LP Gas Logs Keep going out..

[thatguy]

We have had our gas logs since 2001 and have never had a problem with them until this week. The problem actually only started after we got our tank filled up. At first the the pilot light would go out over night - but sometimes it would stay lit. Friday night I could not get the pilot light to stay lit unless I held the control knob in. Today the pilot light would light and then the logs would start to burn, but within a minute the logs would go out.

So, short story long... Anyone have an idea what is wrong? It appears to me that the gas supply is getting interupted. Since we just got a fill up I dont see a problem with the tank running out.. OR can something be clogging the line causing the stoppage?

Any suggestions appreciated.

thanks

brian

 

[goaliedad]

I would suspect a bad thermo-couple. When lighting the pilot you press the button to override it. It may be intermittent, allowing you to light the pilot,and start the main unit, then fail.
Before I would replace it, make sure it has not been moved- it needs to be in the flame of the pilot to work.
Just my thoughts..

 

[beenthere]

I'd agree with the thermocouple suggestion. Otherwise, contact the gas supplier. I know ours would respond right away.

 

[California]

I wasted a lot of time troubleshooting an identical problem and finally discovered a new safety device in series with the themocouple. This second device had been installed with poorly-crimped connectors (well hidden in the furnace's cabinet) which caused intermittent failures and difficult lighting like you are experiencing.

See:
Link
and my subsequent post there.

Hope this helps.

If that's not it - please post the solution when you get it fixed!

 

[PineRidge]

Most of these logs today use a powerpile generator instead of a thermocuple. If the pilot flame gets soft where there is not good contact with the generator that will cause a problem.

Of course a bad generator can do the same thing but since your tank was just filled I expect some crud in the pilot orifice. It doesn't take much since orifice hole sizes are in the thousandths of an inch.

Powerpile generators usually produce 650 millivolts. I doubt if you'll have a meter lying around that will measure such minute DC voltage.

I suggest cleaning the orifice first. Go slow, don't enlarge it. If you have a house water meter that has a wire and a seal on it, most of that wire is stranded. One of those single strands might work in cleaning the orifice.

 

[thatguy]

It appears to be the problem is with the pilot light.. I dug around and found the owners manual and it showed a pictures of the pilot flame the way it should be and the way it shouldnt be.. Mine has a very long flame (versus a short flame), which was the bad flame. It said if the flame was incorrect it would allow the thermocoupler to cool and shut the system down..

I am betting the orifice is slightly blocked causing the the irregular flame. I am going to try and clean it slightly.. I hate to have a service call for something I may be able to fix, but Im not messing around with this too much before I call a professional.

thanks

brian

 

[thatguy]

We have flames... I used one of the lens blowers designed for a camera and blew into the orifice piece.. Not sure how much it took, but the pilot light and logs have been burning for over an hour..

thanks for all the help

brian

 

[goaliedad]

that was easy- we like easy!!!!

 

[PineRidge]

Glad you got it working Brian.

 

[kenmac]

You will have to clean out the air shudder on the ODS pilot on those logs from time to time . As the pilot burns air enters into the pilot via the air shudder , this is what gives it the sharp blue flame. As air is introduced so is dust .Dust will stop up or restrict air flow to the pilot when burning, causing insuffent air for the piolt to burn a sharp blue flame against the thermocouple or power pile (which ever you have) causing pilot outages . This happens alot on those ODS pilot logs propane or nat gas.When cleaning around that ODS pilot assy., be carefull as you can get the factory adjustment out of wack. If this happens you will have to buy a new pilot assy. good luck