Save Energy and Money – Don't Leave Your Pilot Light Always On. As the weather gets warmer, you will be using your gas fireplace less and less. Turning off your gas fireplace seasonally can save you a substantial amount of energy and money.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Protect Your Fireplace
If your fireplace has glass panels, leaving your pilot light on for long periods of time (such as, say, over the summer) can cause sulfur buildup and permanently damage the glass. Additionally, an active pilot light can create moisture, which may collect inside the pipes and cause corrosion.
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.
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. Gas ovens and ranges should be monitored closely and kept in good working order.
There Is Dust and Debris Burning
If your gas fireplace smells like gas or burning plastic, it may just be dust, pet dander, and other debris from the air being burned up by the fire.
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.
A long fireplace match, or one of those long neck refillable butane lighters. Light the match/lighter and put it in front of the gas outlet. Slowly turn the gas on, and remove the match/lighter.
Leaving the pilot light on consumes more gas, and it doesn't make sense to pay for it when you're not using it. Depending on gas prices in your area, the monthly savings may seem insignificant, but they add up.
In many systems, a broken pilot light will prevent the appliance from working at all. This is a safety precaution to prevent a buildup of excess gas in the unit, which can be dangerous for you and your family, potentially leading to a gas leak.
Once the gas fireplace pilot light ignites, continue to hold the pilot control knob for approximately 15 to 30 seconds. This ensures the standing pilot light stays lit.
The pilot light, however, is an actual old-fashioned flame inside your furnace. This flame is supplied by your gas line and should always be lit.
10. Don't Leave your Fireplace Unattended. Whether it's an indoor or outdoor gas fireplace, it is strongly recommended not to leave the appliance unattended for extended periods.
There are two basic rules for leaving a fireplace operating during the night. DON'T leave the unit on overnight. DO leave the flue open so that excess carbon monoxide is vented. The main concern with a gas-burning appliance is the exhaust of carbon monoxide and leaving the unit on overnight is simply risky.
The average cost to run a gas fireplace is $1.20 to $6.30 per day, or $40 to $190 per month when running the fireplace 3 to 6 hours a day. The cost of running a gas fireplace depends on the fuel type, home location, and the fireplace size, type, and efficiency.
Best For Lifespan: Gas Fireplace
The best fireplace lifespan would be gas fireplaces. Gas fireplaces last, on average, 20–25 years.