Gas fireplace wont stay lit- it is a sealed unit so can taccess the pilot or gas holes in the logs. is it safe to remove glass panel?

I am not a service professional, but just a homeowner who has some experience with this gas log.

GAS LOG INSTRUCTIONS

Brand: Marco Gas Log (company is now out of business)
#792775, unvented gas log
Installed late 1990's when house was built


The gas is turned on and off using the key on the wall to the left of the fireplace. The gas is OFF when the key is turned as far clockwise as possible. Turn the key counterclockwise about a half turn or whole turn (180 degrees to 360 degrees) to light the pilot and turn on the log. You don't have to worry about gas coming out into the room before you light the pilot, or if the pilot goes out.

Horizontal as far clockwise as possible = OFF
Vertical ½ turn = ON

The log needs to be cleaned before using at the beginning of the season. Remove the logs, taking note of their position so you can replace them the same way. Use a toothbrush to clean the thermocouple, which looks like two little wires immediately to the right of the pilot (which looks like a metal tube that is located in the center just in front of the back log). Use a vacuum cleaner hose and duster to clean dust off all metal parts and the fire box interior. You can go ahead and replace the back log before lighting the pilot.


HOW TO LIGHT THE PILOT:

With the gas turned on with the key on the wall, find the black and white knob on the lower right of the gas log and turn it all the way to the right (clockwise) to the to the right as far as it will go, then turn it back ever so slightly to the left until you feel a little resistance (like a click that you feel rather than hear). The pilot cannot be lit when turned all the way to the right.

Push the knob in with your thumb and use your other hand to light the pilot with a long-stem lighter or match. Hold the knob in for at least 30 seconds. The thermocouple has to be hot before the pilot will stay on. Let the knob come out very slowly. Hopefully the pilot will remain lit, but if it does not, you will need to repeat the procedure until it does. Be sure to hold the knob in until the thermocouple is hot and release the knob very carefully. When the pilot stays lit, then turn the knob to the left counterclockwise until the flame stays lit and carefully place the logs back into their original position. Note: Push the knob in only when you are actually lighting the pilot, not while you are turning the knob.

Set the thermostat from Hi to Low as pictured on the knob. Once the log is lit, it should stay on until the thermostat causes it to go off. Hopefully the pilot will stay on so that the log will come back on automatically according to the setting of the thermostat (from low to high). It will be at its hottest when the knob is all the way counterclockwise.The flame will go off and on according to the temperature in the room. The pilot should stay lit even when the main flame goes out, as shown above.

You may need a new pilot assembly. Typically one of two issues result from a bad pilot assembly:
1. The pilot won't stay on after lighting it
2. Pilot stays on but logs won't light.

Depending on the unit, you may need a new thermopile or a whole new pilot assembly.

Make sure the gas valve is on. The thermocouple may need to be cleaned in order for the pilot to stay lit.

One, ensure that the flame is entirely one color blue, no light blue in the center, no orange or yellow. If you replaced the thermocouple yourself, ensure you connected it to the gas valve and/or ensure that the connection to the gas valve is tight. If it is a new thermocouple you may have a gas valve issue, this is uncommon and rare. However, the valve may not be receiving the signal from the thermocouple. If the color of the flame is incorrect, turn fireplace off, and clean out the pilot tube and then relight. If none of this works, call your local trained professional. Remember you are dealing with gas, being cheap can put you in danger.

Thermocouple keeps the pilot lit.
Thermopile keeps the burner lit.
Please specify what won't stay lit...
If it's the burner, you may need to change the thermopile as well.
If the pilot still won't stay lit, you will want to make sure that the pilot flame is large enough to completely engulf the thermocouple and keep it hot. If it's too small, you may need to take some compressed air and blow out the pilot hood to remove any blockage.

The reason this is happening is that the overload switch, which is part of the safety features has gone bad. That's why the burner will only light with the glass off. The orange color of the flame from the pilot flame is normal for propane.

Unfortunately, this is not a DIY fix. If you can find a qualified service technician, that's the best way to go. As, Heat-n-Glow fireplaces are a basic, builder box line. And as such, have some quirks that other, more expensive gas fireplaces don't have.

Hope this helps solve your problem.

We had this problem and struggled with it for over a year. We finally hired someone to come in and service the stove he cleaned everything and blew a piece of crud from the pilot line. NO Problem for 2 years since.
He told me the pilot light should look strong pointed like a pencil not curved up like a candle. He removed the pilot and disassembleed the line and used compressed air.

Ventless Gas logs, Vanguard, VS30PR. Propane gas
Pilot light stays lit various times, sometimes for several days then other times for a few minutes. Lights best when temp outside is below freezing. Pilot flame appears to receive too much air. How do you adjust the pilot flame? Is this done using two screws marked A & E? Do you have suggestions?
Thanks,
Ed

I am just guessing but it may be set to low. The rush of air when it extinguishes could be blowing it out.

Good Luck,
Gilshultz

Hi , you can try and pull the panel on the bottom of fireplace out and check the adapter in fireplace. Sometimes they go bad. When you open in also check to see if there is an adapter plugged in and a option to use the battery operated function. If this goes bad the pilot will not stay lit.