that the inlet or outlet to the electric fireplace heater arent blocked. Periodically cleaning your electric fireplace is a must whether you are experiencing problems or not. temperature in the room may be reaching the temperature set on the electric Its been working fine from when we bought the house 2 1/2 yrs ago. This is usually caused by the thermostat being set too low. The reason for this is that some fireplaces have more than one heating element in them. Twist the set screw clockwise, to decrease the airflow mixing with the gas. within warranty and contact the manufacturer. I can set my preferred room temperature on Thank you SeattlePioneer. While waiting, check the manual with your electric fireplace to see how it should be cleaned. This will sort out the problem. It has been cold (15 degrees) here in SC--could this be the problem?? You can do this by putting your hand close to the bottom area, where the switches are. If your gas fireplace includes a remote, it could be the source of your problems. My service man came and disconnected the control valve from it's electrical source and the fireplace remained on--strange at best. Similar to #1, if there is no voltage, but it is open, it's likely stuck. You could test this by checking for voltage across the solenoid when the switch is off. But an unplugged appliance happens more than you think. storey3.some remotes/receivers have a "learn" button that you can "re-learn" the frequencysome have several frequencies you can marry up to the remote. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Allow the fireplace to cool down before attempting to check for dust or dirt. Also check that the rotating mirrors are Next, you must switch on the fireplace and turn on the flame dial. sizes, shapes and designs, and have a number of electrical components, which The thermocouple is the wire that extends from the gas valve of the gas fireplace. Why did Ukraine abstain from the UNHRC vote on China? As you will find out, this is a sporadic problem. My fireplace is doing this now, too. Everything in this fireplace SEEMS to function properly except the lights. Open the remote up and spray canned air to clean dust and dirt. Once its fan sensor switch detects the set temperature, it will turn on the blower. Very Helpful Thank you so Much. This common issue can make your fireplace turn on in the morning instead of the night or at incorrect temperatures. However, if you have an electrical issue, it may be best to have an electrician come in if you suspect a more serious electrical problem. If it does not light right away, wait a few minutes and then try again. One of the most common reasons for an electric fireplace to stop functioning is that the device has been programmed to turn off in order to save power. Check for loose wiring and that lightbulbs are getting full power. If your Furrion electric fireplace turns on by itself, be sure the thermostat is the main culprit behind this. Where is the thermocouple on a gas fireplace? We recommend to use caution and seek the advice of qualified professionals. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small commission. Mutually exclusive execution using std::atomic? After that, place a tarp in front of the fireplace. Your electric fireplace may be making a Youll need to decide what isnt necessary to be plugged into the same load-bearing circuit. motorized components. Heres a video of my electric fireplace blower operating without vegan) just to try it, does this inconvenience the caterers and staff? The lightning actually ignited the gas fireplace? Another option is to have an electrician upgrade the circuit to handle the amperage. setting switch will then provide heat from the blower. Check for tripped circuit breakers. Therefore, even if you dont use the remote control, the fireplace could randomly turn on itself. My dad used to have a gas fireplace and when he went down to his radio shack and started transmitting, the fireplace would often kick on. So, as you can see its an essential component of the gas fireplace. A better solution is to unplug the fireplace when its not in use. [Everything you need to know for a safe install in 2023], How many square feet does an electric fireplace heat? is the problem corrected with new batteries? To reset your unit, locate the module that has the reset switch setting. that the fireplace is plugged in and turned on at the wall. If your burner drops out after a few minutes or sobut the pilot stays litit is "cycling". I was able to correlate keying my amateur radio transmitter with the gas fireplace lighting. Yes, it automatically turns the fireplace on. Use a flat blade screwdriver to adjust the set screw, on the right side of the gas valve. Ensure that the blower is working This site is owned and operated by The Laburnum Group Ltd. Electric Fireplace Check to ensure the heater blower or wherever the heat is dispersed into the room is not blocked by anything. If its clogged or the gas isnt going through it, its time to replace it. stays at this temperature. So, how can a remote turn on a gas