Start with the basics: safety first, then ignition

Before you touch anything, turn off the gas at the fireplace control valve — the knob on the gas line behind or beside the unit. Wait five minutes for any gas to clear. Open windows or doors to ventilate the room. If you smell gas at any point, stop, leave the house, and call your gas company's emergency line. Do not use matches, lighters, or electrical switches.

Once the space is clear, locate the pilot light assembly. On most fireplaces, it sits inside the firebox near the bottom, often behind a small metal cover or access panel. The pilot burner itself is a tiny brass or steel nozzle, usually with a small electrode next to it. You will also see a control knob on the front of the fireplace or on the wall nearby — this knob has three positions: "Off," "Pilot," and "On."

Key Takeaways

  • Turn off the gas valve completely and wait five minutes before attempting to light the pilot, then open a window for ventilation.
  • Set the control knob to "Pilot" and hold it down while igniting the pilot burner with a long lighter or match.
  • Keep the knob pressed for 30 to 60 seconds after the pilot lights so the thermocouple can heat up and hold the gas valve open.
  • Once the pilot stays lit on its own, turn the knob to "On" to restore heat to the main burner.
  • If the pilot will not light or goes out repeatedly, the thermocouple may be faulty and need replacement by a technician.

Set the control knob to pilot position

Locate the control knob on your fireplace — it may be on the front face, on a wall-mounted remote, or inside a cabinet below the unit. Turn it to the position marked "Pilot." This setting allows gas to flow to the pilot burner only, not to the main flame.

Press and hold the knob down firmly. Holding it down keeps the gas flowing and signals the ignition system to work. You will need to keep it pressed while you light the pilot and for 30 to 60 seconds afterward.

Light the pilot burner with a long lighter or match

While holding the knob down, bring a long lighter or long fireplace match close to the pilot burner nozzle. The nozzle is small — about the size of a ballpoint pen tip — so aim carefully. You may need to angle your hand or use a mirror to see the burner clearly inside the firebox.

Ignite the lighter or match and hold the flame just above or beside the pilot nozzle. The pilot should light within a few seconds. If it does not light after 10 to 15 seconds, release the knob, wait two minutes, and try again. Repeated attempts without success suggest the gas is not flowing or the burner is blocked.

Hold the knob down to let the thermocouple heat up

Once the pilot flame appears, keep the knob pressed down for another 30 to 60 seconds. During this time, the thermocouple — a small metal rod in the pilot flame — heats up. The thermocouple tells the gas valve that the pilot is burning and safe to keep the gas flowing.

Watch the pilot flame. It should be blue with a small yellow tip, about half an inch tall. If the flame is very small, orange, or flickering wildly, the pilot may not be burning cleanly. A weak or discolored flame can fail to heat the thermocouple enough to hold the valve open.

Release the knob and check if the pilot stays lit

After 30 to 60 seconds, slowly release the knob. If the pilot flame stays on, the thermocouple is working and the pilot is stable. If the flame goes out when ready, the thermocouple is not hot enough or is faulty. Wait two minutes and repeat the process, holding the knob down longer — up to 90 seconds — before releasing.

If the pilot lights and holds steady, turn the control knob to "On" to restore gas to the main burner. The main flame should ignite within a few seconds. If it does not, turn the knob back to "Pilot" and wait a minute before trying again.

Troubleshoot if the pilot will not stay lit

A pilot that lights but goes out when you release the knob usually means the thermocouple is not heating enough or is failing. Try lighting it again and holding the knob down for a full two minutes instead of 30 to 60 seconds. If it still goes out, the thermocouple likely needs replacement.

A pilot that will not light at all may have a blocked nozzle. Dust, debris, or corrosion can clog the tiny opening. If you are comfortable doing so, use a thin needle or compressed air to gently clear the nozzle. If you are unsure, contact a fireplace technician — attempting to force a blocked nozzle can damage it.

If you smell gas but the pilot will not light, or if you smell gas after the pilot is lit, turn off the gas valve when ready, open all windows, and call your gas company. Do not attempt further troubleshooting.

Turn on the main burner once the pilot is stable

Once the pilot flame holds steady on its own, turn the control knob all the way to "On." Gas will flow to the main burner, and the pilot flame will ignite it. The main flame should appear within a few seconds and grow to full size over the next 30 seconds.

If the main burner does not light, turn the knob back to "Pilot" and wait a minute. Then try turning it to "On" again. If the main burner still does not ignite, the ignition electrode or main burner nozzle may be faulty. At this point, a technician should inspect the unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I hold the pilot knob down?

Hold it down for 30 to 60 seconds after the pilot lights. This gives the thermocouple time to heat up and signal the gas valve to stay open. If the pilot goes out when you release, try again and hold for a full 90 seconds or two minutes.

What does the pilot flame look like when it is working correctly?

A healthy pilot flame is blue with a small yellow or orange tip, about half an inch tall. If the flame is very small, mostly orange, or flickering erratically, it may not be burning hot enough to keep the thermocouple warm.

Can I light the pilot with a regular match instead of a long lighter?

Yes, but a long fireplace match or long lighter is safer because it keeps your hand farther from the firebox and flame. A regular match works if you are careful, but you risk burning your fingers reaching into the unit.

What should I do if I smell gas while trying to light the pilot?

Stop when ready, turn off the gas valve, open windows, and leave the house. Call your gas company's emergency line. Do not try to light the pilot again or use any electrical switches. A gas smell means there is a leak or the gas is not flowing correctly.

Why does the pilot light but then go out when I release the knob?

The thermocouple is not heating up enough to hold the gas valve open. Try lighting it again and holding the knob down for a longer time — up to two minutes. If it still goes out, the thermocouple is likely faulty and needs to be replaced by a technician.