really is being blown out or starved of gas, or the flame is fine and the sensor is no longer reporting it correctly, so the valve shuts it off anyway. Telling those apart is the core of the diagnosis.
Standing Pilot or IPI: Which Kind Do You Have?
The causes and the safe checks depend on the ignition system in your fireplace, so it helps to know which one you have.
- Standing pilot. The pilot burns all the time, even when the fireplace is off. Heat & Glo notes that a manual ignition system has a red or black igniter button you press to spark the pilot. Many standing pilot fireplaces run on the small amount of power the pilot flame itself generates, so they need no household electricity except for a blower.
- Intermittent pilot ignition (IPI). According to Heat & Glo, an IPI system ignites the pilot electronically when the fireplace is turned on, and the pilot does not stay lit when the fireplace is off. Heat & Glo's IntelliFire is an IPI system, and it has a battery backup that supplies power to spark the pilot during a power outage.
If you are not sure which system you have, the owner's manual and the rating plate on the unit will tell you, and a technician can identify it from a photo of the controls.
What Are the Most Common Causes of a Pilot Light That Keeps Going Out?
A Dirty, Weak, or Worn Thermocouple or Thermopile
The thermocouple is the sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is lit. Many standing pilot fireplaces also have a thermopile, which turns the heat of the pilot flame into the small amount of power the controls run on. Thermocouples and thermopiles are safety components, and like any sensor they can wear out or lose sensitivity over time. A tired sensor may hold the valve open for a few minutes or a few hours, then let it drop. A coating of dirt on the sensor can have a similar effect. This is the cause our technicians see most, and it is a parts job for a professional, not a homeowner.
A Dirty or Misaligned Pilot Assembly or a Clogged Pilot Orifice
The pilot flame comes out of a tiny orifice under a small metal hood that shapes the flame and aims it at the sensor. If the orifice is partly clogged, the flame gets small and weak. If the hood or the sensor is bent or out of position, the flame can burn but miss the sensor, and the valve closes as though the pilot were out. Cleaning and realigning the pilot assembly is part of a professional service visit.
Spider Webs, Dust, and Debris in the Pilot Area
A fireplace that sits unused for months collects what any quiet space does: dust, lint, and spider webs. In our fall gas fireplace prep checklist, we note that spiders and debris can partially block a burner port or a vent, and the same material can restrict the small gas passages that feed the pilot. Heat & Glo points out that dust collects behind the front louvers, on top of the fireplace, and in the valve cavity. You can dust the outside of a cool fireplace. Cleaning inside the pilot assembly or the gas passages is a technician's job.
Drafts, Downdrafts, and Venting Problems
Heat & Glo says a pilot flame can be extinguished by excess airflow, particularly in outdoor appliances or fireplaces installed in drafty areas. Indoors, the vent system is the usual suspect. Many gas fireplaces are direct vent, meaning they pull in outside air and send combustion gases outdoors through a vent cap. Wind at that cap, a blocked or damaged cap, or a vent section that has come loose can upset the airflow around the pilot. A proper service visit includes clearing bird nests and other debris from the vent and checking that the vent system is properly sealed. Look at the outside cap from the ground for anything obvious, but leave the inspection and any repair to a technician.
Low Gas Pressure or a Gas Supply Issue
A pilot needs a steady supply of gas at the right pressure. If the fireplace's gas valve or shutoff is partly closed, or the supply pressure is low, the pilot can burn small and weak and drop out. Low gas pressure can also show up as a flame that is overly yellow, flickering, or inconsistent, and pressure problems are among the issues a certified technician is trained to find. Measuring gas pressure takes gauges and access to the gas line, so it is never a do it yourself step.
A Faulty Gas Valve
If the sensor and the pilot flame both check out and the pilot still drops, the gas valve itself may be failing. The valve is the part that opens and closes in response to the sensor, and when it wears out it can shut off the pilot even when everything else is working. Valve replacement is a job for an authorized, factory trained technician. Never open, adjust, or take apart a gas valve.
On IPI Units: Batteries, Power, and the Ignition Module
Electronic ignition fireplaces have their own set of causes. Heat & Glo notes that remote batteries usually last 6 to 12 months under normal use, and that old or weak batteries can cause intermittent operation. Trouble lighting the pilot is often caused by low batteries, and not only in the handheld remote but in the receiver, which Heat & Glo places in the fireplace's control compartment. If fresh batteries and a reset per your manual do not solve it, the ignition module, igniter, or wiring needs a technician's diagnosis.
Why Do Pilot Problems Show Up on the First Cold Nights in Las Vegas?
In Las Vegas, most gas fireplaces sit unused through a long, hot summer. Then the first cool evening arrives and everyone in the valley reaches for the remote on the same week. That is when months of dust, heat, and idle time catch up with a unit.
- Dust and debris. Dust and spider webs have had all summer to settle on the pilot assembly, logs, and burner.
- Batteries. Remote, receiver, and backup batteries may have run down since last winter.
- A gas valve left off. Some owners shut the fireplace gas off for summer and forget to turn it back on.
- Sensors that were already weak. A thermocouple that barely held last spring may not hold at all this fall.
