Propane and natural gas fireplace repair in Eagles Nest

The rating plate comes before any part

Every gas fireplace carries a rating plate, because Florida's fuel gas code expects appliances to be listed and labeled for the use they are put to. Heat & Glo's owner manual, for example, says its plate usually sits in the control area. It names the model, the serial number and the type of gas the unit was built for.

The plate also lists the pressure range and orifice size the burner was set up with. That is why a repair starts there. The same symptom on two fireplaces can call for different parts and settings, and a pilot assembly that fits one model can be wrong for the next.

Before any part is named, our technician reads the plate at your Eagles Nest home and matches it to the maker's instructions. The model and gas type then go at the top of your estimate.

Intermittent pilot ignition and its control module

On an intermittent pilot ignition system, usually shortened to IPI, a control module runs the start. It sparks the pilot, senses that the pilot flame is really there and only then opens gas to the main burner. When the fireplace turns off, the pilot goes out as well, which Heat & Glo's owner manual describes as normal for its IPI units.

That module needs power. The installation manual for those units calls the power cord connection required for the IntelliFire Touch ignition to work, with a battery backup for outages. The same module can lock itself out after a fault and flash an error code until it is reset.

Power, spark, flame sensing and the signal to the valve are separate steps, and our technician checks each one on a visit in Eagles Nest. The estimate names the step that failed rather than listing a new module by default.

Rock wool and a flame only in the center

Rock wool is the fluffy ember material some gas burners use for the look of the flame. How much to use and where it goes are set by the maker, and the instructions differ from one design to the next.

One direct vent manual has the rock wool pulled into small pieces and spread in one thin layer across the whole burner. If the flame then burns blue and only in the center, it says to check that the back holes of the burner are not covered, and to add rock wool to the center if they are clear. It also warns that too much rock wool makes the flame burn poorly and can cause sooting, while a Heatilator manual keeps rock wool off the burner ports and has it replaced every year.

Because the rules differ, the layer on your Eagles Nest fireplace is set by the manual for that model, not by habit, before the flame is judged. Replacement material goes on the estimate when it is needed.

If you smell gas near the fireplace

Natural gas and propane have no smell of their own. The fireplace manuals explain that an odorant is added so a leak can be noticed, and warn that the odor can fade, so gas may be present even when you notice no odor. Some gas is heavier than air and settles near the floor.

When there is a smell of gas, the manuals and the NFPA heating safety tip sheet agree on what comes first. Leaving comes before calling.

Only after the gas company or fire department says the home is safe should anyone look at the fireplace again. That look is work for a qualified service person.

• Do not light the fireplace or any other appliance
• Do not touch electrical switches or use a phone inside
• Get everyone out of the home
• Call the gas company or 911 from outside