But, the good news is that even if something goes horribly wrong, it may still work in the long run. Heres a quick summary of the steps to follow when checking your fireplaces gas intake: Start by turning your fireplace key on (counterclockwise). Anything less than 25 mV indicates a faulty thermocouple. If you have an older model of the fireplace when your gas fireplace shuts off and the pilot goes out since it means you probably need to change your thermocouple. Install & Owners Manuals. Regency Fireplace Products | Gas Inserts, Wood Stoves, & More! Grasp the sides and pull the panel up and away. In our troubleshooting guide, we will provide detailed information about patio heater thermocouples and where to locate them. Put your thermocouple back into position. Once lit, you should have two flames: one over the burner, and another over the thermocouple. It should be dark blue in the outer flame, and sky blue in the center. You can usually find this near your fireplace (ours is on the floor next to the fireplace), but sometimes its found in the laundry room or other nearby room. Gas fireplace repair costs $200 to $1,000 on average. Use a wrench to make sure the nut is tightly connected to the gas valve. Rub until you remove all the soot on its surface. Although not a common fault with gas fireplaces, just like every other component, it is subject to failure. Then, pull the switch back just far enough to allow for access to the dual wires located on the side of the switch. To temporarily sort the situation, you can bypass thermocouples until you have funds to replace them. If youve cleaned your pilot light, and believe its not heating the thermocouple sufficiently, test your thermocouple by using a lighter to heat it up. Before you can access the thermocouple, you will need to take the access panel off. Just like the thermocouple, the thermopile can be read with a multimeter to check if its the cause of the problem. Yes, but, Can You Paint A Marble Fireplace? If you don't get pilot lighting, check the thermocouple and repair your fireplace to keep your home safe and warm all year round. It checks to make sure the pilot light is on. This site is the place where I share everything Ive learned to help you with your fireplace needs. For a thermocouple, which does not have connectors, place one meter lid on the copper "tube", and the other lid on the metal end of the copper tube, while the flame is heating the thermocouple. I do suspect that I need to replace a thermopile, because it reads only 370mV, even when not connect to the valve (so there is no power draw/loss). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Step 2: Disconnect the probe from the clamp. Make sure to turn off your gas flow before conducting the test since youll have to remove the thermocouple. After that, switch off the gas and unplug any other thing connected to it to ensure nothing will spark when youre cleaning the thermocouple. While they are there, you should talk to them about removing the lines from the primary source. Normally when the thermocouple malfunctions or isnt working, it simply shuts off the gas to your heater. If your fire pit is fueled by propane, close the valve on the tank and disconnect the fuel line from the tank before working on the appliance. The prices can vary greatly depending on the type of fireplace you have as well as the issue that is causing your fireplace to stop lighting. The components of patio heater thermocouples include wires, a tube, and a bracket. The best way to clean your thermocouple is to use either a piece of steel wool or the coarse side of a sponge to gently clean off any soot or other remnants. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}. It is not intended to be a complete DIY diagnostic or to replace the support of a qualified technician. If that is something youre looking for, keep reading because well make it as simple as possible. It would become very frustrating if you were halfway through the process only to find out that you needed to run to the nearest hardware store. A gas leak is a very serious threat to your home and can quickly turn into a raging fire. Read more. Priddy Chimney Sweeps is licensed, bonded, and insured in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. All of our electronic ignition gas logs come with a remote control that will light the pilot, control the flame height and have a built-in thermostat so you can set a room temperature and maintain it. The following is only an educational overview of how gas fireplace components are checked. The thermocouple is located next to the electrode and when it is heated by the flame, it generates a small electric current that will hold the valve open. Try turning on the fireplace as usual. To bypass the thermocouple: The thermocouple and thermopile are the two most common reasons why a gas fireplace wont stay lit. Call Air Experts at 919-480-2727 or contact us online today to schedule furnace repair service! A tiny flame known as a standing flame is used to heat a small probe called a thermocouple, or thermopile. As you can see, this is why it is crucial to be in an open area away from anything that could cause a spark. The thermocouple must stay in constant contact with the flame of the pilot. Some of the possible serious reasons for pilot lights to go out include loose or broken gas valves, thermocouples or heat exchangers, faulty venting, low gas pressure, or high winds. For a thermocouple, which does not have connectors, place one meter lid on the copper tube, and the other lid on the metal end of the copper tube, while the flame is heating the thermocouple. After a lot of learning lessons, Ive developed some tips and tricks to properly take care of fireplaces. Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Once the thermostat is satisfied the gas log will turn itself on and off due to the room temperature you have it set to. Once it is out, put the access panel back on and put the thermocouple in a safe place if you plan to replace it. Remove the valve using your pliers. If that works, you likely need a new remote. Leo has been a contractor since 2003, specializing in: roofing, siding, general contracting (GC) and residential remodeling. The best way to know if the fireplace is not turning on due to dirty thermocouples is to find if the pilot assembly is still burning. Patio Heater Expert - Copyright 2022. Remove your thermocouple from the heater using an 8mm wrench. Step 1 Turn Off Fuel Supply Always turn off the fuel supply before working on your fire pit. This guide is for REFERENCE AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and we take no responsibility if something goes wrong. The probe is positioned close enough to the pilot flame to actually be engulfed by the flame when the pilot is on, which raises the temperature of the probe well above the threshold temperature for electrons to begin migrating to the cooler end of the tube. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. then you need a resistor in series with the 1.5v battery of value. If pilot light is out, there is no power to keep the pilot valve open. To quickly clean your thermopile, turn off the gas supply. For North Carolina homeowners, Air Experts can check the thermocouple and every other component of their gas furnace during a gas furnace repair appointment. It responds to temperature changes by voltage generation. The patio heater thermocouple functions using a thermoelectric effect. Can Firewood Bring Termites? Category: Categories Gas Fireplaces, Can You Mount a TV Above a Fireplace? Disconnect the nut that attaches the thermocouple to the gas control valve with your wrench. Winter Savings - Save up to $800 Save big on new Regency Gas Fireplaces, Inserts, Stoves and Electric Fireplaces this winter. Video of the Day Step 2 Remove the thermocouple access panel. Remove the thermocouple from the process assembly, using a steel wool or emery cloth, lightly clean the tip removing any build up. Remove the thermocouple access panel. Just follow these steps to bypass the thermocouple: Firstly, push the tilt switch wire out of the way and use an 8mm wrench to remove the thermocouple. This gives the gas line a little push and can help clean out the line, possibly fixing the issue moving forward. Thermocouple is a low voltage generator that creates 25-30mv of DC electricity, that keeps the pilot gas valve open. Some people cant pronounce it, much less figure out how to clean it. In most cases, a thermocouple that has gone bad wont be able to be fixed. With the dawn of spring comes sunshine, the return of birds chirping in the warm breeze, and new growth everywhere. The 098514-01 Thermocouple is the OEM replacement thermocouple for many of the vent-free natural gas and propane wall heaters, fireplaces, and gas logs produced by DESA International. Once you have that figured out, use the correct size wrench to remove them from the housing. Put your thermocouple back into position. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Reset the knob to the pilot position: Remember to do this when you are ready to ignite the pilot light of your gas fireplace. 5 Steps to Bypass a Thermocouple On a Fire Pit 1. Step 1 Turn off the gas on the main line that supplies your gas fired appliance. Proper maintenance of your gas fireplace can help prevent issues with your fireplace such as trouble keeping the unit lit. A reading below 300 millivolts would require you to replace the thermopile. If flames extend past thermocouples, they are stronger. What Do Thermocouples Do on Patio Heaters? Your pilot should be about 90 percent blue, with very little yellow. Working with Gas and Electricity is very dangerous and should only be done by licensed plumbers / gas fitters / electricians. The terminals are labeled TP and TP/TH, as illustrated at My Gas Fireplace Repair. There are numerous styles to choose from. Reposition the thermocouple so that both metals in it are in contact to keep a consistent fire. He has degrees in science and humanities and years of teaching experience. Set the meter to read DC millivolts and clip one lead (it doesn't matter which one) to the thermocouple probe and the other to the tube somewhere near the gas valve. Find your main gas control valve, and locate the thermopile sensor then find the Electric Contacts labeled TH/TP and TP respectively on the valve. The gas fireplace issues that youre dealing with are usually fairly fixable. Step 1: Leave the gas to cool first if it has been burning. When heat is called for, the Nest closes its "switch" and applies 24V . If you dont hear clicking, theres likely a problem with your pilot light. This is a step that you absolutely cannot ignore. Set your meter to ohms. If you do see corrosion, clean it off using a bit of vinegar and baking soda. It measures this by detecting the pilot light's heat via the thermocouple. ft. of . Else, its a bad high limit switch. In most cases, this means that your thermopile (the sensor/valve that keeps an eye on your fireplace temperature) or your oxypilot (the sensor that keeps an eye on your fireplaces oxygen levels) is in need of cleaning. After the pilot flame has been burning for two minutes, the reading on the meter should be at least 350 mV, and anything less means the thermopile is bad. Your thermopile voltage should be between 650mV and 800mV. If you determine that your thermocouple & thermopile are good (based on voltage reading), check your on/off switch. Fireplacetips.