The short answer: it depends on your fireplace type and how often you use it

Whether you should leave the pilot light on depends on whether your fireplace has a standing pilot (always burning) or an electronic ignition (lights on demand). If you have a standing pilot, you can turn it off during warm months when you won't use the fireplace for weeks or months—this saves gas and is safe to do. If you have electronic ignition, there is no pilot light to leave on or off; the system ignites automatically when you turn on the fireplace. The choice comes down to your comfort with relighting, your gas costs, and how your specific fireplace is designed.

Key Takeaways

  • Standing pilot fireplaces can be safely turned off during seasons you won't use them, saving a small but steady amount of gas.
  • Electronic ignition fireplaces have no pilot light to manage—they light automatically and use no gas when off.
  • Relighting a standing pilot is a straightforward process you can do yourself by following the instructions on your fireplace door or manual.
  • Leaving a standing pilot on continuously costs roughly $5 to $15 per month depending on your gas rates, but provides when ready heat when you want it.
  • If you cannot relight the pilot yourself or are uncomfortable doing so, leaving it on year-round is the safer choice.

How standing pilot fireplaces work

A standing pilot is a small, continuous flame that burns inside your fireplace at all times when the system is on. Its job is to ignite the main burner when you turn on the fireplace—the pilot is always ready, so you get heat when ready. Because the pilot burns constantly, it uses a small but measurable amount of natural gas or propane even when you are not using the fireplace.

The pilot flame is tiny, roughly the size of a pencil tip, and burns at the pilot burner assembly inside the fireplace. You can usually see it through the glass or access panel if you look closely. The flame is held in place by a thermocouple, a safety device that shuts off gas to the pilot if the flame goes out—this prevents gas from building up inside your home.

When turning off the pilot light makes sense

If you live in a climate where you do not use your fireplace for three months or longer—typically late spring through early fall—turning off the pilot light during that period saves money without any real downside. The savings are modest: a standing pilot typically costs between $5 and $15 per month in gas, depending on your local gas rates and the efficiency of your fireplace. Over a four-month off-season, that adds up to $20 to $60.

Turning off the pilot is also the right move if you are leaving your home empty for an extended period, such as a month-long vacation or a temporary relocation. There is no reason to burn gas for a flame nobody will use. The process is straightforward: locate the control knob on your fireplace (usually labeled "Pilot," "On," and "Off"), turn it to the "Off" position, and wait a few minutes for the pilot to extinguish.

You should feel confident relighting the pilot before you turn it off. If you have never done it or are unsure about the process, it is safer to leave it on rather than risk being unable to restart it when you want heat.

When leaving the pilot on year-round is the better choice

If you use your fireplace regularly throughout the year—even just once or twice a month—leaving the pilot on is more convenient than relighting it each time. You get when ready heat without waiting for the ignition system to work, and you avoid the small risk of the pilot not lighting on the first try.

Leaving the pilot on also makes sense if you are uncomfortable relighting it yourself. The process is straightforward for most people, but if you have mobility issues, vision problems, or straightforward prefer not to handle it, the cost of leaving it on ($5 to $15 per month) is worth the peace of mind. You can always call a technician to relight it if needed, but that service call will cost far more than a few months of pilot gas.

If your fireplace is in a bedroom or other space where you want to be able to turn on heat quickly without delay, a standing pilot is more reliable than electronic ignition in a power outage—the pilot does not need electricity to stay lit, so you can still use the fireplace if the power goes out.

How to safely relight a standing pilot

Relighting a standing pilot is a task most homeowners can do themselves. The exact steps vary by fireplace model, so start by checking the instructions on the inside of your fireplace door or in your owner's manual. The general process is: turn the control knob to "Off" and wait five minutes for any residual gas to clear; turn the knob to "Pilot"; press and hold the ignition button (usually a red or black button near the knob) while holding a long lighter or match to the pilot burner opening; keep the button pressed for 30 to 60 seconds after the flame lights; then release the button and turn the knob to "On."

If the pilot does not light after two or three attempts, stop and wait another five minutes before trying again. If it still will not light, the problem may be a clogged pilot tube, a faulty thermocouple, or a gas supply issue—these require a technician to diagnose and repair. Do not force it or try to light it repeatedly in quick succession, as this can create a gas buildup.

Electronic ignition fireplaces: no pilot to manage

Many newer fireplaces use electronic ignition instead of a standing pilot. These systems have no pilot light at all. Instead, when you turn on the fireplace, an electronic spark or hot surface igniter lights the main burner. The advantage is that no gas burns when the fireplace is off, so you save money compared to a standing pilot. The trade-off is that electronic ignition requires electricity—if the power goes out, you cannot use the fireplace.

If you have electronic ignition, there is nothing to turn on or off seasonally. The fireplace uses gas only when you actively use it. Check your owner's manual or the control panel to confirm which system you have; if you see an "On/Off" knob with no "Pilot" setting, you almost certainly have electronic ignition.

Gas costs and the math of leaving the pilot on

The cost of a standing pilot varies by your local gas rates and the size of the pilot flame. Natural gas is typically priced per therm (100,000 BTU) or per cubic foot. A standing pilot on a gas fireplace uses roughly 400 to 600 BTU per hour, which works out to about 10 to 15 therms per year if left on continuously. At an average natural gas rate of $1 to $1.50 per therm, that is $10 to $22 per year, or roughly $0.80 to $1.80 per month.

Propane costs more per unit than natural gas, so if your fireplace runs on propane, the monthly cost may be slightly higher—perhaps $1.50 to $2.50 per month. These are rough estimates; your actual cost depends on your utility rates and your specific fireplace model. Call your gas provider or check your bill to find your current rate, then multiply it by the BTU consumption listed in your fireplace manual for a precise figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to turn off the pilot light?

Yes, it is completely safe to turn off a standing pilot. The thermocouple safety device prevents gas from flowing when the pilot is not lit. straightforward turn the control knob to "Off" and wait a few minutes. There is no risk of gas buildup or danger to your home.

What if I turn off the pilot and then forget how to relight it?

The instructions are printed on the inside of your fireplace door or in the owner's manual. If you cannot find them, you can call your fireplace manufacturer or a local HVAC technician. Relighting is a straightforward process, and a technician can walk you through it over the phone or visit to do it for you—though a service call will cost more than several months of pilot gas.

Does leaving the pilot on increase the risk of a gas leak?

No. A standing pilot that is burning properly is actually a safety feature—the thermocouple monitors the flame and shuts off gas if it goes out. A leak would be caused by a crack in a gas line or a faulty connection, not by the pilot being on. If you smell gas, turn off the fireplace and call your gas provider when ready.

Can I turn off the pilot light in winter if I use the fireplace occasionally?

You can, but it is less convenient. You will need to relight the pilot each time you want to use the fireplace, which takes a few minutes. If you use it more than once a week, leaving the pilot on is more practical. If you use it only a few times per winter, turning it off and relighting as needed saves a small amount of gas.

How do I know if my fireplace has a standing pilot or electronic ignition?

Look at the control knob. If it has a "Pilot" setting separate from "On" and "Off," you have a standing pilot. If the knob only has "On" and "Off" settings, you have electronic ignition. You can also check your owner's manual or look inside the fireplace for a small continuous flame—if you see one, it is a standing pilot.