Heat & Glo Fireplace Turns On and Off? (Here's What To Do)

Chad Kilpatrick
by Chad Kilpatrick

Are you having trouble with your Heat & Glo fireplace turning on and off? This can be a bit of a mystery, however, we’ve got a few answers, that might solve your problems.

Heat & Glo fireplaces will sometimes turn on and off without signs of why. This can be caused by several issues. The most common issue is the overheating shutoff sensor, which will cause the unit to shut off, and then back on after it has cooled. The next common issue is problems with the thermocouple.

Troubleshooting things like this can be extremely frustrating. You will need to thoroughly inspect your unit, for overheating and other factors. Once you have an idea of what might be happening, we have a few ideas to help fix the problem for good.

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Heat & Glo Fireplace Troubleshooting

If your Heat & Glo is turning on but then turning off again, then there could be a problem. To find the problem, you will have to do a little bit of troubleshooting. Luckily, most of the issues are common issues, that can be resolved.

Most common issues:

  • You need to reset the unit
  • Overheating turnoff sensor
  • Thermocouple needs replacing

The problem could be something as simple as needing to reset the unit. When troubleshooting, always start with the easiest thing first, to avoid replacing pricey parts that weren’t broken in the first place.

Next, check the unit to make sure it is not overheating. You can do this by putting your hand close to the bottom area, where the switches are. Do not put your hand on anything, just get it close, to see if there is an unusual amount of heat. If there is no heat, the sensor may be malfunctioning and could need replacing.

After you have determined that the sensor is good and that the unit is not overheating, the next step is to replace the thermocouple. This is a common problem with Heat & Glo fireplaces. We have provided a step by step method for replacing it.

How Do I Turn on My Heat & Glo Fireplace?

Sometimes things that seem simple, can be hard to figure out. Heat & Glo fireplaces can be intimidating to work with at first. So let’s go over how to turn it on. This does not require any special tools, just follow these simple steps.

First, remove the glass assembly from your Heat & Glo unit. This has to be done before you can light the pilot light. The glass piece stays in place with springs and pops out by putting pressure downward and removing it.

Check the igniter. After you have the glass removed, check your igniter by clicking it a few times, to make sure that it’s getting a spark. The igniter needs to have a visible spark, to know that it is working properly.

Now, set the control knob. Locate the control knob on your unit. It has three positions, pilot, on, and off. Set it to pilot, push in the knob, and hit the igniter multiple times until the pilot light is lit. If it does not light right away, wait a few minutes and then try again.

Once the pilot is on, push in the knob again, and set it to the on position. The on mark should line up with the hashmark to the side, to indicate that it is set to on. Now place the glass assembly back into place.

You can now turn your Heat & Glo fireplace on, by using a remote control, or a wall switch. Turn the wall switch into on position, and your fireplace will light up. You are now ready to enjoy a nice warm fire.

Heat & Glo Fireplace Pilot Light on But Won’t Start

Is your pilot light on, but the unit is not turning on? Then you may need to troubleshoot the switch or remote control. Make sure the batteries are working on the remote control. If you have it wired to an on and off switch, then you will need to test the switch.

Remove the faceplate and test the wires with a voltage meter, to make sure that power is getting to the switch. If there is power, but it is not working, then you may need to replace the switch. Turn the breaker off before doing any work to the switch.

How Do I Reset My Heat & Glo Fireplace?

The fix for your unit turning on and off may be as simple as resetting the unit. To reset your unit, locate the module that has the reset switch setting. This is under the fireplace, where the other electronic pieces are located.

The module is attached to wires, and you can pull it out slightly, to work on it. Once you have it out, look for the indicator light. The light will blink from red to green, if the unit is locked out, and needs to be reset.

To reset the unit, move the switch to the middle (off) position, and leave it for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, switch it to the right, back into the remote position. You should hear a beep. That lets you know it is back on.

How Do You Replace a Thermocouple on a Heat & Glo Fireplace?

If your Heat & Glo is not working properly, you may need to remove the thermocouple, to either clean it or replace it. Here is the step by step method to remove the thermocouple.

Step 1

First, you will need to turn the gas valve on the front of the unit to the off position. Once you have done this, allow some time for the unit to cool down.

Step 2

Next, put a tarp down, in front of the fireplace. You will need to remove the decorative logs and place them on the tarp.

Step 3

Now you will need to loosen the screw that holds the thermocouple in place. This is located at the back of the gas valve. You will need a wrench for this.

Step 4

Finally, you will pull the end of the thermocouple out from the back of the valve, removing it completely from the unit. You will need to pull it through the mounting plate, to get it out.

Now that you have it out, you can clean it, and put it back in to test the unit. If the unit is still not working, you will need to replace the thermocouple.

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Related Questions

How to adjust the flame on a Heat & Glo Fireplace?

Use a flat blade screwdriver to adjust the set screw, on the right side of the gas valve. Twist counter-clockwise, to increase the gas to air ratio. Twist the set screw clockwise, to decrease the airflow mixing with the gas. This will change the intensity of the flame.


How to do maintenance on a Heat & Glo Fireplace?

To help maintain your Heat & Glo Fireplace, you will need to clean the glass. You can do this with a glass cleaner. Wear gloves, to make sure you do not get any residue on your hands. Put down a tarp, so that you do not get any residue on the floor.

Chad Kilpatrick
Chad Kilpatrick

I'm a writer that is passionate about home improvements, remodeling, and renovating. I enjoy learning new skills and techniques and sharing them with others.

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