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Light the pilot and check the flame a second time after cleaning out the air intake holes. Checking your thermopile for a fault is a simple DIY solution as to why your gas fireplace wont function, but if the above steps dont work you may need to call a technician to fix your issue. If your pilot light does turn on, but your gas fireplace still isnt igniting, check the gas line next. Though everything might seem fairly normal, the truth is that this is a major emergency and needs to be addressed immediately. You can test your thermocouple and thermopile with a quality digital voltmeter. Want some nicer rocks or logs for your gas fireplace? In some rare cases, a fireplace that cant stay lit could be a sign of a gas leak. Clean the threads of its attachment screw using your pencil eraser. While lower in voltage than a thermopile, a thermocouple does its best. Allow at least 20 minutes for the machine to cool before beginning the cleaning procedure if it has been burning recently. If not, call a professional to come in and do some tests. You need to bypass the wire on the gas valve. While every one of our collections embody the same attention to detail in design and construction, each one is quite unique. Remove the thermopile wiring connector from the gas control. So youve checked your pilot light and even reset it, but still, it wont stay lit. When the connection of these two metals is heated or cooled, a voltage is created that can be linked back to the temperature. Use a can of compressed air to gently blow away any dust and dirt from the thermocouple. To remove the patio heater thermocouple, unscrew the connection nuts, and copper leads, followed by the bracket nuts. Ensure you slope down the horizontal vent cap about 1/4 inches. Once your unit is clean, put it back on the pilot assembly. Follow Valor on social media for exclusive news, photography and more. How much should a plumber charge to replace a thermocouple? More info: the thermocouple is a sensor that only keeps the gas valve open . Thankfully, its fairly easy to replace a thermocouple and its not that expensive to do. Turn the flame source on to conduct the actual test. Pilot lights should have a blue flame. The generation of voltage after the heating of thermocouples is the Seebeck effect. You can use it to manually ignite the gas fireplace when there is no electricity. Are you wondering how a thermocouple can be cleaned? I included an image of the thermocouple in the above section, but youll see it as a small cylinder next to the pilot light. The thermocouple, which operates as a safety device, turns the gas supply off when the pilot light goes out. Though they may be tiny electrical devices, thermocouples are one of the most crucial patio heater parts. Due to the function of your thermocouple and thermopile, its only logical that they will build up carbon deposits from burning all the time. Under constant exposure to a hot flame, a thermocouple wears down over time. And voila, magic without all the pixie dust! I use Abundance Plus every day to learn from expert homesteaders and become more self-sufficient. Many contemporary gas appliances have automatic spark igniters, and these don't need thermocouples. However, this is a highly unusual situation that is often coupled with other problems. Check out these top-rated rocks and logs on Amazon. Check Your Thermopile Output with the TH/TP Contacts Step 2. Made with Newspaper Theme. Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Try the following DIY fix at home for a fireplace that wont stay lit. You will want to know what type and style it is when you order it. Is It Too Late to Get a Chimney Inspection in Winter Months? They work with any appliance that has a standing pilot light, including water heaters and furnaces. Make sure to report it as a gas leak, and explain why you believe it may be coming from your fireplace. Prepare the new thermocouple. Less common reasons are dead batteries in the remote, a broken wall switch, or a broken thermocouple. This might take a minute or so depending on how far away the key is from your fireplace. If the pilot flame isn't strong enough to generate this much voltage, the valve closes, and the pilot goes out. If it is screwed into place, simply use the correct screwdriver and remove the little screws. If youre reading it below 25 millimeters, you should purchase a new model. A thermocouple, unlike a thermopile, produces somewhat less voltage. No wonder that it is also used in the water heater. If it does not move easily, get the light back in there and see if you missed a nut or bolt. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post (at no extra cost to you). -Your are now a master fireplace serviceman . It costs $150 to $250 to replace a thermocouple. When your burner ports are clogged, the flame tends to be uneven and might possibly go off. How To Get A Yellow Flame In A Fire Pit . It will shut the gas off if its not. 2 connectors for attaching to an anti-tilt device. eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. 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