Gas fireplace help needed

[T.O.W]

My five year old propane fireplace is only putting out enough gas to run the pilot light and sometimes enough just to make a small flame that goes on and off. The gas company has pressure tested to the fireplace and that's good so what could it be? Gas valve, electronic control module? It's a Heat and Glow 6000 series.

[nobody05]

It's electronic ignition correct? lights piliot but not main burner? Or lights main burner, but only for a second then goes out?

[T.O.W]

Yes electronic ignition to light the pilot. Pilot light stays on and lights the main burner. The main burner stays on but only enough gas so that it lights part of the burner or it goes out for a bit until there is enough gas to make it flame up but nothing like it used to be. When the main burner is on the partial flame is about one half inch. The manual valve control is turned all the way up already.

[DANR]

Have you checked your venting? That is how they act when there is improper airflow.

[Dellfin]

May be worth trying...

I had a somewhat similar issue with my gas fireplace recently. It would light, but then turn off by itself after a brief period. I took it apart until I could access the pilot light under the fake logs. I gently cleaned the thermocouple rod with steel wool removing the grey/white film residue that had built up. This film causes the thermocouple to not heat up enough to know that there is a proper flame. Actually had the same issue with my gas furnace a few years ago. Reassembled everything (also cleaned the glass while it was all apart) and fired it up. Works like a champ and no issues since.

[T.O.W]

Those are really good ideas to check. Thanks guys, I'll let you know the outcome in a couple days after I get to it again.

[nobody05]

Yes does sound like it's running out of oxygen to burn. Check venting for bird nests.. ect. It's one of 3 possiblites. Air Flow/Venting, Bad ground, and lasty and least likley, bad gas valve.

[fishlips]

Your problem sounds very similiar to a problem that I just fixed on our Heat n Glow gas fireplace. I turned the fireplace off for the summer and when I fired it back up in the late fall, the pilot light ran perfectly, but the burner flame was low to non-existent. The problem was traced to a tiny spider egg nest in a small orfice just before the gas went into the burner. I have heard that this is extremely common. The pilot light was working fine because it was being fed by a very small tube that got its gas from upstream of the burner. Check the exit vent as mentioned just to be sure there are no nests from birds, mice or hornets! I had to disassembly the burner - very easy to do, and then use a vacuum and tiny brass brush to clean out the gas flow orfice.

[WallEYES]

I agree wirh the last post I believe the orfice is plugged or obstructed

[rundrave]

same here something is blocking something somewhere

I have a heat and glow, running off propane. My fireplace was doing the same thing as you described. There is a breather line/vent on the side of the house where the propane line comes in at. On this vent it was covered in ice(long story lol) chipped the ice away and it came back to life instantly.

[pureinsanity]

Gas fireplaces should be cleaned frequently. If this thing hasn't been cleaned that is your problem.

I had one where every time it was used a strong odor of gas would be omitted into my house. Also the flame was inconsistent or more prominent on one burner compared to the other.

After I watched a guy clean it, it worked like new. Get it cleaned and clean it regularly.

[boatfixer]

What color is the flame? Nice blue flame or is it a yellow/orange color? This will tell alot.

If it is blue (like it is suppose to be) then I also would say there is a blockage restricting gas flow or bad valve. If it is yellow then there is a restriction in the air flow. Yellow indicates a rich mixture. A rich mixture is a potentially dangerous condition resulting in higher carbon monoxide levels.

[Bigsmitty]

If it is a direct vent fireplace ( using outside air for combustion ) then there really is no danger of carbon monoxide entering the home. It is a sealed unit.

Thermocouples control the pilot.

Thermo Generators also called thermopyles control the main burner.

If the pilot is staying lit then clean the thermopyle with steel wool.

If it is a blue ghosting flame coming off the main burner then that would be a venting issue. ( not enough oxygen ) But i doubt it.

I think fishlips is correct. Check your orfice for any obstruction. Those lil asian beetles or a spyder might be blocking it.

Good luck.

[Dellfin]

My understanding is that, in a gas fireplace application, the thermocouple controls the valve allowing gas going to the burner not to the pilot. The pilot can, and mine does, stay lit all the time. But the burner will not fire, or will not fire for long if the thermocouple does not sense enough heat. This may be different in a electronic ignition application (like my furnace) but not in a gas fireplace with a pilot that is constantly lit.

[T.O.W]

Well guys I've poked, prodded, vacuumed, blown, scratched, brushed and checked for obstructions all to no avail. I tried the control module which was what my gas company diagnosed but that didn't work. Oh and now I cannot even get the main burner to light. So perhaps I made it worse. I think it's time for another professional.