Gas Fire Place Inserts

[Jigfishn10]

Hey, does anyone have any experience with these. Trying to help dad with his. His you can turn on with a remote as well as manually ignite.

 

His won’t ignite all the time. You can see the pilot but the valve that opens up allowing more fuel sometimes doesn’t open all the way like it should before it times out. Doesn’t happen all the time but it’s becoming annoying.

 

Any advice or troubleshooting tips is appreciated.

 

Enjoy your day.

[Mike L]

Change the valve

Depending on how it’s piped, DON’T SHUT the gas off at any junction other than at the source OUTSIDE the house. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[12poundbass]

Does it have a thermocouple? I would think the pilot wouldn’t stay lit if the thermocouple was bad or going bad but something to maybe look at.

[Scott F]

A volt meter at the valve should test if there is voltage at the valve. If you don’t have voltage there, it could be in the control that sends voltage to the valve. Best to check that out before you start throwing parts at it. 

[PaulVE64]

First thing is to clean it. 

Then run a cycle and see  whats what. Start with the simple stuff first.

[PaulVE64]

Check the igniter/pilot and then the blower motor, you want to know which step is failing. 

[Jigfishn10]

Some great advice and troubleshooting tips. Made a snippet of all the posts here. I’m on a biz trip this week but will give it a whirl next Friday/Saturday

 

Thank you. Very appreciated 

[TnRiver46]

I’ve fixed many of them with computer duster 

[Jigfishn10]

Care to elaborate @TnRiver46?

[TnRiver46]

50 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Care to elaborate @TnRiver46?

They just get dust in them, the blast cleans them out and they work until the next fall season 

[Jigfishn10]

Well cleaning didn’t work, honestly I was expecting it to be a lot dirtier than it was. 
 

Definitely have power to the valve as I had it going a couple of times but getting it lit is so intermittent and now getting fewer and far between. 

 

The valve is $350 and I believe I should replace it but it seems like an expensive trial and error repair if it’s not the solution. 

[PaulVE64]

You dont think its the igniter?

[TnRiver46]

On 11/17/2024 at 8:16 AM, Jigfishn10 said:

Well cleaning didn’t work, honestly I was expecting it to be a lot dirtier than it was. 
 

Definitely have power to the valve as I had it going a couple of times but getting it lit is so intermittent and now getting fewer and far between. 

 

The valve is $350 and I believe I should replace it but it seems like an expensive trial and error repair if it’s not the solution. 

“Call the man, aunt Bea”

 

[Jigfishn10]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

“Call the man, aunt Bea”

Nah...it's getting personal ...  

I actually did and most are saying that if they didn't install it they won't service it

 

On 11/17/2024 at 9:51 AM, PaulVE64 said:

You dont think its the igniter?

Nothing is really off the table and I would absolutely love it this was the case

Love the suggestions you're providing....makes me keep checking...thank you 

 

 

Might be time to surprise mom and dad with a new insert  

[TnRiver46]

Just talked to a guy at work that replaced a thermo couple on a his propane heater at home for about $50 and fixed it

[Jigfishn10]

On 11/10/2024 at 9:24 AM, 12poundbass said:

Does it have a thermocouple? I would think the pilot wouldn’t stay lit if the thermocouple was bad or going bad but something to maybe look at.

 

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Just talked to a guy at work that replaced a thermo coupler on a his propane heater at home for about $50 and fixed it

Giving it a whirl this weekend

 

To confirm:

[PaulVE64]

If the blower jets activate and the ignighter seems to be lighting it up then its likely the thermcouple.

 

Or something else.

[Tackleholic]

Do you have natural gas or a propane tank?  I've had both, and experienced similar problems.

[12poundbass]

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

 

Giving it a whirl this weekend

 

To confirm:

Before you buy one take some steel wool or Emory cloth and clean it off, re-install it and see if that works. It’s a temporary fix but should tell you right away if that’s the problem. I used to this on furnace flame sensors to get the customer by if I didn’t have one at the time.

[deaknh03]

Take it out and put in a wood stove

[Jigfishn10]

21 hours ago, Tackleholic said:

Do you have natural gas or a propane tank?  I've had both, and experienced similar problems.

Natural gas

 

22 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

If the blower jets activate and the ignighter seems to be lighting it up then its likely the thermcouple.

 

Or something else.

Don’t be peeing in my cheerios!  Think positive Moriarty. 
 

19 hours ago, deaknh03 said:

Take it out and put in a wood stove

Dad is 85 with serious dementia, I really doubt he’ll want to deal with anything wood source

[Tackleholic]

When I had natural gas, the hole where the pipe entered the house had not been properly sealed and rusted through between the siding and the inner wall.  A lot of the gas was escaping and reducing flow pressure inside the house.