Sioux Falls Gas Fireplace Repair Sioux Falls Gas Fireplace Questions
Common questions about gas fireplaces in Sioux Falls, answered with what the manufacturers’ manuals, the City of Sioux Falls and the gas utilities actually say. For prices on every common part see the pricing page, and for a specific symptom start at the problems page. If you smell gas, skip all of this: go outside and call your gas utility and 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a gas fireplace repair usually cost in Sioux Falls?
A diagnostic service call typically runs $150 to $300. Common parts installed: thermocouple or thermopile $200 to $400, pilot assembly $300 to $600, electronic ignition board $350 to $700, remote receiver or wall switch $150 to $400, blower $250 to $600, gas valve $500 to $1,000. The full table is on the pricing page, and the firm price comes after we see the unit.
Why does my pilot go out every fall?
A pilot that sat all summer collects dust in its hood and on the thermocouple or thermopile, and a weak or misdirected flame cannot hold the safety valve open. Napoleon's manual says the pilot flame must envelop the upper 3/8 to 1/2 inch of the thermocouple and thermopile. Cleaning the pilot fixes some units; others need the thermocouple or thermopile replaced.
Who do I call if I smell gas?
Leave the house first, without touching anything that could spark, and call from outside. In Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea, Hartford, Dell Rapids and Lennox the gas utility is MidAmerican Energy, and you should call 911 as well. In Crooks and Renner the gas comes from Crooks Municipal Gas. Do not go back in until you are told it is safe.
Is the fog on my fireplace glass a problem?
Usually not, if it clears. Heat & Glo's manual says condensation on the glass is a result of gas combustion and temperature variations and disappears as the fireplace warms. A haze that stays after the unit is hot is a deposit, and on a new unit Heat & Glo says to clean the glass within 3 to 4 hours of the first burn. Never clean glass while it is hot.
My fireplace lights, goes out, then tries again. What is that?
On electronic ignition units the control has to prove the flame before it keeps the gas on. A sooted or corroded flame sensing rod, a weak pilot flame, or gas pressure that sags when the main burner opens can all break that proof, so the unit shuts down and retries. It is a diagnosis job, typically $150 to $300 for the call plus the part.
Can I relight or reset the fireplace myself?
You can follow the lighting instructions on your unit, which are usually on a card or plate near the controls. Two cautions from the manuals: Napoleon's millivolt valves will not relight until the thermocouple has cooled for about 60 seconds, and Heat & Glo says not to reset its control module more than once within five minutes because gas may accumulate in the firebox.
Do I need a licence to work on my own fireplace in Sioux Falls?
Not if you own and live in a single-family home. The city's homeowner guide says you may do your own mechanical work there under a homeowner permit, but not in a rental or a house you bought to fix and resell, and a friend or relative cannot take out the permit for you. Anyone paid for the work must work for a city-licensed contractor.
Does a new gas fireplace inside Sioux Falls need a permit?
Yes. The city's mechanical homeowner guide lists a fireplace among the jobs that need a mechanical permit before a system is altered or a new one installed, and it says gas fireplaces need a reading of the gas supply pressure written down before the final inspection. Ask your installer who is taking out the permit.
Does a fireplace need a carbon monoxide detector?
MidAmerican Energy advises at least one CO detector on every level of the home, with one in the sleeping area so you hear it at night, and says to have a professional check a gas fireplace's vent regularly. If a CO alarm goes off, leave the house and call 911 if anyone feels sick.
Should a direct-vent cap be cleared of snow?
Yes. Heat & Glo's manual tells owners to check the vent termination cap for blockage, naming snow among the causes, and Napoleon's says ice can build up on the terminal in really cold conditions and should be removed. Sioux Falls averages 45.3 inches of snow a year at the airport, so check the cap after drifting storms.
Do you work on propane fireplaces?
Yes. Propane units take propane orifices, pilots and valves, so tell us the fuel when you book. Napoleon's GD33 manual gives a propane inlet pressure of 13 inches water column against 7 inches for natural gas, which is why the parts are not interchangeable.
Which towns do you serve?
Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea, Hartford, Crooks, Renner, Dell Rapids and Lennox, in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties. The town pages cover what is different about each, including the gas utility in Crooks and Renner.