The comfort that your Heatilator fireplace provides during winter is great for keeping a cozy home. However, your gas fireplace may not be as dependable as you might think. Sometimes, it keeps shutting off for no clear reason. So why does this problem occur? Stay with us! We're about to uncover the answer we've found.
This problem could happen in all Heatilator models, especially if you own an older unit. According to our findings, this might be due to faulty components such as the:
- Pilot light
- Thermocouple
- Oxypilot
- Drip loop
- Gas valve
Stay with us! We'd like you to learn more significant information we found in our research. We will cover the reasons why these defective components contribute to this problem and more. Let's delve right into them below!
What Causes My Heatilator Gas Fireplace To Keep Shutting Off?
A malfunctioning Heatilator could ruin your day, not only for you but also for your entire family. That's why figuring out the root cause of this issue is critical, particularly in the cold months.
The following are possible causes of this issue:
Dirty Pilot Light
A pilot light is a crucial component of a gas fireplace since it ignites the gas fire. Naturally, the dirty pilot light could be to blame if your fire won't start or if it keeps dying out. This could be the result of dust or other debris in the pilot light, preventing it from igniting. Cleaning it regularly helps you to avoid this problem.
Faulty Thermocouple
Another vital part of the gas fireplace is the thermocouple; it functions to keep the ideal temperature in your fireplace. This is a rod sensor device; it produces power when it detects a thermal drop in the system. If there is a problem with the thermocouple, it would likely affect the gas fireplace as well.
Defective Oxypilot
Another essential piece of safety equipment in your Heatilator fireplace is the oxypilot. It keeps track of how much oxygen is present in the system. In addition, it also shuts off the fireplace if it senses that there isn't enough oxygen present in its tank. It cannot detect a gas leak but an abnormal gas loss is an indication of leaking.
It's necessary to check it from time to time because the gas your fireplace system is using is carbon monoxide. This can pose a serious threat to your health if you are exposed. According to a report, a gas fireplace is one potential cause of unintentional gas poisoning in over 2,244 deaths in 2015.
Drip Loop
Moisture in the gas pipe contributes to drip loops. As you may expect, if there is moisture or water inside the line, the gas fireplace could turn off. It will have an impact on the gas and stop lighting properly. This type of problem will need a qualified technician to fix it. We suggest consulting your Heatilator installer and letting them fix this for you.
Broken Gas Valve
Lastly, there might be a problem with the gas valve if your gas fireplace system is still turning off. If it doesn't open properly, there could be problems with the gas supply. This would make it difficult for the fireplace to keep lit while it is in use. Inspect it and replace it if necessary to prevent this issue from happening.
Will A Heatilator Fireplace Work Without Electricity?
A Heatilator fireplace or stove with a standing pilot system will still light after a power interruption since the pilot flame is lit manually. If you're using a modern type gas fireplace, it may utilize an ignition system. An ignition system needs electricity to create a spark and lit the pilot light.
Nowadays, some gas fireplaces have IntelliFire or IntelliFire Plus ignition systems technology. This means it uses battery backups to control and use your gas fireplace when there's a power interruption. Moreover, the IntelliFire systems need a two D-cell battery type.
Visit these reliable D cell batteries on Amazon.
The IntelliFire Plus requires four AA batteries.
Buy these durable AA batteries on Amazon.
How Do You Properly Clean A Pilot Light?
We know that dirty pilot light is a major reason why your Heatilator runs ineffectively. Luckily, as part of our in-depth research, we found a simple easy cleaning solution which we've detailed below:
- Start by shutting off the gas valve or turning off the breaker if the fireplace that you have is electric-based.
- Unplug the gas nozzle and remove any dirt that is present in its hole using a needle of any kind.
- Use a cleaning duster to loosen any remaining debris and vacuum properly remove them.
- Even a small amount of soot build-up in the thermocouple can significantly affect the fireplace operation. We recommend giving it a quick cleaning as well using steel wool or any emery type of cloth. Wipe it thoroughly with a clean and dry soft cloth to remove the soot or any debris.
- Switch back on the gas valve and follow our simple steps below on how you relight it manually.
See this cleaning duster on Amazon.
How To Relight The Standing Pilot Light In Your Heatilator Fireplace?
The benefit of having a gas fireplace is that you don't have to hunt down dry wood, transport it, and chop it up. It's an easy method to quickly warm a living room or other area in your house. Unfortunately, there are times that your fireplace pilot light may cease to be lit. If you encounter this problem, it might need you to relight it manually.
Here's the easy process to safely relight your pilot light:
- First, remove the glass that covers your fireplace. Caution! The relighting procedure requires you to always remove your fireplace glass cover.
- Search your gas supply valve underneath the louver; it usually comes in red or blue color.
- Open up the valve by rotating the handle in line with the gas line.
- Find the pilot assembly along its spark igniter in the back or below portion of the firebox.
- By now, you'll be able to see the red or black igniter switch. Push it down to confirm that the pilot mechanism is operational.
- Search the black and green valve switch with a marking "ON," "OFF," and "PILOT." Hold it down, and at the same time, rotate it until it aligns with the "PILOT" sign.
- Press the red igniter switch repeatedly until your light up the pilot light.
- Wait at least five minutes and repeat the process once it doesn't light up.
- Once you successfully light the pilot light, wait again for about 30 seconds before releasing slowly the igniter.
- You can now insert back its glass cover and switch on and off the fireplace using your remote.
If this issue persists again, turn off the valve first and call right away your nearest Heatilator service center.
Take a moment to watch this visual tutorial on how to relight your pilot light on YouTube:
How Do I Know If My Fireplace Thermocouple Is Bad?
If your fireplace continues to shut off its pilot light, the thermocouple sensor is typically to blame. Checking the thermocouple device with a multimeter tester is a good idea if your pilot light keeps going out.
If the thermocouple is operating properly, you might be able to read 30 to 40 volts. You should perform this test with a helper using a multimeter tester to keep the pilot flame alive.
Follow us below to correctly test your thermocouple to know whether it's going bad or not:
- Screw the thermocouple out of the bracket holding the gas valve.
- Set your multimeter precisely to obtain the voltage reading.
- Switch on the pilot light and hold the gas control knob to the on position to keep it lighting.
- Let the probe warm up for just about a minute.
- Place one lead of the multimeter on the terminal and the other lead on the thermocouple rod.
- If the reading is less than 25 volts, your thermocouple is likely broken. Otherwise, it should be replaced.
Note: These procedures are best performed by a qualified technician. We suggest consulting an expert to ensure the quality of the job.
To Wrap Up
Your Heatilator or any kind of heat source is essential during severe cold months. As a homeowner, it is critical to know at least the basic preventative measures on how you deal with this specific issue. Knowing what causes your Heatilator to keep shutting off will determine how you handle and solve it for good.
Sharing this vital information with you will ensure your Heatilator will now operate effectively. Did you enjoy reading our article? Read also the other helpful topics below!
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