Yes, you can light a gas fireplace without a standing pilot light. Depending on the type of unit you have—an electronic ignition or a manual key valve system—you can start the fire using batteries, a simple switch, or an external lighter.
Lighting a gas fireplace without a pilot light generally means your unit uses an electronic ignition (IPI) system or a key valve setup.
If your pilot light goes out, the fireplace simply will not turn on. Most modern gas fireplaces feature a built-in safety mechanism—such as a thermocouple or thermopile—that automatically stops the main flow of gas if the flame is extinguished, preventing dangerous gas leaks.
To light a gas fireplace with a lighter, you will need to manually ignite the pilot light. Always open the fireplace cover and check for any gas odors before starting. Keep your face and hands away from the burner area while lighting.
Using a Gas Fireplace During a Power Outage
If it's a simple match-light style, all you need to do is turn on the gas and toss in a match (or use a lighter) like normal, but if it features a pilot light or some type of electronic ignition, it can be a bit more tricky.
14 Common Gas Fireplace Problems & What to Do
Gas fires, or gas fireplaces as they are sometimes called, come in various models. Historically, many gas fires used pilot lights as their primary ignition source. The constant, small flame was always ready to ignite the main burner when the fire was turned on, providing convenience and reliability.
Sleeping in the same room as an open flued gas appliance (back boiler or gas fire) contravenes the gas safety regulations and puts your life in danger. If you are found to be sleeping in the same room as an open flued appliance during one of our visits, your gas heating appliance will be capped off for safety reasons.
To find this information, you can take a look at your most up-to-date gas bill. The cost used to be around 0.3p per kWh but from October 2022, it could be as high as 0.10p*. Using the latter figure, a five kW gas fire would cost around 50 pence to run per hour (five kW multiplied by 10 pence).
Yes, unburned gas will leak if a pilot light goes out, but the danger level depends on the type of appliance and its safety features.
Replacing a gas fireplace igniter costs between $𝟗𝟎 and $𝟑𝟓𝟎 on average. This total breaks down into $𝟐𝟎 to $𝟏𝟐𝟓 for the replacement part itself and $𝟕𝟎 to $𝟐𝟐𝟓 for professional labor.
Not all electronic ignition fireplaces have battery backup capability. To determine if your fireplace can operate on batteries: Check your owner's manual for battery specifications. Look for a battery tray underneath the fireplace.
If your pilot light goes out, the fireplace simply will not turn on. Most modern gas fireplaces feature a built-in safety mechanism—such as a thermocouple or thermopile—that automatically stops the main flow of gas if the flame is extinguished, preventing dangerous gas leaks.
Many models, such as Heat & Glo gas fireplaces and gas inserts are outfitted with IntelliFire or IntelliFire Plus ignition systems, which have battery backup systems that can be used to light the pilot during a power outage.
Fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances are the leading sources for exposure to carbon monoxide. With the proper awareness and preventative action, CO poisoning is entirely preventable. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as wood, gas, charcoal, kerosene, and oil are burned.
Here's an example to help illustrate this, with a fireplace with a Btu rating of 30,000: (30,000 x 1.59) / 100,000 = 0.47. That means it will cost about $0.47 per hour to run your fireplace. If you run your fireplace for 8 hours a night, it will cost $3.76 a day.
Short answer: people are ditching fireplaces. From dodging draughts and dust to embracing cleaner, cheaper heating, old hearths are out and modern solutions like Electric Fire Suites are in. Keep reading to explore the lifestyle, health, and eco reasons behind this cosy-but-smart home trend.
That flame is ready at a moment's notice to fire up your appliance making it instantly ready for use. With an electric ignition appliance (including many newer gas fireplaces), there is no pilot light and the appliance is started with electricity.
Although you can still find gas furnaces with standing pilot lights, they have mostly gone of out use since 2010. If you have a furnace installed after that year, it almost certainly doesn't use a pilot light to light the burners but an electronic ignition system.
Any pilot lights on your appliances will go out if your propane tank runs out -– a problem that can be extremely dangerous if not handled properly.
Gas fireplaces typically last between 10 to 20 years, though high-quality models that receive annual professional maintenance can last up to 30 years. The exact lifespan often depends on the specific components, as parts will degrade at different rates.
Explained, the chimney pipe must be a minimum of three feet above the roof but also two feet taller than anything within ten feet. The portion of the rule stating the pipe needs to be 2 feet above anything within 10 feet is where most people get confused.