Articles
What Type of Gas Fireplace Do I Have? Vent Type, Ignition and Model Number
To order the right part or follow the right repair guide, you need three facts about your gas fireplace: how it vents, how it lights, and the brand and model on its rating plate. A flashlight and five minutes will find all three: one look outside, one behind the lower...
SIT 820 Nova Millivolt Valve Troubleshooting
The SIT 820 Nova mV is a millivolt gas valve for standing pilot gas fireplaces, log sets and space heaters. The pilot burns all the time and its thermopile powers the valve, so the fireplace works without house power. Your fireplace's parts list may give the valve under the fireplace...
Robertshaw and Dexen Standing Pilot Valve Troubleshooting
Robertshaw and Dexen make low-capacity millivolt gas valves for standing pilot fireplaces and gas logs. Empire, for example, fits a Dexen millivolt valve to its VFSR vent-free log burners, and we carry Dexen / Robertshaw replacement valves under several part numbers (listed below). The pilot's thermopile powers the valve, so...
How to Test a Fireplace Thermocouple and Thermopile (Millivolt Readings)
A standing pilot (millivolt) gas fireplace runs on power made by its own pilot flame. The thermocouple holds the gas valve's safety magnet open so the pilot stays lit, and the thermopile powers the valve that lights the main burner when you flip the wall switch or press the remote....
Honeywell and SIT 630 EuroSIT Fireplace Valve Troubleshooting
This guide covers three gas valve families: Honeywell millivolt valves (VS8420, VS8510, VS8520, VS820), Honeywell SmartValve electronic controls (SV9401 to SV9403 and SV9501 to SV9503), and the SIT 630 EuroSIT standing-pilot thermostat valve. Honeywell valves are found in Superior and Lennox Hearth fireplaces, older Majestic and Vermont Castings inserts and...
Millivolt vs Electronic Ignition Gas Fireplaces: What's the Difference?
If you own a gas fireplace or you're shopping for replacement parts, you've probably encountered the terms "millivolt" and "electronic ignition." Understanding which type of ignition system your fireplace uses is essential for ordering the correct parts, troubleshooting problems, and understanding how your fireplace operates.This guide explains both systems in...
How to Replace a Gas Fireplace Thermocouple: Step-by-Step Guide
The thermocouple is the copper-lead sensor in your gas fireplace's pilot flame that keeps the gas valve's safety magnet open. When it wears out, the pilot lights while you hold the knob in but goes out when you let go. Gas fireplace thermocouple replacement is one of the simpler repairs:...