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GAS FIREPLACE REPAIR  SERVICE , maintenance cleaning and repairs MISSISSAUGA ,OAKVILLE ,BURLINGTON, MILTON, ETOBICOKE, Clarkson, Lorne Park, Streetsville, Port Credit, Erin Mills Ontario. 

Is the Pilot Light Functioning on the fireplace ? One of the biggest problems  with gas fireplaces is related to the pilot light. Often times a pilot light won’t turn on, resulting in absolutely zero flames happening in your fireplace. A pilot light that doesn’t glow blue is also a problem, as this means it is not getting hot enough. This piece is found on just about any gas appliance as it is the primary ignition source. To check if it is doing its job just open the vent and look to see if there is a small flame inside. If it is out, you might just need to merely relight it with a match or a lighter. Special types of extended match holders and long nozzled lighters specialize in just this sort of thing. If it doesn’t stay on despite relighting or if the flame is burning too cool, then you probably have a more serious problem on your hands. For instance, excess moisture can build up in the gas line. All you have to do is go to the gas meter and find the tee – drain the capped pipe that holds the moisture. If this doesn’t work you may just need to clean it. If you continue to have lighting issues past this you may need to take a closer look at the thermocouple or thermopile. Check the Thermocouple or Thermopile Both the thermocouple and thermopile are used to generate electricity to light the fire and be a general sensor for the temperature. If either of these malfunction than the pilot light will not be able to do its job. The thermocouple is often found in older gas fireplaces and the number one issue related to these is that they aren’t hooked up correctly, or not properly secured. Check the wires, screws, and tubing to see if everything is in the proper places. Thermopiles are a bit newer and are often found in the latest models of gas fireplaces. Because they generate electricity that is measured in millivolts, they are often called millivolt generators. Like their predecessor, their main problem is usually that they aren’t hooked up correctly or have loose wiring. Replacement of these are difficult and should only be done when all other issues related to the fireplace are resolved. Airflow and Chimney Issues Unless you have a ventless gas fireplace, you should have some sort of chimney attached. All chimneys regardless of what they are attached to act on a simple principle: Hot air rises, while cooler air drops. Gas fireplaces, if they ever are producing smoke can come from numerous areas – improper log alignment, dirty burners, misaligned screen, or negative air pressure within the home. Sometimes the issue can be with the chimney, stopping the warmer leftover gas from leaving the fireplace properly. Higher efficiency models actually have an issue that less efficient ones don’t – in that there isn’t enough heat being radiated through the flue, resulting in lower flue temperature. This can result in condensation building up inside the chimney itself. It is recommended to have a certified chimney sweep who is familiar with gas models to look at your fireplace at least once a year so they can prevent these problems. It is important to keep in mind that when starting a gas fireplace it may be necessary to slightly open a window or door for the first few minutes of lighting the fireplace to release any negative pressure within the home. This will allow the heat to rise and force the fireplace to draw. Keep Everything Clean Not cleaning and upkeeping your fireplace can result in lower-than-average flame height, parts of the fireplace breaking down often, an even gas leaks. Taking the time a couple times a year to keep everything clean will greatly increase the lifespan and efficiency of your gas fireplace.

GAS FIREPLACE REPAIR  SERVICE , MAINTENANCE CLEANING AND REPAIRS MISSISSAUGA ,OAKVILLE ,BURLINGTON, MILTON, ETOBICOKE, CLARKSON, LORNE PARK, STREETSVILLE, PORT CREDIT, ERIN MILLS ONTARIO. 

