Gas fireplace won’t light? Pilot keeps going out? Not sure the fireplace in your new home has ever been serviced? Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. provides gas fireplace repair, cleaning, and maintenance throughout Central Virginia. Call (804) 526-8415 to schedule service.
Colonial services vented and vent-free gas logs, direct-vent fireplaces and inserts, and both natural gas and propane systems.
If you have been searching for gas fireplace repair near me, gas fireplace service near me, or gas fireplace maintenance near me, Colonial serves homeowners throughout the Tri-Cities and Central Virginia and that's the work we've been doing since 1982.
Schedule Gas Fireplace Service Call (804) 526-8415
Common Gas Fireplace Problems We Repair
When a gas fireplace breaks, it usually comes down to a part failure. The parts that fail most often include:
- Pilot assembly
- Thermocouple or thermopile
- Gas valve
- Igniter
- Burner
The most common issue we get calls about is a pilot won't stay lit. In that case, the source of the issue is the thermocouple or thermopile.
Here's why that happens. The thermocouple is in the pilot flame and generates a small electrical current measured in millivolts that tells the gas valve it's safe to stay open. When that output drops below roughly 25 millivolts, the valve closes and your pilot dies as a safety precaution.
These are the problems we get called out for most:
- The pilot lights but goes out the second you release the knob
- Pilot won't light at all
- Igniter clicks but nothing catches
- Fireplace runs for a few seconds, then shuts off
- Weak, yellow, or lazy flame instead of a steady blue pilot
- Burner lights unevenly or only on one side
- Soot building up on the logs or glass
- Gas smell or a burning odor
A few of those have simple causes. Spider webs in a pilot tube are a genuinely common one. Our HVAC techs have found nests built during the summertime while the gas log fireplace wasn’t in use, and when you turn it on for the first time in the fall, it chocks the gas and causes a malfunction. Other common issues are:
- Gas pressure problems
- Failing valves
- Venting issues
The only way to know is to test it.
A Gas Fireplace Doesn't Have to Stop Working to Need Service
Most gas fireplace breakdowns happen slowly. But sometimes there are signs. Watch for these signs:
- Weak flames
- Repeated pilot problems
- Soot on the glass
- Delayed ignition
Those symptoms give our technicians clues about what is happening inside the fireplace.
Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. services the complete system.
And if you smell gas, do not keep trying to light the fireplace or treat it as a normal maintenance appointment. Stop using the appliance and follow your gas supplier's emergency instructions.
If you've been searching for gas fireplace repair near me because yours "still works, but something isn't right," call Colonial at (804) 526-8415. That is exactly the time to have it checked.
Who to Call When You Don’t Know Whether It’s the Fireplace or the Gas Supply
One of the frustrating things about gas fireplace repair is figuring out who you are supposed to call.
With Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc., we are the team that can help.
Our team works on the gas fireplace and the gas piping that supplies it. In fact, we can repair anything regarding these systems:
- Pilot and ignition components
- Burners and gas controls
- Natural gas and propane systems
- Fireplace shutoff valves
- Accessible gas connections and piping
- Gas-supply issues affecting fireplace operation
- Venting and combustion concerns
- Fireplace controls, switches, receivers, and remotes
If the problem is inside the fireplace, we can fix it. If it is the gas line, we can fix that too.
We've been licensed for gas work in Central Virginia since 1982, and gas appliances are what our technicians work on every day.
So, if you are searching for gas fireplace service near me but are not even sure which trade you need, start with Colonial. Call us at (804) 526-8415 for service that is revolutionary.
Gas Fireplace Cleaning
A gas fireplace can look clean but have season’s worth of dust and debris collecting inside.
During professional gas fireplace cleaning and maintenance, Colonial cleans the entire system. Depending on the type of fireplace, our technicians:
- Inspect and clean the burner and pilot area
- Check burner ports
- Look at flame pattern
- Verify that logs or decorative media are positioned correctly
- Inspect the glass and seals
- Check controls and remotes
- Look at the venting system
Log placement is important. Ceramic logs and fireplace media need to be placed in the way that the system was designed. If something has been moved during cleaning or over the years, the flame can hit areas it was not designed to.
That is why gas fireplace maintenance should check the entire system.
If we find a worn component or another issue while we are there, we can explain what needs attention before fireplace season gets underway.
Gas Fireplace Safety, Venting, and Carbon Monoxide
A gas fireplace burns fuel inside your home, so combustion byproducts must be vented. However, when the venting path gets restricted or the fireplace stops burning cleanly, toxic fumes can end up in your property.
The flame tells you a lot. A healthy gas flame burns steady and is mostly blue. If your flame is yellow, or if you see soot on the glass, that means the combustion is off. It is that incomplete combustion that produces carbon monoxide.
Vent-free units have a built-in oxygen depletion sensor that shuts the fireplace down if room oxygen drops too low. It's a good safeguard, and it's also one of the more common reasons for failed pilot lights.
We check venting and combustion on every service visit. And because Colonial Plumbing & Heating installs carbon monoxide detectors and indoor air quality equipment, we can make sure the rest of the house is covered.
Your Gas Fireplace Looks Low-Maintenance. It Isn't.
