Three of those four are usually a cheap part. Call (509) 267-6216 and describe what it is doing and we can often narrow it down before anyone comes out.

What is probably wrong

Pilot will not light at all. Usually a dirty pilot assembly or a failed thermocouple. Cheap parts, quick visit.

Pilot lights but goes out when you release the knob. Almost always the thermocouple or thermopile. This is the single most common gas fireplace fault there is.

Runs and then shuts down. Often a safety switch doing its job because the venting is partly blocked, which is a real problem and worth finding. Sometimes an overheating sensor.

Cloudy or white film on the glass. Normal condensate and combustion residue. It cleans with the right product, not with glass cleaner, and it will come back if the unit is running rich.

Smell of gas. Stop. Turn off the gas at the valve, open a window, leave, and call the gas utility from outside before you call anyone else.

When it is not worth repairing

If the firebox itself is cracked or the unit is more than about twenty years old and the parts are obsolete, repair money is usually better spent on a replacement insert. We will say so. A $400 repair on a unit that needs another $600 next winter is not a favour.

What repair costs in Spokane

Job	Typical range
Service call and diagnosis	$90 to $200
Thermocouple or thermopile replacement	$150 to $400
Pilot assembly clean and adjust	$120 to $300
Blower or fan replacement	$250 to $600
Valve replacement	$350 to $900
Annual service and safety check	$120 to $250

Typical ranges, not a quote. Most gas fireplace visits in Spokane land at the lower end because the common faults are small parts.

What to expect on the day

Allow an hour for a service call. We need the gas on and the area in front of the fireplace clear. If the unit is a sealed insert it has to come forward, so clear a few feet.

If a part is needed and it is a common one, we usually carry it. If it is a proprietary valve for an older unit, that is a second visit.

Questions people ask

Why does my gas fireplace shut off after ten minutes?

Most often a safety sensor reacting to restricted venting or to overheating. It is doing what it is supposed to do. Do not bypass it. Get the venting checked, because the thing it is protecting you from is carbon monoxide.

How often does a gas fireplace need servicing?

Once a year is the usual advice, and in Spokane the right time is late summer before the first cold week. A service is mostly cleaning the pilot assembly, checking the venting, and testing the safety shutoffs.

Does a gas fireplace need the chimney swept?

Not in the way a wood fire does. Gas burns clean and does not make creosote. What it does need is the vent or flue checked for blockage and corrosion, which is a different job and usually faster.

Call (509) 267-6216