That is why the NFPA advises that heating systems be inspected and cleaned each year before they are fired up for the season. Scheduling service in early fall, before the first cold snap, means problems get found while you are not yet depending on the fire.
What Can a Homeowner Safely Check Before Calling a Pro?
If there is no gas smell, these checks are safe for any homeowner. Anything beyond them belongs to a technician.
- Follow the lighting instructions for your model. Use the lighting instructions on the fireplace label or in the owner's manual. Follow it exactly, including any waiting period before relighting. Heat & Glo notes that pilot lights can go out on any gas appliance and that you can relight it yourself if you are comfortable, or have your dealer do it.
- Confirm the gas valve to the fireplace is on. Heat & Glo describes the supply valve as typically behind the decorative front or below the glass, open when the handle is parallel to the gas line. Only check its position. Do not loosen or disconnect any fitting.
- Replace batteries on IPI or remote controlled units. Check the handheld remote, the receiver, and any battery backup, following your manual. On Heat & Glo IPI systems without an IntelliSwitch wall control, the manufacturer recommends installing backup batteries only during a power outage.
- Look, do not touch. With the glass in place, watch the pilot. Note whether it looks small, weak, yellow, or lifting away from the sensor, and whether it goes out right away or after a while. Those details help a technician narrow down the cause.
If the pilot still will not stay lit after you have followed the manual, stop there. Repeated relighting will not fix a worn sensor or a failing valve. Our guide to what to do when a gas fireplace won't turn on covers the related switch, remote, and thermostat checks.
When Is It Time to Call a Gas Fireplace Technician?
Call a qualified technician if any of these are true:
- The pilot will not stay lit after you follow the manufacturer's lighting instructions.
- The pilot lights but goes out after minutes or hours.
- The pilot flame looks small, weak, yellow, or is lifting off the sensor.
- An IPI unit still will not light after fresh batteries and a reset per the manual.
- The outside vent cap looks blocked, damaged, or loose.
- You see soot, the flame looks wrong, or your carbon monoxide alarm sounds.
Thermocouples, thermopiles, gas valves, pilot assemblies, ignition modules, and gas lines are all professional work. Thermopile and thermocouple replacement should be performed by an authorized, factory trained technician, and Southwest Gas advises that licensed plumbers install and repair natural gas equipment and appliances. Some manufacturers also tie warranty coverage to authorized service.
How Does Annual Service Prevent Pilot Problems?
Nearly every cause on this list is something a yearly service visit is designed to catch. Heat & Glo and Heatilator both recommend annual service by a qualified service person. A thorough annual inspection covers both the appliance and the venting system, including pilot light and ignition problems, gas pressure, and worn safety components. Southwest Gas recommends having natural gas appliances serviced annually by a trained professional, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises having heating systems professionally inspected and serviced every year.
Pair that service with working carbon monoxide alarms. The CPSC recommends battery operated CO alarms, or alarms with battery backup, on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Southwest Gas describes carbon monoxide as poisonous, odorless, and colorless, and says that if you suspect CO, leave the premises, get into fresh air, and call 911.
Pilot Light Repair in Las Vegas and Henderson
Hearth and Home Specialties has been licensed since 2000 and provides gas fireplace service and repair in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. Our licensed technicians handle pilot light and ignition troubleshooting, thermocouple, thermopile, and gas valve replacement, and venting checks on the brands we carry, including Heat & Glo, Heatilator, Valor, Ortal, and Napoleon. We repair the brands we sell and stock parts for, so if you are not sure what you have, a photo of the rating plate helps. Call (702) 474-4099 or visit our showroom at 3555 W. Quail Ave #A. This guide is general information. Always follow your fireplace manufacturer's instructions for your specific model.
Pilot Light FAQs
Why does my gas fireplace pilot light keep going out?
The usual causes are a worn or dirty thermocouple or thermopile, a dirty pilot assembly, drafts or a venting problem, low gas pressure, or a failing gas valve. On electronic ignition units, weak batteries in the receiver or backup are common.
Is it safe to relight my gas fireplace pilot light myself?
Yes, if you follow the lighting instructions on your fireplace's label or owner's manual exactly and do not smell gas. If the pilot will not stay lit after following those steps, stop and call a qualified gas fireplace technician.
Can I replace a thermocouple or thermopile myself?
No. Thermocouples, thermopiles, gas valves, and gas lines are gas components. Replacing or adjusting any of them is a job for a qualified, factory trained gas fireplace technician, never a homeowner, for safety and to protect your warranty.
What is the difference between a standing pilot and IPI?
A standing pilot burns continuously, even when the fireplace is off. An intermittent pilot ignition (IPI) system lights the pilot electronically only when you turn the fireplace on, so no flame burns while the unit is idle.
What should I do if I smell gas near my fireplace?
Leave the house right away and tell others to leave. Do not light anything or operate switches, thermostats, or appliance controls. From a safe place outside, call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020.
How often should a gas fireplace be serviced?
Once a year. Heat & Glo and Heatilator recommend annual service by a qualified technician, and Southwest Gas advises having natural gas appliances serviced annually by a trained professional.