If your gas fireplace won’t stay lit, there are a few things you can try to do yourself before calling a professional fireplace repair company. PRO TIP: Any attempts to service your own gas fireplace you do at your own risk – and the risk of your family, pets, and property. Sometimes it’s better to just hire a professional. In my opinion, this is one of those things! Gas fireplaces, furnaces, and other combustion appliances are safe when professionally installed and maintained. Done improperly, the risk of gas leaks, explosions, fire, and carbon monoxide poisoning are very real. My Gas Fireplace Won’t Stay Lit! If you’re reading this article, it’s safe to assume your gas fireplace either won’t stay lit, or won’t light at all. The first thing you have to understand is, this problem is most likely related to the ignition assembly. Depending on the fireplace model, the ignition assembly usually consists of the pilot light assembly, pilot tubing, thermocouple & thermopile. Is Your Pilot Light Lit? Nothing irks me more than when I call my internet service provider to report an outage and they ask me if my modem is plugged in. That said, you know there’s a reason they have to ask that right? You know there is a percentage of people that probably say; “Oops never mind.” So, have you checked to see if your pilot light is lit? If not, relight the pilot by following the instructions on your hearth or in your user manual. Again, I hate to say it but… is your gas even turned on? We see a few a year where the gas isn’t on or the propane tank is empty! PRO TIP: If you do not know how to light a pilot light, you probably really need to call a pro rather than reading on. I’m not trying to be mean – I’m trying to advise you to stay safe! If you lit your pilot light and everything appears to be functioning normally now, you are good to go! However, consider calling a pro to perform maintenance and cleaning of your fireplace. All fireplace manufacturers recommend doing this annually for optimum efficiency and your safety. My Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit fireplace repair service nearbyIf the pilot light on your gas fireplace won’t stay lit, a very likely culprit is a component called a thermocouple. A thermocouple is a safety device and is a component of the ignition system. Its purpose is to not allow the gas valve to open if the pilot light isn’t lit. Without this device, your gas valve could allow gas to leak into your home…enough said right? The thermocouple is a metal rod that sticks out right in front of the pilot itself. It senses if flame is present or not. If the pilot light is lit, it heats up the thermocouple. This opens the gas valve and allows gas to enter the burner ports…and just like that, fire! Try Cleaning Off Your Thermocouple if Your Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit It’s not unusual for the thermocouple to collect carbon deposit buildup after a season of use. After all, your thermocouple is sitting in direct flame its whole life. If after inspection you determine there is a carbon buildup on it, try cleaning it off. The best way to do this is with a strip of fine grit sandpaper. Lightly rub it back and forth until it appears to shine again. Often, you’ll find that’s enough to fix a fireplace that won’t stay lit. If that doesn’t work, the technician in me wants to recommend you call a pro. While it’s neither expensive or difficult to replace a thermocouple, it’s not an expensive repair from a fireplace contractor either. Difference being, the contractor can test all the other components and even clean it for you while he’s there. What’s the Difference Between a Thermocouple and Thermopile? fireplace thermopile arizonaOverall, a thermocouple and thermopile are the same thing. Both use the energy derived from heat to convert it to electricity. A thermopile is simply a series of thermocouples bundled together. As a result, a thermopile generates more electrical current than a thermocouple. A thermopile can be used to power a thermostat in some appliances. However, a thermocouple does not provide enough electricity to do so. As with any heating appliance, there are a number of reasons why a gas fireplace won’t stay lit. Although typically the ignition system is the issue, here are some other common issues: Incorrect Gas Pressure– Fireplace technicians use a tool called a manometer to measure the gas flow through the gas valve. When the gas pressure is not set properly, the fireplace will not stay lit. If it’s just out of adjustment, the technician can get it back in calibration. If you own a manometer and know how to use it, you can do this easily yourself. I assume people reading this article do not – which is why I lead with having a fireplace technician do it. Faulty Gas Valve– After ignition system components, a faulty gas valve is the next most common component failure we see in gas fireplaces. While gas valves typically last the life of a fireplace, they are a functional component and subject to fail. There’s way too much at risk to suggest a layperson mess with a gas valve replacement – so I won’t. It’s deinitely time to call a fireplace service company if your gas valve is broken – period! Clogged / Dirty Burner Ports– Usually, clogged burner ports will cause your gas fireplace to have uneven flame distribution. More often than not the hearth will perform poorly, not fail to stay lit. However, in my thirty years as a fireplace technician, I have seen it happen. Gas Fireplace Cleaning You can clean your burner ports yourself with care and attention to detail. Do not use chemicals or water! I recommend using a soft bristle brush, rags and a toothbrush to get the job done. TIP: Never use anything to poke or drill out burner ports! TIP: It’s very important to replace the gas logs in the same location you removed them. Gas log sets are strategically designed and placed for proper flame distribution, heating, and operation. You may find it’s very dusty in the components cabinet of your fireplace. This is pretty common even after just one season of use. Some disposable rags, a feather duster, and a good wet/dry vacuum should do the trick. Be very careful not to disturb any of the wiring and even more so, any of the gas tubing – move slowly and methodically. Fireplace Glass Cleaning When it comes to fireplace glass cleaning, things can get a little tricky. With the many styles and types of gas fireplaces and inserts, procedures for removing the glass vary widely. Breaking that glass can lead to expensive repairs, and in some cases parts may no longer be available. For that reason, I highly recommend hiring a professional for fireplace glass cleaning. Certainly I’ve explained how to do much more complicated things than glass cleaning in this article, why not just explain this one? I’ve seen homeowners accidentally break their fireplace glass before. It’s hard to watch when they realize how much it will cost to repair vs. what they would’ve paid a professional to clean it. Whether you repair your own fireplace or not, you should have it inspected and serviced professionally annually. It’s not very expensive to add glass cleaning to keep your fireplace looking its best. Plus, you won’t have to worry about how to disassemble and reassemble the fireplace.

GAS FIREPLACE REPAIR  SERVICE , MAINTENANCE CLEANING AND REPAIRS MISSISSAUGA ,OAKVILLE ,BURLINGTON, MILTON, ETOBICOKE, CLARKSON, LORNE PARK, STREETSVILLE, PORT CREDIT, ERIN MILLS ONTARIO.