
Pilot Will Not Stay Lit
After a humid Houston summer the thermocouple or thermopile is usually weak or corroded. We test the millivolt reading rather than replacing parts on a guess.
Sweep $99 · Inspections from $59Sweep $99 · Level 2 inspection $79 · Standard inspection $59
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Gas fireplace service for Houston's humid off-season damage. Pilot won't stay lit, clicks but won't ignite, shuts off on its own, or glass gone black? We test the actual components — sensors, valve, pressure, venting — and repair what failed.
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Pilot & ignition repairs
Valve & pressure testing
Remote & switch faults
Annual gas fireplace service
Most Houston gas fireplaces sit unused from March to November, and Gulf humidity does quiet damage the whole time. Pilot assemblies corrode, thermocouples and thermopiles weaken, valves stick and spider webs block the pilot orifice — then the first cold front arrives and the fireplace clicks without lighting.
We work on both systems common here: gas log sets dropped into older masonry fireplaces inside the Loop, and sealed direct-vent inserts installed across Katy, Sugar Land, Cypress, Pearland and The Woodlands. Diagnosis comes first — we test the millivolt output, the valve and the venting before recommending any part.

Most gas fireplace failures come down to a handful of parts. Recognising the symptom tells us most of what we need before we arrive.

After a humid Houston summer the thermocouple or thermopile is usually weak or corroded. We test the millivolt reading rather than replacing parts on a guess.

Spider webs and debris block the pilot orifice in idle units — a classic Gulf Coast problem. Cleaning the assembly and testing the igniter usually restores it the same visit.

Burner debris, an incorrect log layout or a blocked vent termination cause sooting and safety shutdowns. Those are combustion issues and need testing, not adjustment by eye.
Pilot dying, clicking igniter, dead remote, black glass. Describe the symptom and we'll bring the likely parts to the first visit.
Share what you're seeing and we'll contact you to confirm the right next step.
Send My Fireplace Details
The most common gas fireplace repair there is. We test millivolt output rather than guessing, then replace the sensor that can no longer hold the valve open.

We measure inlet and manifold pressure with a manometer, check the valve's response to the switch or remote, and replace the valve only when it has genuinely failed.

Intermittent pilot ignition modules, wall switches, wiring at the valve, receivers and batteries — when the burner is fine and the control path is not, this is the fix.

Dust, debris and misplaced ceramic logs cause sooting and uneven flames. We clean the burner ports and pilot assembly and set the logs to the manufacturer's layout.
Pilot dying, clicking without lighting, remote not responding, black glass — tell us what it does and we will bring the likely parts.
Gas connections, venting, draft and carbon monoxide risk are checked before anything else. If it is not safe to run, we say so immediately.
Millivolt output at the sensors, gas pressure at the valve, continuity in the control path. Measurement is what separates a real diagnosis from parts-swapping.
You get the diagnosis, the part that failed and one written price. Nothing is replaced before you approve it.
We complete the repair, run the fireplace through a full cycle and show you the flame pattern, the switch and the remote working.
If you smell raw gas, do not operate switches or the fireplace. Leave the house and call your gas utility from outside, then call us. That is not an upsell — it is the correct order of operations.
Soot on the glass, a persistent odor while burning, or headaches and drowsiness when the fireplace runs point to incomplete combustion and possible carbon monoxide. Shut the fireplace off and have it inspected before using it again. A working carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the home is not optional with any gas appliance.
5.0 average rating
Serving Houston, Texas and the surrounding area
“Pilot wouldn't stay on after sitting all summer. He cleaned out the pilot assembly, replaced the thermocouple and tested it a few times before leaving. Worked perfectly on the first cold night.”
Ray P.
Gas Fireplace Repair · Sugar Land · 1 month ago
“Rust streaks were running down the siding from the top of the chimney. They showed me photos of the rusted-out cover, put a stainless one on, and the stains stopped. Fair price, no upselling.”
Derrick H.
Chase Cover Replacement · Katy · 2 weeks ago
“Every big storm we got a wet spot on the ceiling by the fireplace. Two roofers couldn't find it. These guys traced it to the flashing, fixed it, and we've been dry through the whole rainy season.”
Monica T.
Chimney Leak Repair · The Heights · 3 weeks ago
Not sure whether it's worth repairing? Call and describe what it's doing — we'll tell you straight.
(682) 217-3577The usual cause is a worn thermocouple or thermopile that no longer generates enough millivolts to hold the gas valve open, or a pilot orifice partially blocked by dust or debris. Both are common, inexpensive repairs — we test the output rather than replacing parts on a guess.
It depends entirely on which component failed. A thermocouple or a cleaning is a small job; a gas valve, ignition module or blower is a larger one. We diagnose on site and give one written price before doing any work — never a number over the phone.
Two likely causes: a weak thermopile that drops below the voltage needed to keep the valve open once the unit heats up, or a safety switch tripping because the vent is restricted. Both are diagnosable in a single visit.
A brief dusty smell on the first burn of the season is normal. Persistent soot, black glass, strong odors or headaches while the fireplace runs are signs of incomplete combustion, which can produce carbon monoxide. Shut it off and have it checked. If you smell raw gas, leave the house and call the gas utility first.
Once a year, ideally before the heating season. Annual service cleans the burner and pilot assembly, verifies gas pressure, tests the sensors and inspects the venting — it is what prevents the mid-winter no-heat call.
Yes. Vented gas log sets in masonry fireplaces and sealed direct-vent inserts fail in different ways and use different parts. Tell us which you have — or send a photo — and we will bring the right components.
Usually yes. Valves, sensors, igniters, blowers and remote receivers remain available for most major brands well past twenty years. We only recommend replacement when the firebox or venting is genuinely unsafe.
Yes — 10% off for military, veterans, seniors 65+, police, firefighters and EMTs. Mention it when you call (682) 217-3577.
Because it just sat through nine humid months. Corrosion on the pilot assembly and debris in the burner build up silently while the unit is off. An annual pre-season service in the fall prevents almost all of these calls.
A faint odor the first burn of the season is usually dust. A persistent smell, soot on the glass or headaches are not — shut the unit off and call us. We test combustion and the vent before returning it to service.
One visit, a real diagnosis and a written price. Call now and we'll get you on the schedule.