We moved to our current house in the spring and it has a gas fireplace, the first one we've ever had. We finally got around to using it this week and figured out how to light the pilot light and start the flame. What we are unclear on is turning it off. Are we supposed to just turn off the flame leaving the pilot light on, or do we turn out the pilot light as well each time we use it? Thanks for any advice!!
i disagree Harley. The first year we left the pilot light on and went through gas a lot quicker. i checked with the gas company and was told that if i wanted to conserve the gas, to just turn it off each time. Turning it on is so simple so that is what we have been doing for the last 3 years.
We leave ours on during the winter but turn if off the rest of the year. We left it on the entire first year in the house and ended up having to replace some part that burned out.
Personally, I've always turned mine completely off after each use, unless it's thermostatically controlled, and then you leave it on.
Always left ours on (when we had gas logs, have electric logs now). Course I guess part of that comes from growing up in the country where we used gas for everything, heating, cooking, had a gas dryer, hot water heater. And the pilots were always lit, atleast on the stove and heater. Craig
Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like there is no wrong or right way, just a matter of preference. That helps a lot! I wanted to make sure we weren't hurting anything one way or the other. I'm kind of with the ones that turn it off after each use. Like Ken said, I just feel better with it off! We also have a toddler and though the pilot light is towards the back, it still is at floor level and that makes me nervous! Also, did I read on here somewhere that the carbon monoxide monitor should be at floor level across from the fireplace? Does it matter if it is behind a sofa?
In the house from where I just moved we had a fire place. We kept our pilot on during the coldest part of the year and turned it off the rest of the year. Ours wasn't that easy to light either. I've heard suggestions both ways before...and you've seen them here. For us, the conservation wasn't enough to warrant lighting the pilot every day during the winter. Also, it's thermostatically controlled and (as someone already posted) the pilot should remain lit during regular use, then cut off during the warmer months. Hope you got all the answers you needed, lol! Frogger
I only have a cat and she acts strangely 24/7!!! Seriously, though, that's a good thing to know - I would not have thought of that.
Thanks, Frogger. Ours is not thermostatically controlled so I don't need to worry about that. So far it hasn't been hard to light, but if it gets that way I'll definitely rethink it!!! Thanks for all the great help everyone!!! :-D
Ok who can I get to work on my gas logs. Part of the charm of my house was the gas logs, moved into the house and I can't get them to work.
When we first bought our house, ours didn't work either. With a little research and a call to the manufacturer, they suggested it sounded like the thermocoupler needed to be replaced, I think we were getting a spark when we tried to light the pilot, but it wouldn't actually light. It was a $60 part that we were able to order from the manufacturer and DH was able to replace it himself.
When I got mine hooked up, the installer told me that there was a CO sensor built in to the set-up, and that the logs would automatically shut down if the CO level became an issue. You may want to check into the style of logs you have and see if that is applicable. Also, I left the pilot on the first winter season and had MUCH higher bills than with the pilot off. Maybe it's dependent on how easy it is for you to light the pilot each time... but IMHO the safety/conservation makes it worth the effort to shut it off completely and relight each time.
