Leave it on during the season you use the fireplace, and turn it off when you won't need heat for several months
The answer depends on how often you use your fireplace and how long you'll go without needing it. If you use your fireplace regularly from fall through spring, keep the pilot light on—it's designed to stay lit during those months, and relighting it repeatedly wastes gas and creates wear on the ignition system. If you won't use the fireplace for an extended period (summer months, for instance), turning it off saves gas and reduces the small but real risk of a malfunction.
Most gas fireplaces are built to run with a continuous pilot light during heating season. The pilot uses a small amount of gas constantly, but that cost is typically lower than the energy cost of repeatedly igniting and extinguishing it. The real savings come from shutting it down entirely when you genuinely won't need the fireplace for weeks or months at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Keep the pilot light on during the months you actively use your fireplace, because relighting it repeatedly causes more wear and uses more gas than leaving it burning.
- Turn off the pilot light when you won't need the fireplace for several months, such as during summer, to reduce gas consumption and lower your utility bill.
- Turning off the pilot light requires locating the control knob on your fireplace unit and switching it to the "Off" position—no tools needed.
- Relighting a pilot light after it has been off involves holding the control knob in the "Pilot" position while igniting it with a long lighter or match, then holding it for 30 to 60 seconds.
- If your pilot light won't stay lit after you relight it, the thermocouple may need cleaning or replacement, which typically costs $150 to $300 for a service call.
The cost of leaving it on versus turning it off
A pilot light burning continuously uses roughly 400 to 600 BTU per hour, depending on your fireplace model. Over a full month, that translates to a small but measurable amount of gas. If your fireplace sits unused for four months of the year, turning off the pilot during that time can reduce your annual gas bill by a modest amount—usually between $10 and $30, though this varies by your local gas rates and your fireplace's specific design.
The trade-off is the cost and inconvenience of relighting. Each time you relight a pilot, you're using a match or lighter and spending a few minutes on the task. If you turn the pilot off and on multiple times per season, the cumulative gas used in those relighting cycles can approach or exceed what you'd save by shutting it down. The practical rule: if you'll go at least six to eight weeks without using the fireplace, turning off the pilot makes financial sense.
How to turn off the pilot light safely
Locate the control knob on the front or side of your fireplace unit. It typically has three positions marked "Off," "Pilot," and "On." Turn the knob to "Off" and wait a few minutes to may support the pilot flame extinguishes completely. You should see no flame inside the firebox.
Once the pilot is off, you can close the fireplace doors or glass front if your unit has them. There is no special procedure needed—turning the knob to "Off" stops the gas flow to the pilot burner. If you have a wall-mounted remote control, consult your manual, as some models require you to use the remote to shut down the pilot rather than the manual knob.
How to relight the pilot when you need it again
Set the control knob to "Pilot." Hold it in that position—you may need to press it in slightly while holding, depending on your model. Use a long lighter or a long match to ignite the pilot flame at the burner opening inside the firebox. You should see a small blue flame appear.
Keep the knob pressed in the "Pilot" position for 30 to 60 seconds after the flame ignites. This allows the thermocouple (a safety sensor) to heat up and signal that the pilot is burning. If you release the knob too soon, the pilot will go out. After 30 to 60 seconds, release the knob and turn it to "On." The main burner should ignite. If it doesn't, return the knob to "Pilot" and hold it for another 30 seconds before trying again.
When the pilot light won't stay lit after relighting
If you relight the pilot and it goes out within a few seconds or minutes, the thermocouple is likely dirty or failing. The thermocouple is a thin metal rod that sits in the pilot flame and generates a small electrical signal telling the gas valve to stay open. When it's covered in dust or corrosion, it can't generate that signal, and the valve closes, extinguishing the flame.
You can try cleaning the thermocouple yourself by gently wiping it with a soft, dry cloth or very fine steel wool while the pilot is off. If cleaning doesn't work, the thermocouple needs replacement. This is a job for a service technician and typically costs $150 to $300 including the service call. A new thermocouple itself costs $20 to $50, but labor and diagnostics make up the bulk of the bill.
Signs your pilot light system needs professional attention
If the pilot flame is yellow or orange instead of blue, the burner may be dirty or the gas mixture may be off. A blue flame is normal; yellow or orange suggests incomplete combustion and warrants a service call. Similarly, if the pilot flame is very small or flickers constantly, have it inspected before relighting and using the fireplace regularly.
If you smell gas when the pilot is on, turn off the fireplace when ready, open windows, and call your gas company's emergency line. Do not attempt to relight or troubleshoot. A gas smell indicates a leak or malfunction that requires professional diagnosis.
Seasonal schedule for turning the pilot on and off
A typical pattern for most households is to turn the pilot on in September or October, before heating season begins, and turn it off in May or June once the weather warms. If you live in a climate where you use the fireplace year-round or sporadically, adjust the schedule to match your actual usage. The key is to avoid turning it on and off more than twice per year if possible, since each cycle involves some inconvenience and a small amount of wasted gas during relighting.
If your fireplace has a thermostat control, you may be able to set it to maintain a minimum temperature and automatically shut off the pilot when the house reaches that temperature. Check your manual to see whether your model offers this feature. Some newer units have electronic ignition systems that eliminate the continuous pilot light entirely, lighting the burner only when you request heat—these are more efficient but require electricity to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does leaving the pilot light on all year cost a lot of money?
No. A pilot light burning year-round typically adds $15 to $40 to your annual gas bill, depending on your local gas rates and fireplace model. The cost is small enough that convenience often outweighs savings for households that use the fireplace regularly. Turning it off only makes a noticeable difference if you leave it off for several months at a time.
Can I leave the pilot light on if I'm away for a month?
Yes, it is safe to leave the pilot on while you're away. The pilot light is designed to burn continuously without supervision. However, if you'll be gone for a month or longer and won't need the fireplace during that time, turning it off saves gas and is the practical choice.
What if the pilot light goes out on its own?
A pilot light that goes out on its own usually indicates a dirty thermocouple, a draft blowing out the flame, or a failing gas valve. Try relighting it. If it goes out again within a few minutes, the thermocouple likely needs cleaning or replacement. Have it inspected by a technician if relighting doesn't solve the problem.
Do I need to do anything special before turning off the pilot for the summer?
No special preparation is needed. straightforward turn the control knob to "Off" and wait a minute to confirm the flame is out. When you're ready to use the fireplace again in fall, follow the relighting steps. Some people close the glass doors or damper to keep dust out of the firebox during the off-season, but this is optional.
Is it better to leave the pilot on or use electronic ignition?
Electronic ignition is more efficient because it lights the burner only when you request heat, rather than burning a pilot continuously. However, electronic systems require electricity and are more expensive to repair if they fail. If your fireplace has a traditional pilot light, the choice between leaving it on or off depends on your usage pattern, not on which system is inherently better.