Our Services
How our technicians find a gas fireplace fault
Every repair ends with a test run, a leak check on opened connections and a written record of the work.
Gas pressure checked at the valve
Gas valves on these fireplaces generally have test points for the pressure coming in and the pressure going out to the burner. The rating plate or the manual gives the range for each, and the range differs between natural gas and propane. Flames that are always too tall or too small can mean the burner is running above or below its rated input.
One maker's chart also links a pilot that flutters or shrinks when other gas appliances run to supply piping that is too small. Resizing piping is work for a gas contractor, and we tell you plainly when a reading points there. After a test point is opened, it is resealed and leak tested with a soap solution.
Replacing a gas valve only when tests point to it
The gas valve is easy to blame for faults that start elsewhere. Before we recommend a new valve we rule out the pilot, the sensors, the switch circuit and the supply pressure, because each of them can mimic a failing valve.
When the valve does need replacing, the new one must be the part the manufacturer lists for that model and fuel. The Florida fuel gas code calls for appliance connections to be checked for leakage before an appliance goes back into operation, so every joint we open is tested before the fireplace is lit again. You see the result of that check before we leave.
A flame that looks wrong
The flame itself tells a technician a lot. One maker's troubleshooting guide links a blue, lazy and transparent main flame to a blocked vent, and flames that are consistently too large or too small to a burner running above or below its rated input. Flame that lifts off the burner or curls out of the front opening is another sign to stop and have it checked.
We compare the flame with the manual's description, measure pressures if needed and check the air shutter, which that maker says must return to its specified opening. Please leave the shutter and the pressure settings alone, since both are set for the specific fuel and model.
Parts that match your model
A part that fits the connection is not automatically the right part. One maker specifies a fast acting thermocouple for its millivolt model and says to replace it only with the thermocouple it supplies. Another manual warns against installing damaged, incomplete or substitute components of any kind.
We order replacement parts by model and serial number from the parts listed for that appliance. If a part has been discontinued, we tell you what approved alternative exists, if any, and whether the repair still makes sense against replacing the unit. New parts are fitted and tested the way their instructions describe.
