Ignition and Controls for Gas Logs in Stow

The Three Ignition Families

All three work in a masonry fireplace with vented logs. Vent-free sets nearly always use a pilot with an oxygen depletion sensor built in.

Match-lit

The simplest setup: a key valve outside the fireplace and a burner with no pilot. You crack the valve, light the burner with a long match or lighter, and open the valve to the flame height you want. There are very few parts to fail, but there is also no automatic shutoff if the flame goes out.

Millivolt standing pilot

A small pilot burns continuously and heats a thermopile, which generates a tiny electrical current. That current holds the gas valve open and can power a wall switch or remote receiver. If the pilot goes out, the valve closes. No household power is needed.

Electronic ignition

An electronic module lights the pilot only when you call for the fire, then shuts it down when you turn the fire off. It saves the fuel a standing pilot uses, but needs household power or batteries to operate, and has more components to service over time.

Remotes, Wall Switches and Thermostats

Once you have a millivolt or electronic system, adding convenience is straightforward. Each option has a slightly different feel.

• Wall switch: a simple on-off switch wired to the valve with low-voltage wire
• Basic remote: on-off from the couch, with a receiver near the valve
• Variable-flame remote: raises and lowers the flame from the handset
• Thermostatic remote: cycles the burner to hold a set room temperature
• Timer function: shuts the fire off after a set period

Thermostat mode with vented logs

A thermostat can run vented logs, but because most of their heat goes up the flue, the room may never reach the set point. Thermostatic control is more useful with vent-free logs, which actually heat the space.

Which Setup Fits How You Use the Fire

If you light the fireplace a handful of times a year, a match-lit set is honest, simple and inexpensive to keep running. If you want a fire most evenings and like the idea of flipping a switch, a millivolt system is the workhorse choice and keeps working when the power fails. If you dislike a pilot burning all season, electronic ignition is the answer, as long as you are comfortable with batteries or a power connection.

For households with young children, the automatic shutoff and remote lockout features on some systems add peace of mind.

How Controls Affect the Install

Match-lit sets need a key valve mounted on the wall or floor just outside the fireplace opening. Millivolt and electronic sets put the control valve under the burner, inside the firebox but tucked behind the front log or grate, and need a separate manual shutoff on the supply line where you can reach it.

Wall switches require running low-voltage wire from the valve to the switch location, which we plan during the estimate. The gas line itself still comes through the masonry in a sleeve, and vented installs still get a damper clamp. If your piping needs updating, our Stow gas line repair service can handle it.

Upgrading Controls Later

A match-lit set cannot simply be fitted with a remote; it needs a new burner and valve. If you think you may want convenience features down the road, it can make sense to start with a millivolt system. For sealed units with built-in controls, see gas fireplace options in Stow, and for log materials and venting, our gas log overview. Annual service of pilots and valves can be scheduled through our Stow maintenance services.