Help with gas log fireplace

[twoguns?]

Gottcha.

Same type of unit in my shop rescued from my parents home remodel. It sits idle all spring/summer, puts on the pilot, but no main flame.

Did this for a couple of years. Finally determined that I had to leave the gas on all year long to the regulator. There are some diaphragms in there that get hard or something, and don't open.
I know this is redneck, but whack it a few times and see if you can unseat the diaphragms. If not it might take a kit in the regulator.

Yea, I have an old john deere heater that does that, one day that thing is gonna quit..... 8)

 

[JacobDaddy]

Sounds like a gas valve problem or thermostat problem. If the pilot light stays lit then it is producing the required millivolts to keep it lit.

If it stays lit, then it has proved there is a flame. If there is no gas coming out to light the burner then the valve is not working.

The problem may be the thermostat has not sent a signal to open the gas valve or it has sent the signal but the gas valve is defective.
You need to follow the sequence of operations and find where the signal is being lost. Sometimes if it is an old manual thermostat, the anticipator in the thermostat has broken. That would be the really fine wire under the cover.

I still think it is a problem with the signal to the gas valve.Not the thermocouple.

No thermostat, just a switch with Off/On/Auto (auto is an option that wasn't purchased, guess you can hook a thermostat to it or a remote control per the manual). So if this solves the problem (for now). How should this device be treated during the spring/summer/fall months?

 

[twoguns?]

I just turn mine off at the gas valve , leave the stop on.

I think Dennis hit it, diaphram dries out/gets stuck, gotta vibrajust it ...just a little...8)

 

[JacobDaddy]

Thanks for all the help guys, I walked over to the gas log this morning, flipped the switch and it came right on. Made Momma happy, which makes me happy!

 

[CHenry]

I ripped out the gas log after 1 year and put in a pellet insert. Now thats my main heat source and we love it.

 

[saddlebum]

is it wired through a switch on the wall?

 

[twoguns?]

I ripped out the gas log after 1 year and put in a pellet insert. Now thats my main heat source and we love it.

That would be my idea, but his is a ..ventless..gas fireplace.
Still good idea , but now you have to make a vent, some of those zero clearance vent systems are....well..'spensive

 

[JacobDaddy]

I ripped out the gas log after 1 year and put in a pellet insert. Now thats my main heat source and we love it.

My gas log is not on an outside wall, otherwise I am very interested. Is your gas log on the outside wall?

 

[JacobDaddy]

is it wired through a switch on the wall?

No, there is a switch underneath that turn it off and on.

 

[twoguns?]

is it wired through a switch on the wall?

No, it was just on/off, piezo start, it was a stuck gas valve.

You can add a remote , t-stat.....his didnt have one.