Start with the easy ones: fresh batteries in the remote and the receiver, the receiver switch set to remote, the wall switch, and the gas key valve. On a standing pilot fireplace, make sure the pilot is lit. On an electronic IPI fireplace, check the power, the breaker and any backup batteries, then power cycle it to clear a lockout.
Key points
- Dead remote or receiver batteries cause more no-start calls than any part failure.
- Check the remote is not in thermostat mode set below room temperature.
- Millivolt fireplaces need a lit pilot. No pilot, no burner.
- IPI fireplaces need power. Check breakers, adapters and backup batteries.
- If the pilot is lit but the burner will not come on, the thermopile or switch circuit is the usual suspect.
First, figure out which system you have
Gas fireplaces start in one of two main ways, and the checks are different.
- Millivolt, or standing pilot: a small pilot burns all the time. It heats a thermopile that makes enough electricity to open the main valve when you flip the wall switch or use the remote. It needs no house power. If you can see a small flame in the firebox when the fireplace is off, you have this type.
- IPI, or intermittent pilot ignition: no pilot burns until you call for heat. A control module sparks the pilot, confirms the flame, then opens the main burner. It needs power from a wall outlet, an adapter, or batteries. Many SIT Proflame systems are this type.
Some IPI units have a switch that lets the pilot run continuously in cold weather. Your manual will say.
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Safety first
If you smell gas, do not try to start the fireplace. Turn off the gas at the key valve if you can do it quickly, avoid switches and phones in the room, leave, and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Ten things to check, in the order techs see them
1. Remote batteries
Weak batteries often still light the remote's screen but cannot send a strong enough signal. Replace them with fresh ones, not ones from the junk drawer.
2. Receiver batteries
Most remote systems have a receiver box in the lower cabinet or behind the louver. It usually takes its own batteries, which people forget exist. Replace them too.
3. Receiver switch position
Receivers often have a three-position switch: on, remote, and off. If someone bumped it to off, the remote does nothing. Set it to remote.
4. Remote in thermostat mode
Many remotes have a thermostat setting. If it is set to a temperature below the room, the fireplace will not come on. Switch to manual mode or raise the setpoint.
5. Remote needs to re-pair
After a battery change, some remotes lose sync with the receiver. Most have a learn or reset button on the receiver. Press it, then press the on button on the remote within the time your manual gives.
6. Wall switch
Try the wall switch if you have one. If the remote works but the switch does not, or the other way around, the problem is in that control, its wiring, or a loose connection at the valve.
7. Gas supply
Check that the key valve or appliance shutoff is fully open. On propane, check the tank level. If other gas appliances in the house are not working, the problem is upstream.
8. Pilot out (millivolt)
On a standing pilot unit, look for the pilot flame. If it is out, relight it by following the instructions on the plate below the firebox. If it will not stay lit, see our guide on pilots that won't stay lit.
9. No power or lockout (IPI)
Check the breaker and any GFCI outlet serving the fireplace. Check the adapter is plugged in and the backup batteries, if your unit has them, are fresh. IPI modules lock out after several failed tries. Turning the power off for a minute and back on usually resets it.
10. Weak thermopile (millivolt)
If the pilot is lit and the batteries and switch are good but the main burner will not come on, the thermopile may not be making enough voltage. A thermopile that tests below about 300 millivolts with the pilot running is usually replaced. Long wall switch wiring and dirty contacts make a weak thermopile act up sooner.
Signs specific to each system
Millivolt systems
- Pilot lit but burner will not light: thermopile, wall switch, wiring or valve.
- Burner lights and goes out after a few minutes: weak thermopile or a draft pushing the pilot away from it.
- Works from the switch but not the remote: receiver batteries or pairing.
IPI systems
- Clicking with no flame: the module is sparking but no gas is reaching the pilot, or the spark is jumping to the wrong spot. Check the gas supply first.
- Pilot lights then shuts off after a few seconds: the flame sensor is dirty or the pilot is weak, so the module does not confirm flame.
- Beeping from the receiver: often a low battery warning. Check your manual for the beep codes.
- Nothing at all: power, batteries or a failed module.
What you can do and what to leave alone
You can safely replace batteries, reset the receiver, re-pair the remote, check breakers, relight a standing pilot per the instructions, and confirm the gas valve is open. Testing millivolts, cleaning flame sensors and pilot assemblies, and replacing thermopiles, modules or valves is gas and electrical work that should go to a fireplace tech.
What a pro does and when to call
Call a pro when the basic checks do not fix it, when the pilot will not stay lit, when the IPI system keeps locking out, or when you smell gas. A fireplace tech will test the thermopile and switch circuit with a meter, clean the pilot and flame sensor, check gas pressure, and replace the module, valve or remote system if needed. Most fireplace companies in our network have dealer accounts and can source the correct OEM parts. Find a fireplace repair company or search by ZIP code. If the unit has not been serviced in a few years, combine the repair with a gas fireplace cleaning and service. Our gas fireplace service cost guide covers typical pricing, and the maintenance guide explains what an annual visit should include.
Parts that usually fix it
- Remotes and receivers, thermopiles, IPI modules, flame sensors and valves: see fireplace parts costs.
Remote systems must match the valve and module in the fireplace, and pilot assemblies are brand specific. Find the model and serial number on the rating plate, often on a chain or tag below the firebox, before ordering. Brands like Napoleon, Majestic and Valor each use their own parts. If you cannot find the right part, ask Pro Grill to help locate it.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my gas fireplace turn on with the remote?
Most often the remote or receiver batteries are dead, the receiver switch is off, or the remote is in thermostat mode set below room temperature. Replace both sets of batteries and check the receiver switch first.
Why is my pilot lit but the fireplace won't turn on?
On a millivolt fireplace, the thermopile may be weak, or there is a problem with the wall switch, remote receiver or wiring. A tech can test the thermopile with a meter.
How do I reset my gas fireplace?
For IPI systems, turn off power at the breaker or unplug the adapter for about a minute, then restore it. For remote systems, use the learn or reset button on the receiver. Standing pilot units reset by relighting the pilot.
Does a gas fireplace work during a power outage?
Millivolt fireplaces usually do, since the thermopile makes its own power. IPI fireplaces need power or backup batteries.
Why does my fireplace click but not light?
On an IPI system, clicking means the module is sparking. If no flame appears, check that the gas is on, then call a tech to look at the pilot, igniter and gas supply.
