The basic steps to relight a pilot light
To relight a pilot light in a gas fireplace, turn the control knob to "Pilot," hold it down, and use a long lighter or match to ignite the small flame at the pilot burner opening. Keep the knob pressed for 30 to 60 seconds after the flame catches so the thermocouple—a safety sensor—can heat up and signal the gas valve to stay open. Once you release the knob, the pilot should stay lit. If it goes out when ready, wait five minutes and try again, because the thermocouple may need more time to warm.
The pilot burner opening is usually a small brass or steel tube pointing downward or to the side, located near the main burner assembly. You will see it clearly once you open the fireplace access panel or glass doors. The flame should be blue and about half an inch tall; if it is yellow or orange, the burner may need cleaning, which is a job for a professional.
Key Takeaways
- Turn the control knob to "Pilot," press and hold it down, then light the pilot opening with a long lighter or match while holding the knob.
- Keep the knob pressed for 30 to 60 seconds after ignition so the thermocouple can heat and hold the gas valve open.
- If the pilot goes out within seconds of releasing the knob, wait five minutes and try again—the thermocouple may need a longer warm-up.
- A healthy pilot flame is blue and roughly half an inch tall; yellow or orange flame means the burner needs professional cleaning.
- If the pilot will not stay lit after three attempts, the thermocouple or gas valve may be faulty and requires a technician.
Locate the pilot light and control knob before you start
Open the fireplace doors or access panel to see the burner assembly. The control knob is usually mounted on the front of the fireplace or on a wall-mounted remote control panel. Look for three positions: "Off," "Pilot," and "On." Some fireplaces also have a "High" and "Low" setting for the main burner, but you will ignore those for now.
Before you touch anything, make sure the fireplace has been off for at least five minutes. This clears any unburned gas from the chamber and makes relighting safer. If you smell gas strongly, turn the knob to "Off," leave the room, and open windows. Do not attempt to relight; call your gas company's emergency line instead.
Turn the knob to "Pilot" and prepare to light
Rotate the control knob clockwise until it stops at "Pilot." You will hear a faint hissing sound as gas flows to the pilot burner. This is normal. Do not release the knob yet—you must hold it down while you light the pilot.
Get a long lighter (the kind made for candles or grills) or a long wooden match ready. A regular match or lighter will not reach safely into the fireplace opening. If you do not have a long lighter, a rolled piece of paper lit at the stove can work in a pinch, though it is less reliable.
Light the pilot and hold the knob down
Press the control knob down firmly and hold it. While holding, bring the flame to the pilot burner opening. You should see the pilot light ignite within a few seconds. The flame will be small—roughly the size of a match flame or slightly larger.
Once the pilot is lit, keep holding the knob down for 30 to 60 seconds. This is the critical step. The thermocouple—a heat-sensing device at the tip of the pilot flame—needs time to warm up. When it reaches the right temperature, it sends a signal to the gas valve that says "the pilot is burning, keep the gas flowing." If you release the knob too soon, the thermocouple will not be warm enough, and the pilot will shut off the moment you let go.
After 30 to 60 seconds, slowly release the knob. The pilot should stay lit. If it does, you can turn the knob to "On" to ignite the main burner, or leave it on "Pilot" if you only wanted to relight the pilot.
What to do if the pilot goes out right away
If the pilot flame dies within a few seconds of releasing the knob, do not panic. Wait five minutes, then repeat the process. The thermocouple may not have heated fully on the first try, or there may have been a small air pocket in the gas line. A second attempt often works.
If the pilot goes out again after a second try, wait another five minutes and try once more. Three attempts is a reasonable limit. If the pilot still will not stay lit after three tries, the thermocouple is likely faulty or the gas valve is not holding pressure. At that point, call a fireplace technician or your gas company. Continuing to try will waste gas and frustrate you without solving the problem.
Turn the knob to "On" to light the main burner
Once the pilot is burning steadily, you can turn the control knob from "Pilot" to "On." Gas will flow to the main burner, and the pilot flame should ignite it. You should hear a soft whoosh as the main burner lights. The main flame will be much larger than the pilot and will fill the fireplace opening.
If the main burner does not light within a few seconds, turn the knob back to "Off," wait a minute, and try again. If it still does not light, the pilot may not be hot enough or positioned correctly. Turn off the fireplace and call a technician; do not keep trying to force it.
When to call a professional instead
If you smell gas but do not see a flame, or if you see a yellow or orange pilot flame instead of blue, turn the knob to "Off" and call a technician. A yellow flame means incomplete combustion, usually from a dirty burner or a problem with the gas mixture. This is not dangerous in the short term, but it is not efficient and should be fixed.
If the pilot lights but the main burner will not ignite, or if the pilot flame is very small or flickering, the burner assembly may need cleaning or the thermocouple may be failing. These are not do-it-yourself repairs. A professional can clean the burner, replace the thermocouple, or diagnose a gas valve problem safely and correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I hold the knob down?
Hold it for 30 to 60 seconds after the pilot ignites. This gives the thermocouple time to heat up and signal the gas valve to stay open. If you release too soon, the pilot will shut off. If you hold it longer, that is fine—it just gives the thermocouple extra time to warm.
What if I cannot reach the pilot opening with my lighter?
Use a long fireplace lighter or a long wooden match. If you do not have either, light a piece of rolled paper or a thin stick at your kitchen stove and carry it carefully to the fireplace. Never lean too far into the fireplace or force your arm into a tight space.
Is it normal to smell gas when relighting the pilot?
A faint gas smell for a few seconds is normal when you turn the knob to "Pilot." If the smell is strong or lingers after the pilot is lit, turn the knob to "Off," open windows, and call your gas company. Do not try to relight.
Why does my pilot keep going out after I release the knob?
The thermocouple is not heating enough, or it is faulty. Try again after waiting five minutes. If it happens three times, the thermocouple needs replacement by a technician. Do not keep trying indefinitely.
Can I relight the pilot if the fireplace is still warm?
Yes, but wait at least five minutes after turning it off so any unburned gas clears from the chamber. A warm fireplace is not a problem; a gas-filled chamber is.