How to Change a Thermocouple in a Heatilator Fireplace

Written By
Hollan Johnson
Hollan Johnson
Published: Nov 13, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

After years of use, the thermocouple on a Heatilator fireplace can go bad, not allowing gas to flow to your fireplace, even if the pilot is on. Replace the thermocouple to get your fireplace working again.

  1. Turn off the gas to your Heatilator fireplace. Wait about one-half hour for things to cool down.

  2. Open the maintenance hatch below or to the side of your fireplace.

  3. Locate the pilot light inside the hatch. The long metal stick next to the pilot is the thermocouple.

  4. Disconnect the thermocouple line from the gas line with a wrench.

  5. Remove the old thermocouple and secure the new one in its place.

  6. Close the maintenance hatch, turn on the gas and turn on the fireplace.

The Drip Cap

  • The thermocouple on your Heatilator fireplace senses when the pilot light is on and feed it gas.
  • After years of use, the thermocouple on a Heatilator fireplace can go bad, not allowing gas to flow to your fireplace, even if the pilot is on.
  • Replace the thermocouple to get your fireplace working again.
Hollan Johnson

Hollan Johnson is a freelance writer and contributing editor for many online publications. She has been writing professionally since 2008 and her interests are travel, gardening, sewing and Mac computers. Prior to freelance writing,…

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