Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit – Kansas City Solutions

You flip the switch, hear that satisfying click, watch the flames dance to life, and then… nothing. The pilot light goes out again. If you’re dealing with a gas fireplace that won’t stay lit here in Kansas City, you’re not alone, especially during those temperature swings we get from October through March.

Why Kansas City Weather Makes This Worse

Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize: our wild temperature fluctuations mess with gas fireplace systems more than steady cold does. When it’s 55 degrees one day and 22 the next, the expansion and contraction can throw off components that were working fine last week.

The humidity doesn’t help either. Kansas City summers are muggy, and all that moisture can corrode parts inside your chimney and fireplace system during the off-season. Come November when you’re ready to fire things up, you might find components that looked fine in April are now causing problems.

The Thermocouple Problem

Nine times out of ten, when a pilot light won’t stay lit, you’re looking at a thermocouple issue. This little sensor sits right next to the pilot flame and generates a tiny electrical current when heated. That current tells the gas valve it’s safe to keep gas flowing. If the thermocouple thinks the pilot is out, it shuts everything down as a safety measure.

Sometimes the thermocouple just needs cleaning. Soot and carbon buildup from normal operation create an insulating layer that prevents proper heating. Other times, the positioning is off by just a quarter inch, and that’s enough to cause failure. And yeah, sometimes they just wear out after 7-10 years of service.

You can clean a thermocouple yourself if you’re handy. Turn off the gas, let everything cool completely, and use fine-grit sandpaper or steel wool to gently clean the probe. Be careful not to bend it. Position it so the pilot flame wraps around the tip, not just licking at one side.

Draft Issues That Kill Pilot Lights

Look, here’s the thing about chimneys in older Kansas City homes: they weren’t always built with gas fireplaces in mind. A lot of houses built before 1980 have chimneys designed for wood-burning fireplaces, and the draft characteristics are completely different.

Strong downdrafts can blow out a pilot light, especially on windy days. We get plenty of those 25-30 mph wind events here, and if your chimney cap is missing or damaged, wind can force air down the flue. Sometimes the problem is actually too much draft, which pulls the flame away from the thermocouple.

A proper chimney cap costs between $150 and $400 installed, depending on the size and style. It’s one of those investments that pays for itself by preventing multiple service calls and keeping rain, animals, and debris out of your system.

Gas Pressure and Supply Problems

If your pilot lights easily but won’t stay lit for more than a few seconds, you might have a gas supply issue. The pilot needs consistent pressure, typically around 3.5 inches of water column for natural gas systems. Too low, and the flame can’t generate enough heat. Too high, and you get other problems entirely.

Sediment in the gas line can restrict flow. This is more common in Kansas City’s older neighborhoods where gas lines have been in service for decades. The fix usually involves cleaning or replacing the gas valve assembly. Not a DIY job unless you really know what you’re doing.

Sometimes the issue is actually at the meter or the main supply. If you’ve noticed other gas appliances acting weird or your stove burners seem weaker than usual, call your gas company first before paying for a chimney service call.

Oxygen Depletion Sensors

Modern gas fireplaces have oxygen depletion sensors that shut everything down if oxygen levels drop too low in the room. It’s a critical safety feature, but it can cause frustration when it trips unnecessarily.

These sensors can get dirty or malfunction. If your pilot stays lit when the glass doors are open but goes out when they’re closed, you’re probably dealing with an ODS issue or inadequate combustion air. Never disable these sensors. They’re there because people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Tight Home Problem

Kansas City homeowners have been upgrading insulation and sealing air leaks for years now, which is great for energy bills but can create problems for gas appliances. Your fireplace needs air for combustion. If your home is too tight and doesn’t have adequate makeup air, the fireplace will struggle.

Cracking a window during fireplace operation isn’t just an old wives’ tale. Sometimes it actually helps, especially in newer or recently renovated homes. A better solution is installing a dedicated outside air kit, which costs $300-600 depending on the complexity.

When to Call a Professional

You can troubleshoot basic issues like cleaning the thermocouple or checking for obvious obstructions. But if you’ve done that and the pilot still won’t stay lit, it’s time to call someone who knows Kansas City chimney systems.

Don’t mess around with gas valve adjustments or internal wiring unless you’ve got proper training. Gas leaks are no joke, and carbon monoxide is an invisible killer. If you smell gas at any point, shut off the supply at the valve, leave your house, and call the gas company immediately.

A professional inspection typically runs $125-200 and includes checking all the components we’ve discussed plus combustion analysis and safety testing. That peace of mind is worth it, especially if you’ve got kids or pets in the home.

Preventive Maintenance Makes a Difference

Annual inspections before heating season catches most problems before they leave you shivering on a 15-degree night. We generally recommend scheduling service in September or early October, before everyone’s calling at once.

Kansas City’s temperature swings and humidity mean your fireplace system works harder than it would in, say, Arizona or Southern California. Components wear faster here. What might last 15 years in a milder climate might need replacement after 10 in our conditions.

Keep the glass clean, don’t burn anything except what the manufacturer specifies (no wood in a gas fireplace, obviously), and pay attention to how the system sounds and looks during operation. Weird noises or yellow flames instead of blue are your early warning signs.

Getting Help in the Kansas City Area

If your pilot light keeps going out and you’ve exhausted the simple fixes, we’re here to help. We service gas fireplaces throughout the Kansas City metro, and we’ve seen every variation of this problem you can imagine. Give us a call and we’ll get your fireplace working safely before the next cold snap hits.