How to Relight a Gas Fireplace Pilot Light (All Major Brands)
By GasFireplaceFixer.com · Gas Fireplace Repair Guide
Relighting a gas fireplace pilot light is a straightforward process on most units, but the exact procedure varies slightly by brand and model. This guide covers the standard procedure that works for most fireplaces plus brand-specific notes for the major manufacturers.
Before You Start
Turn the gas control knob to OFF and wait a minimum of 5 minutes before attempting to relight. This clears any residual gas from the pilot assembly. If you smell gas after waiting 5 minutes, do not attempt to light the pilot — call your gas utility immediately. Make sure the main gas supply valve (usually behind or beside the fireplace) is fully open.
Standard Pilot Relight Procedure
Turn the gas control knob to PILOT. Press and hold the pilot button (or push the knob in on older valves). While holding, press the igniter button repeatedly — you should hear clicks and see a spark at the pilot burner. Once the pilot lights, continue holding the pilot button for 30-45 seconds to allow the thermocouple to heat fully. Slowly release the button. If the pilot holds, turn the knob to ON. If it drops out, wait 5 minutes and repeat, holding the button longer.
Heatilator Pilot Relight
Heatilator uses a standard SIT or Honeywell millivolt valve. Follow the label instructions printed on the valve — they're specific to your model. Most Heatilator units use the standard procedure above. The pilot orifice is small (0.009-0.012 inch) — if the pilot won't establish, the orifice may need cleaning with compressed air.
Napoleon Pilot Relight
Napoleon fireplaces use both standing pilot (millivolt) and IPI (intermittent pilot ignition) systems depending on the model year. IPI systems don't have a standing pilot — they ignite automatically when you turn the fireplace on. For standing pilot Napoleons, the procedure is standard. Check your model's manual for IPI reset procedures if the ignition module has locked out.
Majestic and Monessen Pilot Relight
Majestic and Monessen (both owned by the same parent company) use similar valve assemblies. Both brands use clear valve labels with step-by-step instructions. Follow the printed procedure. If the pilot won't hold after 3 attempts, the thermocouple likely needs cleaning or replacement before relighting will be successful.
When the Pilot Won't Stay Lit After Relighting
If the pilot lights but drops out when you release the button, the thermocouple is not generating enough millivoltage to hold the gas valve open. Clean the thermocouple tip with fine emery cloth, check that the tip is fully inside the pilot flame, and test the millivolt output with a multimeter. If output is below 25 mV for a thermocouple or below 300 mV for a thermopile, replacement is needed.
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