In the end, keeping the gas fireplace pilot light on or off is a personal preference. The decision boils down to residual heat, gas usage, and the possibility of nesting spiders. Generally, we recommend turning off the gas pilot light during the summer months.
Yes, it can stay on all the time. If you want to turn it off for summer, turn the gas to the fireplace off and it will go out. Then you'll have to relight it in fall/winter when you want to use the fireplace.
LP gas is measured in terms of gallons. There are 92,000 BTU's per gallon. The price of one gallon of LP is $1.10, which means that you will have to pay roughly $5.20 every month to keep your pilot light on.
Pilot lights can be a source of carbon monoxide because the by-products of combustion are released inside the home rather than vented to the outside.
After lighting the pilot, continue to hold the control knob pushed in for 30 seconds. *Pilot lights utilize a safety feature called a thermo coupler. This device needs to be heated up for around thirty seconds, so it can expand and allow gas to flow through safely.
Here's a breakdown:
A fireplace pilot light might consume about 24,000 BTU per day, adding up to about 720,000 BTU a month, or 7.2 therms. If you're paying $1 per therm, then leaving the pilot light on all the time throughout a month might cost you around $7 per month and $84 per year.
The answer to “is it safe to leave a gas fireplace on all night” is no. There is no gas-burning fireplace that would be guaranteed safe to run all night while you and your family are sleeping.
Although this is an area of concern for many people, the reality is that boilers are built so that the gas supply to the pilot light is shut off if the flame goes out. Whilst the cause of pilot light failure needs to be investigated, extinguished pilot lights aren't going to cause a gas leak.
You start smelling strange odors
This smell should go away after three to four hours of use. A dirty fireplace with excessive pet hair or dust can also produce an odor. If you smell rotten eggs, call for help immediately, as you likely have a gas leak.
One of the main risks of leaving the pilot light on is the possibility of gas leaks, which can be hazardous if not detected and addressed promptly. Gas leaks stemming from a continuously burning pilot light can lead to a range of dangers, including fire hazards, health risks, and potential explosions.
If the pilot light is extinguished, allow at least 5 minutes for accumulated gas to disperse after turning off the gas valve before attempting to relight the pilot. Follow manufacturer's specific instructions for relighting the pilot after the gas has dispersed.
The Cost of Relighting the Pilot Light
A plumber can help reignite the pilot light. They will charge you an hourly fee of $40 to $150. This is usually a fairly brief project, and may just take an hour.
There are approximately 92,000 BTUs in one gallon of LP. 432,000 BTUs represent about 4.7 gallons of LP. At $1.10/gallon, you're spending about $5.20 monthly to keep the pilot going. At $1.30/gallon, you would spend approximately $6.10 every month.
Gas fireplaces are far safer than their wood-burning counterparts—no matches, no smoke, no sparks, no backdrafts, no soot—but that doesn't mean owners should ignore basic precautions. Here are a few things you can do to minimize the dangers posed by even the safest modern fireplace.
Safety. One of the main concerns about leaving the pilot light on during summer is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly if inhaled in high concentrations. The pilot light can produce carbon monoxide even when no fire is burning in the fireplace.
One of the most common problems faced by homeowners with gas fireplaces is the pilot light going out or not staying lit. The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner, which produces the heat for your fireplace — if the pilot light goes out, your fireplace won't work.
Englund suggests starting by opening windows in the room where the fireplace is located, and perhaps opening some other windows on the same floor to create cross-ventilation. Turn on overhead ceiling fans or other ventilation if possible.
In the end, keeping the gas fireplace pilot light on or off is a personal preference. The decision boils down to residual heat, gas usage, and the possibility of nesting spiders. Generally, we recommend turning off the gas pilot light during the summer months.
However, it's important to understand the risks of turning off your pilot light. Gas leaks and explosions are just two of the dangers that can occur when your pilot light is turned off unexpectedly. Instead, it's always best to leave the pilot light on when you're not home.
For every hour, the pilot emits 0.4 milligrams of carbon monoxide. In 24 hours, that is 96 mg of carbon monoxide inhalation, and in 365 days, 3048-plus mg's. That's a lot. If all your home's primary heat originates from gas appliances, you need to be aware of this healthiness risk if not already.
Gas Fireplaces and Safety
Although there are different types and styles of gas fireplaces some of which burn more safely and efficiently than others, the general rule is to NOT allow your fireplace to burn through the night. For safety, all fireplaces should be monitored properly to prevent fatal accidents.
Although gas log fireplace inserts and direct-vent gas log fireplaces can run continuously, please note this safety guideline: DO NOT leave a gas fireplace on overnight. Among the potential dangers is the release of carbon monoxide fumes during combustion.
Best For Lifespan: Gas Fireplace
The best fireplace lifespan would be gas fireplaces. Gas fireplaces last, on average, 20–25 years.