fireplace by itself? Ive used my own freestanding electric Check that the heater and flame You see, the damaged thermocouple or remote might be the reason. For more information about why your electric fireplace keeps shutting off, Ive written another article here. If that sounds like your fireplace, youll want to read our seven most common reasons why your fireplace isnt cooperating. Many electric fireplaces also come with an buttons and dials that control both the flames and heater components. trouble when using the electric fireplace for the first time. If you live in a subdivision, new home owners could move in and their radio/garage door radio frequency "could and has" turned on fireplaces. This will sort out the problem. Gas Fireplace Insert Smells Like Burning Plastic? There is always a scientific reason behind this. On this site, you'll find information about how temperature works, how to stay warm or cool in all types of situations, and guides on choosing (and fixing) the best temperature-related appliances. Give the brand and model number of your electric fireplace a search and you may be able to find the manual that way. remote (if it has one). One circuit breaker may control an entire room or wall. Turn the thermostat up to the highest setting and make sure it is set to heat. Radio frequencies (not infrared) can penetrate walls/structure up to 100 ft. awaylike a garage door remote. To replace the glass panels, replace them leaving them down a bit so they can sit flat against the fireplace. Resetting an electric fireplace is usually super simple, but if you have your manufacturers instruction manual to hand, do check that for specifics. Hence, be careful of that. Use another wall outlet. Something as simple as blocking the airflow out of the heater can cause your fireplace to shut off. And, you should probably. (Always unplug the unit while working on it). Like all electrical devices, they can have some faulty components. If they read 0 volts, the thermopile needs to be replaced. If it happens again, then you need to contact the manufacturer. And your gas fireplace will be working like its usual self again. Also, check to see if the on/off button may be stuck. Some electric fireplaces have timers that are set to shut off after a certain amount of time. It is always a great idea to keep the fireplace turned off in summer. temperature accordingly. If you cannot fix the spinner spindle, you will need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. An in-depth guide for 2023, Electric fireplace smells like burning plastic 3 common causes and how to fix it [2023]. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. If you can't relearn to a new frequency, you only option may be to buy and install a new remote/receiver where you can "learn" it to several frequencies. Remove the front panel and locate the thermostat. There are numerous causes for overheating including a malfunctioning thermostat, dust and dirt build-up, and blocked inlet or outlets. The most common reason that a circuit breaker trips is because the circuit is overloaded. switch on the electric fireplace is turned on. Many problems with your electric fireplace are pretty easy to troubleshoot and fix on your own. They come in a wide range of styles and designs and can be used for both heating and aesthetic purposes. and has no flames: On my electric fireplace, turning on the An electric fireplace makes a clicking If your thermostat is not set to the correct temperature for your room, and the room is already at that temperature, the fireplace will go off, but will then come back on to maintain that temperature. Rub a pencil eraser along the glass frames to clean any smudges or marks off the glass. Thus you can check it for any issues and have it replaced if its the one at fault. brightness of the flames. Every one of us at Temperature Master loves researching and writing about the science of temperature. The heating element may have burned out, in Disconnect the two to four wires on the back of the switch, labeling them for correct placement. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Cold Water Not Working on a Washing Machine? Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. 4 Reasons why gas fireplace turns on by itself. There are three reasons why an ordinary power strip would turn itself off, namely: 1). It is an easy replacement and being aware that everything works but the thermostat can saveyou a ton of time and trouble later on. Inspect your breaker for tripped lines. Make a habit of regulating your thermostat settings to ensure that the fireplace doesnt waste electricity when there shouldnt be a reason for it to be on. 5. The toggle switch and remote control receiver turn the fireplace on by connecting those two wires together. Model is MFB28-2 if that matters. If everything checks out ok, you may wish to replace the thermostat anyway. The fix for your unit turning on and off may be as simple as resetting the unit. Remember all fireplaces have automatic safety shut off because the fire is too hot or the doors are open. You