The pilot never lights
This is an ignition or supply symptom, not automatically a thermocouple problem. Follow the model manual stopping instructions and request service if lighting fails.
Quick answer
If a gas fireplace pilot will not stay lit, follow the exact model manual and stop when its lighting procedure fails. The pilot flame, safety sensor, controls, or gas supply may need testing; the symptom alone does not prove a bad thermocouple. If you smell gas, leave and call for emergency help from outside.
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Smell gas? Leave before troubleshooting
If you smell gas or suspect a leak, get everyone out immediately. Do not light the fireplace, operate switches, use a phone inside, or try to find or stop the leak. From a safe location outside, call 911 and your gas supplier. Do not return until emergency responders or the gas supplier say it is safe.
A repair booking is not an emergency response. See Peoples Gas emergency guidance.
First, identify which pilot problem you have
Use what you have already observed. You do not need to relight the fireplace to answer these questions.
It goes out when you release the control
The lighting sequence, pilot flame, safety circuit, or valve may need evaluation. Do not hold the control indefinitely or defeat its safety function.
It goes out later
Tell the technician how long it stayed on and whether wind, appliance operation, or an error code coincided with the shutdown.
The pilot stays on, but the burner does not
This is a separate symptom. See the gas fireplace will not turn on guide for remote, power, and burner-start distinctions.
How long should you hold the pilot control?
There is no universal hold time or lighting procedure. Use the instructions on your appliance label and in its owner manual, including any required wait before another attempt. An electronic-ignition fireplace may not use a manual pilot control at all.
If the pilot does not stay lit after the prescribed procedure, leave the appliance off and arrange service. Do not substitute a match, keep cycling the ignition, or open a shutoff valve without knowing why it was closed.
A thermocouple is one possibility, not a diagnosis
Some standing-pilot fireplaces use a thermocouple to help hold the pilot safety valve open and a thermopile to power the main-burner control circuit. Electronic systems can use different flame-sensing components. The make and model determine which system is installed.
For its standing-pilot models, Heat & Glo lists different checks for a pilot that goes out and a pilot that burns without the main burner. A qualified technician uses the appropriate tests rather than choosing a sensor from appearance alone. Do not replace a gas-connected part, loosen fittings, or bypass a safety circuit yourself.
What you can observe safely
- Read the model information only where it is safely accessible and the appliance is cool.
- Record whether the pilot never appeared, went out immediately, or stopped later.
- Note the date of the last service and whether the problem began after a long period without use.
- Mention visible water damage, unusual soot, recent gas work, or a known utility interruption.
- Describe any wind-related pattern without climbing onto the roof or removing a vent cover.
Do not remove fixed glass to watch the flame, blow compressed air into the pilot, rearrange logs, or change a damper or vent setting to keep it lit. A pilot problem needs a safe diagnosis, not a workaround that changes the appliance configuration.
What professional pilot-light service should establish
A gas fireplace service visit should identify the model and fuel, check the relevant pilot and control components, and separate a supply issue from an appliance fault. Ask what finding supports the proposed repair and whether the replacement part is specified for the model.
For routine upkeep, follow the manufacturer maintenance schedule. An unresolved pilot failure needs attention before use, rather than waiting for the next seasonal appointment.
Manufacturer references
The Heat & Glo FB-IN-S / FB-GRAND-S manual separates standing-pilot symptoms and identifies internal troubleshooting as qualified-service work. Heat & Glo owner resources explain how to find a model and its instructions. These examples do not replace the manual for your own fireplace.
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