Gas is clean, and it burns warm.
Plus, you never need to clean up ashes later on.
Operation is fast, easy, and safeas long as you follow the lighting procedure correctly.
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Learn more about how to turn on your gas fireplace with a wall key.
When closed, the gas valve knob prevents gas from flowing into the fireplace.
When opened, gas will flow.
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The valve can be opened partially or in full.
Look for a decorative slot near your fireplace.
Safety Considerations
Although natural gas is colorless and odorless, it is flammable and potentially dangerous.
Do not force the key when turning.
This may break the gas valve knob or the key.
Warning
Never turn on a gas fireplace valve with a makeshift tool.
You risk not being able to turn off the gas quickly in the event of an emergency.
Only use the wall key designed for the gas valve.
Place the key nearby.
Do not place the key in the valve yet.
Open Front of Fireplace
Open up the glass doors orscreen to the fireplace.
This is where you will light the fireplace.
Place Key in Gas Valve
Insert the wall key in the gas valve.
see to it that the key fully seats in the valve.
Do not turn yet.
Light Ignition Source
Turn on the lighter or strike the match.
Hold the flame about 1/2 inch above the ignition area.
Slightly Turn on Gas Valve
Rotate the wall key a quarter or half turn counter-clockwise.
Do not turn it on all the way yet.
The flame should light.
Turn Gas Valve on Full
Continue slowly turning the valve counter-clockwise until the valve stops.
If you decide to have a lower flame, stop short of this.
Turn off the Gas Fireplace
To turn off the gas fireplace, replace the wall key.
Turn the wall key clockwise until it comes to a firm stop.
The flame will taper down and extinguish on its own.
Manually lighting the fireplace substitutes for the pilot light.
Gas fireplaces that operate with wall switches do have standing pilot lights, though.
Gas Flows but Won’t Light
Turning the wall key alone will not light the gas fireplace.
You do need to apply a flame to flowing gas to light the fireplace.
If the gas is flowing but there’s no flame, the problem may be with the flame.
Turn up the flame on the kitchen lighter or use a new lighter.
Look for it on thefireplace mantel,fireplace apron, or nearby shelf or cabinet.
Not all plumbers are equipped to work with gas lines, so check with them in advance.
If you smell a gas leak outside of the house, call the gas company immediately.
Some types of gas fireplaceshave keys to start them and control the flow of gas.
Other types of gas fireplaces are turned on electronically.
However, there are universal keys that fit the keyhole valves of various fireplace models.