don't have ghosts,,,,just a "sick" thermopile. blown bulb. heating up and cooling down. It hasn't lit itself since I shut the gas and pilot of and then relit them myself. Now, most people dont have a remote controller for their fireplaces. working efficiently. Have problems every year, must replace the batteries very often, but never new it could come on by itself. Gas Fireplace Keeps Turning Itself On? itself: If the power to the electric fireplace is Before you can find out why the remote causes the fireplace to turn on by itself, youll have to know which part is causing the problem. If Ensure that the fireplace isnt Problem Electric fireplaces have an on/off switch located in a discreet location, usually near the edge of the fireplace itself. Its essential to use the method below to ensure you dont replace the wrong one, though. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is my culprit. components are clean and working efficiently. Its 7 years old and a year ago it began to shut itself off. This has to be done before you can light the pilot light. The engineer should also clean the fire and clean and/or replace the pilot assemblyor take the burner tray out to get at the thermocouple to change it. The remote may need replacement. Good luckI hope you can get your fireplace working correctly. switches wont work and the heater wont turn on unless the main power switch Faulty Remote Issues Another possibility is that your heater's safety switches are triggered. Therefore, ensure to check your remote control status and switch the batteries or replace it if needed. Turning a thermostat dial to the left typically To troubleshoot if this is the problem, try recreating it by plugging the electric fireplace into another outlet. Electric fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. But yours isn't which tells me you have a weak thermopile and it needs replacing. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical malfunctions are the second leading cause of home fires. Are you having trouble with your Heat & Glo fireplace turning on and off? Witnessing your electric fireplace spontaneously light up can be a spooky experience. Do you have a standing pilot on your fireplace? Check the electric fireplace's fuse. Bathroom closets are often catch-alls for anything and everything remotely related to self-care. We always seem to blame the dead for our houses strange things. You can now turn your Heat & Glo fireplace on, by using a remote control, or a wall switch. I've seen them last 20 plus yearsif you leave your pilot on "all the time"even the off season. Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. Ensure the fireplace is plugged in and switched on at the wall Don't plug an electric fireplace into an extension cable. fireplace to provide heat on the highest setting, all three switches must be Test the thermostat by powering on the fireplace for a few minutes to ensure proper functioning. 5 Things To Know, Gas Fireplace Keeps Beeping? 5. The second function of generating that low voltage (.250-.750) is to open an close the main valvewhich releases gas to your main burner. THEN, it starts building up millivolts again and, if the switch was never turned off, it climbs high enough to open valve and then the burner kicks back on (all by it self).but the millivolts start dropping again and then kicks off again.and will do this until the switch is turned off or the thermopile is changed. Check that the batteries are fresh in your remote control. that the electric fireplace heater is clean and dust free. It's a safety system. fireplaces, my electric fireplace reflects light onto the back of the fireplace The problem could be something as simple as needing to reset the unit. The fireplace heater will Check If you still cannot locate it after . A fireplace blower cannot turn on and off instantly like a light bulb. You may need to open your fireplace get access to the component (Ive written a guide on how to open an electric fireplace here). Finally, you will pull the end of the thermocouple out from the back of the valve, removing it completely from the unit. Usually, the electric fireplace wont start if the thermostats temperature setting is lower than the room temperature. Dont plug an electric fireplace into an extension cable. Do Bioethanol Fireplaces Need Ventilation (Fresh Air)? Lights from underneath hit the spinner spindle, thus creating the appearance of the flame. Find the inlet to your electric fireplace and check that nothing is blocking it. Also, ensure that airflow is good to the back area for good ventilation while it is on. If it doesnt trip, then you know you had too many things plugged into it. components havent come loose and are tightly connected to the fireplace unit. It has three positions, pilot, on, and off. Youll need to open up the Some models of electric fireplace have a 7. Listen to find out where in the 6 Reasons Why Your Electric Fireplace Keeps Shutting Off. on, the temperature in the room may have dipped below the temperature set on Change batteries in the remote. Why did my fireplace turn on by itself? The thermocouple is a thin rod with a copper tube leading to the gas line. Heres a helpful tutorial to identify and test your fireplaces thermopile and thermocouple: If your gas fireplace is attached to a wall timer (through an outlet or internal wiring), the timer might be at fault. This can be caused by several issues. If you do have a remote control receiver, it's easy to eliminate that as the problem because you can just disconnect it. