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kcam213 · 10-10-2009, 11:04 PM

How do you light a gas fireplace without electricity?

I have a Heatillator gas fireplace. it has a box that holds 2 D size batteries. But how do you operate it? Do you place the batteries and the darn thing just comes on?

Last week we were without electricity. Not as long as electric company predicted luckily.

However it got us to thinking about winter weather and no heat.

Drover · 10-10-2009, 11:06 PM

Maybe I'm missing something here -- would it be too obvious to suggest using fireplace matches?

kcam213 · 10-10-2009, 11:09 PM

manual says not to manually light pilot. It has a intelligent pilot ignition... (I think that is what IPI stand for).

I don't want to blow myself up.

Drover · 10-11-2009, 12:00 AM

LOL you won't blow yourself up. Not sure what "intelligent pilot ignition" is though...

Wish I could help you on how the battery thingy works. I've actually become curious about this setup myself.

grannynancy · 10-11-2009, 07:47 AM

If you leave the pilot on during the winter it shouold work with the wall switch even with no power - ours did........

texdav · 10-11-2009, 10:04 AM

Why not just google the brand nmae for specfic instruction on their site.

Mjames · 10-11-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcam213

How do you light a gas fireplace without electricity?

I have a Heatillator gas fireplace. it has a box that holds 2 D size batteries. But how do you operate it? Do you place the batteries and the darn thing just comes on?

Last week we were without electricity. Not as long as electric company predicted luckily.

However it got us to thinking about winter weather and no heat.

I have the same brand gas fireplace in my house (new in mid 2008). When we lost power during a cold spell last Feb., I had to figure out how to light the gas fireplace so we could have some heat in the family room. Surprisingly, I was able to find the manual and figure out how to light the fireplace. It turns out its not hard. For our model, and probably yours, just put in the D cell batteries and use the normal switch to light the fireplace. The manual stated you should only have batteries in when the electricity is out, and remove them when the electric comes back on.

I tested it by turning off the circuit breaker, putting batteries in the box, and turning on the switch and the fireplace lit. After the test, I removed the batteries.

Next time my power goes out when its cold, all I'll need to do is put the batteries back in the plastic box again and turn on the switch and I'll have a fire to provide a little warmth!

Hope this helps.

kcam213 · 10-11-2009, 07:48 PM

^

Thanks! So the battery is to operate the mechanism that the eiectricity through the switch operated. Thanks again. I think I will check as well.

My manual wasn't the owner's manual. The builder's contractor left the installation instruction book I guess thinking it was the manual. I did find my model manual (I think) online and it only said that you could light the fireplace by installing D batteries but then no other instructions. So thanks, I will try this.

I guess push comes to shove, I could call the number for Heatilator.

Drover · 10-11-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcam213

^

Thanks! So the battery is to operate the mechanism that the eiectricity through the switch operated. Thanks again. I think I will check as well.

My manual wasn't the owner's manual. The builder's contractor left the installation instruction book I guess thinking it was the manual. I did find my model manual (I think) online and it only said that you could light the fireplace by installing D batteries but then no other instructions. So thanks, I will try this.

I guess push comes to shove, I could call the number for Heatilator.

A lot of places have owners' manuals on pdf on their website. Maybe Heatilator does.

Omaha Rocks · 10-11-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcam213

How do you light a gas fireplace without electricity?

I have a Heatillator gas fireplace. it has a box that holds 2 D size batteries. But how do you operate it? Do you place the batteries and the darn thing just comes on?

Last week we were without electricity. Not as long as electric company predicted luckily.

However it got us to thinking about winter weather and no heat.

If it uses 2 size D batteries, it probably has an igniter in it. It could be a red button you push, and it "snaps" and creates a spark. It could also be a tiny little igniter that turns white hot and ignites the gas.