It's easy to treat a gas fireplace like a light fixture that happens to make heat. However, these aren’t low maintenance appliances. Here's what we hear most often from clients right before one stops working.
"It's gas. It burns clean. It doesn't need service."
It does burn clean. But behind that flame is a gas line and a bunch of control valves and other parts. Any part inside of your gas fireplace can break or wear out. Clean burning isn't synonymous with self-maintaining.
"We hardly ever use it, so it should be fine."
That’s exactly why you should have it serviced. In Central Virginia, gas log fireplaces are usually idle from March until November. That allows dust to collect or bugs to get inside and create nests.
"There's a little soot on the glass. That's normal."
If it was a wood fireplace, we’d agree with you. But it is not a wood fireplace. It is a gas log burner. With gas, soot means the fuel isn't burning completely, and incomplete combustion causes a lot of problems, including the build up of deadly carbon monoxide.
"I moved the logs around so it looks better."
Understandable, but most people don’t know that doing that causes real issues. Logs are placed in certain areas by the manufacturer for a reason. Shift them into the flame path can cause flame interruption.
"It's under warranty, so I'm covered."
Maybe. But take a moment to look over the fine print. Most manufacturers require documented annual service to keep the warranty valid.
“The pilot stays lit.”
Not necessarily. A pilot can stay lit while the main burner doesn’t ignite.
The fact that the pilot works is useful diagnostic information, but it is not the whole diagnosis. It is the clue that can lead us to the real issue.
“The remote stopped working, so I just need another remote or new batteries.”
A lot of times the fix really is that simple. Other times the problem is the receiver or another part of the control circuit. That is why we test the fireplace before ordering parts.
“It worked last winter, so it probably just needs to be relit.”
A fireplace that has been unused for a while often runs into issues. Batteries die and parts deteriorate. And if you bought the house since the fireplace was last used, you may not know its maintenance history or whether the logs and controls are even set up correctly.
If you want your gas fireplace looked at by a licensed gas company that will tell you what's actually wrong with it, go with Colonial Plumbing & Heating.
Gas Fireplace Repair Across Central Virginia
Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. provides gas fireplace repair, service, cleaning, and maintenance for homeowners throughout Central Virginia. We work on gas log sets and fireplace inserts, running on either natural gas or propane.
Depending where in the area you are located, must home are either fueled by natural gas or, if you live out in the country, propane.
We service gas fireplaces throughout:
- Colonial Heights, VA
- Petersburg, VA
- Hopewell, VA
- Chester, VA
- Chesterfield, VA
- Prince George, VA
- Dinwiddie, VA
- Midlothian, VA
- Disputanta, VA
If you have been searching for gas fireplace repair near me, Colonial is already working across this region. Call (804) 526-8415.
Gas Fireplace Repair & Service FAQs
How often should I schedule gas fireplace maintenance?
For most gas fireplaces, annual service is a good starting point, especially if you use the fireplace regularly during the colder months. The exact maintenance schedule can vary by manufacturer and fireplace type, so the owner’s manual should always take priority.
A good time to schedule gas fireplace maintenance is late summer or early fall, before the first snow of the season rolls through.
Everyone calls at once when the temperature drops, and the week of the first freeze is the hardest time to get on anyone's schedule.
If yours has not been serviced in several years or you do not know when it was last serviced, you need to schedule fireplace maintenance before firing it up.
Is gas fireplace cleaning the same thing as gas fireplace service?
Not exactly. Gas fireplace cleaning is part of service, but service should involve more than making the glass look good. All of the parts need to be serviced as well.
I just bought a house with a gas fireplace and know nothing about it. Can you inspect it before I use it?
Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the situations where a service appointment really is a must. You may not know whether the fireplace is vented or vent-free, natural gas or propane, how old it is, when it was last serviced, or even where the shutoff and controls are located. We will run the system, perform any needed maintenance, and teach you how to use your gas fireplace.
Before the appointment, take a photo of the fireplace and, if you can find it without disassembling anything, the rating plate with the model and serial number. That information can help us identify the manufacturer, find the correct manual, determine the ignition system, and research replacement parts.
Is an older gas fireplace worth repairing, or should I replace it?
Honestly, it all depends on the inspection findings.
We look at what failed, the overall condition of the fireplace, whether the correct parts are still available, and how the repair cost compares with replacement.
Parts availability becomes particularly important with older fireplaces. If the parts are no longer being made, it’s often better to replace the gas fireplace. In other cases, an older fireplace may need one readily available component and still have plenty of useful life left.
Can I fix my gas fireplace myself?
We don’t recommend it unless you are trained and certified to touch gas lines. The gas line is licensed work for good reason. If you smell gas at any point, don't troubleshoot anything — get everyone out of the house and call your gas company from outside.
Get Your Gas Fireplace Ready Before You Need It
If your gas fireplace will not light or has not been serviced in years, call Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. before the weather gets chilly.
We provide gas fireplace repair, gas fireplace cleaning, and routine maintenance for vented and vent-free gas logs, direct-vent fireplaces and inserts, natural gas systems, and propane systems throughout Central Virginia.
Call (804) 526-8415 today to schedule gas fireplace service.