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Gas Fireplace Won't Stay Lit With Fake Logs In Place, Main burner for gas fireplace won't stay lit (pilot light is fine), Gas fireplace flame won't stay on; both flame and pilot go out, Gas fireplace shuts off after a few minutes, Does a fireplace with switch on wall need to have the pilot on constantly. I would look at two components: the control board the the thermopile and solenoid connect to, or the remote control receiver. If you have to replace yours, make sure you use one recommended by the manufacturer. So how did the problem get fixed?? To check if your electric fireplace has excess dust, turn off your fireplace at the wall and unplug it from the socket. We have a 2 year old Lennox propane fireplace and recently it has begun igniting itself. After five minutes have passed, turn everything back on. Great post! turn on, wont heat or the fan is blowing cold air: Ensure See what I use and my recommended tools here. The timer thinks its at the correct setting, temperature, or time, but its not. To make sure that the electric fireplace Sort by: Oldest jca1 15 years ago Is your remote a thermostat remote,is there a t-stat anywhere in the system? The solenoid is stuck open. Gas fireplaces are more efficient than traditional wood-burning fireplaces, but some mechanical concerns can hinder their performance. a small amount of noise, particularly from the blower. Evidently, Heat-n-Glow designed a fireplace which is susceptible to misreading general noise in the air which can cause the fireplace to turn on . Similar to #1, if there is no voltage, but it is open, it's likely stuck. recommends in the manual, and how I would try and fix the problem. real fire. Its always advisable to check with your manufacturers instructions before attempting any maintenance on your electric fireplace so that you have accurate information. If your electric fireplace trips the circuit breaker all on its own, you may need to find a different circuit to plug it into. These motorized components can wear out If the unit is still not working, you will need to replace the thermocouple. Now, back to your problem. Replace the bolts that secure the glass panels to the fireplace. It turned on, the flames turned on, it was 85F at the time and the unit was off, but plugged in. typically make a clicking noise when the dial has been turned to the current If your electric fireplace still wont turn So if the fireplace is stuck on, I would think it's one of two things: There is a short in the controller and power is always being provided to the solenoid. In order to turn the high heat setting on, Instead, they use a wall switch. But if you turn it off and on at the beginning and ending of the seasonI have seen them only last 2-4 years. Ensure Check the thermostat for settings that are too high, then adjust accordingly. Im referring to new style fireplaces with electronic ignition systems installed on them. That way, the room temperature can never drop low enough to trigger it. Unplug the unit once again and adjust the spinner spindle. If you hear any rattling noises, push the cord into the wall firmly. It was the loudest explosion I have ever heard in my life. If you notice your electric fireplace turn on by itself, heres how you can fix the issue: Also, if you want to fix an electric fireplace that wont stay on, I recommend following this eight-minute video by Mike Klimek: More than 45,000 electric fires occur each year in most American households. Trying to understand how to get this basic Fourier Series, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain, How to tell which packages are held back due to phased updates. A gas fireplace keeps turning itself on for the following reasons: Remote problems Thermostat issues Broken thermopile firing Bad timer wiring Damaged wall switch In this post, we'll talk about the five primary causes of a gas fireplace that activates on its own and what you can do about it. 4. Sometimes it can also get difficult to plug the wires into the outlet. Like if the oven turns on its own or if the fireplace lights up automatically. These two wires mesh-up and create havoc. At the same time, other wires can also cause this problem. Sometimes, something might fall into the duct, causing it to clog up. Otherwise, just replace the control board. Lightly hoover any reachable components inside the fireplace, ensuring you are careful around any delicate parts. And as the remote and wall switch have the same primary function, the wall switch can also be the culprit. problem. 4. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.