Why Does My Gas Fireplace Keep Shutting Off?

However, they are not so great when they experience issues, especially if your gas fireplace keeps shutting off without warning, it can be quite frustrating. In addition to this, it usually means that the fireplace is experiencing issues.

It is useful to know why your fireplace keeps shutting off, and what you can potentially do to resolve this. We will be covering this in more detail in this article.  

What Is A Gas Fireplace?

A gas fireplace is a great option if you are looking to heat your home, but you do not want to purchase a real fire. They produce no smoke, and the waste that is produced is diverted into a vent and tube that removes the waste, rather than a chimney.

They create a fantastic ambient atmosphere, and they are great at warming a room in the colder months. Not only will they help to keep the room warmer, but they help to prevent you from having to place the central heating on. 

Why your gas fireplace may be shutting off

When it comes to the reasons why your gas fireplace may be shutting off, this could be down to a number of different reasons. Below we have discussed the most common reasons for this. 

The Pilot Light

One of the main reasons why your gas fireplace keeps shutting down is likely due to the pilot light. This is an integral part of a gas fireplace, that kick starts the gas fire. When you turn on the fire, the pilot light button needs to be held in so that it can light the fire.

Understandably, if your fire is not catching, or if the fire keeps going out, it could be due to the pilot light. This could be because there is dust or debris in the pilot light. This will affect how the fire catches, and the lazy flame created disrupts the main flame. This will then have a knock on effect on the fire itself, and can cause it to shut off. 

While the pilot light is used to ignite the fire, it remains lit when the fire is being used. As a result, if the pilot light is faulty, this will have an impact on the fire.

In addition to this, the flame created should be blue. While it can sometimes have a small amount of yellow, if the flame is fully yellow, this indicates that the gas being used has been contaminated. This is an issue that needs to be resolved quickly.  

The Thermocouple

The thermocouple is another important aspect to the gas fireplace, that ensures that it remains on while in use. The thermocouple is a sensor that is within the fireplace. It is included to monitor how much gas is being used in the fireplace. It will then provide the correct amount of gas to the pilot light.

Given its responsibilities, if there is an issue with the thermocouple, this will have a knock on effect on the gas fireplace itself. If the thermocouple is faulty or blocked, it will not be providing enough gas to the fireplace. As a result it will cause the fireplace to switch off.

To test whether the thermocouple is operating as it should, a professional will need to use a multimeter that will determine how it is operating. If it is not operating as it should, it may well need to be replaced. However, sometimes, it may just need to be cleaned. 

The Oxypilot

The oxypilot is a very important part of a gas fireplace. It is a sensor that monitors the amount of oxygen that is in the room with the gas fireplace. If it detects that there is not enough oxygen present, its job is to turn off the fireplace. This is an important safety feature that protects you from carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. 

If the oxypilot is faulty, this can cause it to turn off the gas valve which then switches off the pilot light. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as being clogged with dirt. If you suspect that this is the issue, we would recommend getting this checked out by a professional so that they can rule out any potential carbon monoxide issues.

Gas Service Pressure

The gas service pressure is another reason why your gas fireplace may be shutting off. The pressure needs to be correct in order for the fireplace to light, and remain lit. If there are any issues with this, the fireplace may keep switching off. This will need to be resolved by a professional who can adjust the gas service pressure safely and accurately.

Drip Loop

Drip loop is caused by moisture that is within the gas line. As you can imagine, if there is water or moisture in the line, this can cause the gas fireplace to switch off. It will affect the gas, and cause it to stop lighting correctly. A professional will need to diagnose and resolve this.

Gas Valve

Finally, if your gas fireplace is still switching off, there may be issues with the gas valve. If it is not opening correctly, this can cause issues with the supply of gas, which will then cause issues with the fireplace staying on when it is in use. This will need to be resolved by a professional as it may need to be replaced.

Summary

We hope that this article has been helpful. As you can see, there are many reasons why your gas fireplace may be shutting off. While some of these issues can be easily fixed, others are more serious issues. Given this, we would always recommend contacting a professional to diagnose the issue and resolve this for you as this is by far the safest option.