QA

Quick Answer: How Big Should Pilot Light Be On Gas Fireplace

If the system is working well, the color of the pilot light will be blue with yellow. The light should be about half-inch long to cover the end of the thermocouple tip. If the pilot flame is not well-tuned, and the flame is too forceful, it will further malfunction and create noise.

Can a pilot light be too big?

If the pilot flame is too long it will not reach the sensors and they could not ignite the system. Also, the bright orange light does not provide the temperature needed for the thermocouple to work. It probably would not cause any damage to the system, but it may have issues with the ignition.

What should the pilot light look like on a gas fireplace?

A healthy pilot flame will be much like a blue “blow torch” flame. It will shoot sideways and be directly on your thermocouple and thermopile sensors. An unhealthy yellow pilot flame is more like a “candle”. It will shoot straight up in the air and will not engulf your sensors.

Can the pilot light on a gas fireplace be adjusted?

In either case, adjusting the pilot light is fairly easy. You’ll just need a screwdriver and a little patience, and you can fix the issue in a matter of minutes. First, locate the controls on the bottom of a direct-vent fireplace. On others, there will be a screw that you can easily adjust with a screwdriver.

How big should my pilot light be?

A proper pilot flame should be blue with a yellow tip and should be strong enough to cover about 1/2 inch at the end of the thermocouple tip. If the flame is too strong and improperly adjusted, it will be blue but may be noisy and lift off the thermocouple, causing improper furnace operation.

How do I make my pilot light bigger?

Adjusting the Pilot Flame If the pilot flame is too small, you may be able to make it larger by turning the pilot adjustment screw on the valve control counterclockwise with a screwdriver to open it.

Should I turn off the pilot light on my gas fireplace in the summer?

Your Utility Bill Perhaps the most important reason to turn off gas fireplace pilot light in summer is because of the money and energy you will be saving. If you leave the pilot light on during the summer it is simply sitting there burning gas, which is wasting gas and contributing to an exorbitant energy bill.

What color should pilot light be on gas fireplace?

Inspecting a Gas Furnace Pilot Light Flame A natural gas flame should be a bright blue color with a small amount of yellow at the very tip. A propane flame will have more of a bluish-green flame with a tinge of yellow at the tip. The flame should strong enough to cover about 1/2 inch at the end of the thermocouple tip.

What color should my gas fireplace flame be?

Proper Flame Colour A gas fireplace should burn flames that are blue, perhaps with very small tips in yellow or orange. The flames should be steady and consistent no matter what. Although, there is a small exception.

How much does it cost to keep pilot light on fireplace?

The average fuel consumption of your standing Pilot light is: Natural gas is $0.60 a day = $219 a year. Liquid Propane is $1.80 a day = $657 a year. Sophisticated fireplace manufactures like Travis Industries have developed Intermittent pilot light systems.

Should a pilot light make noise?

It is similar to how a gas stove works. If your fireplace’s pilot light is not set the right way, it will produce a whistling sound while working. You must keep your pilot light on a low setting when you first turn it on. After that, slowly increase the light to increase the flame.

Should the pilot light always be on in a gas fireplace?

Should the pilot light always be on in a gas fireplace? Most gas fireplaces rely on a “continuous pilot light,” a type of pilot that remains lit so long as gas is flowing to the unit. If you have a continuous pilot light system, you should always see a pilot flame unless you have manually turned the system off.

How do I light the pilot on my gas fireplace?

Lighting a Gas Fireplace With a Control Panel Turn the knob from the “Off” to the “Pilot” position. Push in the pilot knob, which manually sends gas into the system. Push the igniter button once every second until it lights.

How much gas does a pilot light use?

How much gas does a pilot light require? Most pilot lights consume around 600 BTUs of gas every hour. If you leave your pilot light on for an entire day, it would roughly consume 14,400 BTU’s every day.

Can a pilot light cause carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is only produced when fuel of any type; oil, gas, wood or coal is burned. And a pilot light out of adjustment can produce carbon monoxide gas. The amount produced by even a badly maladjusted pilot is small because the flame size is also small.

What causes a weak pilot light?

Some of the reasons your pilot light keeps going out include: A poor pilot flame – low gas pressure or blocked orifice. A flame that is set too small. An insufficient supply of gas.

What color should a pilot light be?

A pilot light should be a crisp blue colour. As you may remember from your high school chemistry classes and your experiments with Bunsen Burners, a blue flame is the most energy efficient, as it uses a small amount of gas to produce a lot of heat. Is your light orange or yellow? It could be dangerous.

Why is my gas fireplace hot when off?

When your pilot light remains on, a small amount of heat is generated. The glass doors on your gas fireplace remain warm to the touch. When your pilot light is off, you save money and help to conserve energy.