Home Coupons Tap to Call Now

Ten Most Common Reasons a Fire Won’t Start in a Fireplace – Pt 1

Fireplace Problems

Learn the many possible explanations for why a fire won’t start in a fireplace.

Winter is hanging on; and even in the southern states, the fireplace can still be needed for warmth before spring comes to stay until summer. But what if you suddenly find that you can’t get a fire started? There are many possible explanations for why a fire won’t start in a fireplace, and the following are a few of the most common:

1 – The Damper Isn’t Opened Fully

Even if you remembered to open the damper in your fireplace, it’s possible that something has occurred which prevents it from opening all the way. From soot buildup behind the dampers to water damage, there are many possible reasons that the damper won’t open sufficiently. Hiring a professional chimney sweep to address the issue is typically all that’s needed.

2 – The Gas Supply is Cut off, in a Gas Fireplace

Of course, there must be a gas supply for a gas fireplace to operate. There are several possible reasons why there is no gas for a fire. There is usually a wall switch or a valve near the fireplace which transfers the gas from the main line or source to the fireplace; it could be that it was turned off and simply needs to be turned back on. The gas line may be open but there may be no more gas or perhaps a utility payment got lost in the mail and it was cut off.

3 – The Pilot Light is Out in a Gas Fireplace

The pilot light for a gas fireplace can be blown out by a sudden downdraft or by wind. If this is what happened, turn the pilot light back on. The usual way a pilot light is lit is that you turn the control knob to the Pilot position, a counter-clockwise movement. Click on the red button, which should light the pilot. Hold the button in for about a minute and then turn the knob to the “on” position.

4 – The Gas Valve is Blocked in a Gas Fireplace

The thermo coupling produces an electric spark from the pilot light which opens the gas valve. This is a very tiny spark, and even a small amount of dust can block the valve.

5 – The Wood is Wet or Too Green

firewood

In order to get a fire to properly start, the firewood must be complete dry.

If there is no heat inside the chimney, the fireplace cannot work properly. In addition, if you are trying to light wet or green wood, all you may get is a lot of smoke but not enough fire to create the heat that’s required for the chimney to do its job of carrying the smoke up and away from the home. The type of wood you use in the fireplace is important. The wood should be seasoned, which means dried properly. Otherwise, there is too much moisture in the wood; and any flames which ignite produce significantly less heat than a fire with seasoned wood.

The other top five reasons a fireplace doesn’t start involve more complex issues. Be sure to read Part 2 of this series on reasons a fireplace won’t start. In the meantime, contact our chimney professionals for all of your chimney, fireplace, and venting needs.

Read Pt 2 of this article to find out more reasons you may have issues getting a fire started in your fireplace.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Nayaug Chimney Services LLC
Kreiger Lane GlastonburyCT06033 USA 
 • 860-659-0937

get_header(); ?>
wethersfield ct chimney sweep and chimney cleaningchimney cleaning in glastonbury ctchimney sweep serving avon farmington simsbury wethersfield rocky hill ctnew chimney rebuild in coventry includes masonry work by chimney sweepsinstalling chimney liner in hebron marlborough ct area homenew chimney cap repair in manchester ctadding a stainless steel chimney liner to remedy cracked clay tile liner problem in south windsor ctinstall stainless steel chimney liner for wood burning fireplace insert in tolland ctmasonry repair in glastonbury chimney rebuilding projectbrick rebuilding chimney in colchester ct areanew chimney built in south glastonbury because of chimney leakinstall chimney liner and chimney cap for fireplace insert in east hampton ctchimney inspection and installation of new chimney cap in marlborough ctcleaning wood stove in cromwell ct certified chimney sweepcleaning wood stove by certified chimney sweep in hebron ct lebanon area

Ten Most Common Reasons a Fire Won’t Start in a Fireplace – Pt 1

Fireplace Problems

Learn the many possible explanations for why a fire won’t start in a fireplace.

Winter is hanging on; and even in the southern states, the fireplace can still be needed for warmth before spring comes to stay until summer. But what if you suddenly find that you can’t get a fire started? There are many possible explanations for why a fire won’t start in a fireplace, and the following are a few of the most common:

1 – The Damper Isn’t Opened Fully

Even if you remembered to open the damper in your fireplace, it’s possible that something has occurred which prevents it from opening all the way. From soot buildup behind the dampers to water damage, there are many possible reasons that the damper won’t open sufficiently. Hiring a professional chimney sweep to address the issue is typically all that’s needed.

2 – The Gas Supply is Cut off, in a Gas Fireplace

Of course, there must be a gas supply for a gas fireplace to operate. There are several possible reasons why there is no gas for a fire. There is usually a wall switch or a valve near the fireplace which transfers the gas from the main line or source to the fireplace; it could be that it was turned off and simply needs to be turned back on. The gas line may be open but there may be no more gas or perhaps a utility payment got lost in the mail and it was cut off.

3 – The Pilot Light is Out in a Gas Fireplace

The pilot light for a gas fireplace can be blown out by a sudden downdraft or by wind. If this is what happened, turn the pilot light back on. The usual way a pilot light is lit is that you turn the control knob to the Pilot position, a counter-clockwise movement. Click on the red button, which should light the pilot. Hold the button in for about a minute and then turn the knob to the “on” position.

4 – The Gas Valve is Blocked in a Gas Fireplace

The thermo coupling produces an electric spark from the pilot light which opens the gas valve. This is a very tiny spark, and even a small amount of dust can block the valve.

5 – The Wood is Wet or Too Green

firewood

In order to get a fire to properly start, the firewood must be complete dry.

If there is no heat inside the chimney, the fireplace cannot work properly. In addition, if you are trying to light wet or green wood, all you may get is a lot of smoke but not enough fire to create the heat that’s required for the chimney to do its job of carrying the smoke up and away from the home. The type of wood you use in the fireplace is important. The wood should be seasoned, which means dried properly. Otherwise, there is too much moisture in the wood; and any flames which ignite produce significantly less heat than a fire with seasoned wood.

The other top five reasons a fireplace doesn’t start involve more complex issues. Be sure to read Part 2 of this series on reasons a fireplace won’t start. In the meantime, contact our chimney professionals for all of your chimney, fireplace, and venting needs.

Read Pt 2 of this article to find out more reasons you may have issues getting a fire started in your fireplace.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Call Now Button