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Welcome to Gas Fireplace Headquarters! Natural Gas Fireplaces are cleaner, safer, and more economical that traditional fireplaces. We have maintenance tips, reviews, accessories, and all the information you need to get the most out of your Gas Fireplace!

How to Save Money with Your Gas Fireplace

These days, saving money is critical. Surprisingly, you can save even more money with your gas fireplace than you already thought you could by doing a few simple things. The benefits of a gas fireplace are many, but don’t just settle for the default efficiency; get the most out of it and save money in the process!

Turn off the pilot light in the summer. Although many people feel uncomfortable adjusting or turning the pilot off, leaving it on all year long is a guaranteed way to burn more energy than necessary. Just by taking the few minutes to turn the pilot light off, you can save on something you didn’t know you were spending money on before.

To turn the pilot off, simply look for the valve handle in the gas line to turn it off. If you’re not comfortable with re-lighting the pilot once the season calls for it, many gas companies will send a professional out to do so, free of charge.

Use a dimmer to adjust the intensity of the flame. Dimmers are nice tools that can help you save money by controlling the amount of energy is used for the intensity of the flames in the fireplace. Sometimes, dimmers are not even considered by gas fireplace owners because they don’t know that they exist or they just aren’t interested in using them. However, they can really make a difference in the amount of money you spend monthly on the energy.

Install a fan to blow the hot air into the house. You’d be amazed by how much warmer your home could be just by using the right equipment to route the heat in the places that you want it to go. By doing this, you can save on your heating bill from then fan installed on your gas fireplace moving the heat throughout your home.

Install an electric starter — called an intermittent pilot ignition — to negate the need to keep the pilot light on all the time. This is a nice tool that will ignite the gas fireplace by reading the thermostat. When the thermostat’s temperature falls below a certain point, the electric starter will start the gas fireplace to begin heating the home. This is a nice tool that can be used for those that don’t want to mess with starting or stopping the fireplace, and it can mean that your gas fireplace only gets used when it’s absolutely necessary. This can help you save on your monthly bill!

As you can see, there are a few simple things you can do to help your gas fireplace run more efficiently and save you more money in the long run. Don’t just let your fireplace secretly dig more into your wallet than you’d like. Try some of these tips out on your own to make your type of gas fireplace work more efficiently for you!

Recommended money-saving accessories:

How to Light a Gas Fireplace

Note: If you have the documentation that came with your fireplace, it is best to review it before you begin to be sure that you understand any specific controls or safety procedures. If any part of your fireplace has been submerged due to flood, contact a qualified technician before attempting to light the pilot.

Lighting your gas fireplace is essential in order to experience the warmth and beauty that they can provide.   Unlike a traditional wood burning fireplace, a gas fireplace is normally self-starting.  Unlike an electric fireplace, a gas fireplace requires use of a pilot light in order to ignite, similar to a gas stove or water heater.

Look in your fireplace to see if you notice a small flame, which is called the pilot light.  If you do not see this flame, then you must first light the pilot before you can start your gas fireplace.

Lighting the pilot light:

gas fireplace pilot light

Pilot Light

  1. If you have a decorative front panel or grill on your gas fire place, always remove it before lighting your pilot.
  2. Your valves may be located behind a panel. If so, locate this panel and open it to access your valves and controls.
  3. Make sure all of your controls are off and that the pilot really is off.
  4. Double check to be sure that the main gas valve and control valve are turned off. If the main gas valve or control valve is on, turn it off and wait no less than five minutes to allow any gas to clear before you continue. These critical steps will help you avoid accidents with your gas fire place.
  5. Remove any inner glass doors if you have not already done so.
  6. Smell all around the fireplace to be certain that there is no gas present that may ignite as you turn on the pilot. Be sure to smell near the floor because the gas is heavier than the surrounding air. If there is, allow the fireplace to air out at least five minutes before you proceed. If the gas smell does not clear and you have checked again to make sure that all valves are off, you will want to contact a technician to find out if there are any leaks.
  7. If there is no gas smell present, turn the main valve on and the control valve to pilot. Push the control valve in about a quarter of an inch as you are turning. If you can’t press the control valve inward using only your hand, contact a qualified technician. Do not use any tools to attempt to press the control valve. Forcing the valve is not only a fire hazard, but may also cause explosion.
  8. Press the pilot valve in at least 15 seconds but up to 30 seconds and hit the piezoelectric spark igniter several times at an interval of once per second to turn the pilot light on. When the pilot light is on, a small flame should appear. If the pilot light will not stay on after repeated attempts, call a qualified technician.
  9. Hold the pilot valve in for a a minute or so to heat up your thermopile.

Igniting Your Gas Fireplace

Once the thermopile has been heated up, your burner will activate. Once burner is activated, turn the control valve to on and adjust the thermostat to your preferred settings. The thermostat control may be a switch in the bottom panel, a standard light switch, dimmer, or it may be activated using a remote control.

Replace the inner glass door, any bottom access panel, decorative glass panel or grill and make sure it is securely clamped to the front of your fireplace.

Enjoy your fireplace!

Here’s a great video on the subject if you are more of a visual learner:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6yMv60Zl90