On Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:58:19 GMT, "Gary" wrote:


"Jethro" wrote in message
news
I have a HEATILATOR GNDC36 Fireplace running on propane.
I will try to describe it.
It has a vertical stack to the roof ending with a terminator cap.
It is a direct vent model, using room air, and has a standing pilot
ignition. The gas control has the usual thermocouple and thermopile
arrangement. The direct venting consists of a built-in fan that draws
room air at the bottom, blowing the air upward behind the heating
chamber and back out the top into the room, thus giving warm air.
It has a plate glass removable front that pretty well seals the
heating chamber from the room in the front at least. There are 2
separate wall controls to turn off/on the fireplace burner and the
fireplace blower fan.

It is seven years old, and worked fine when I last used it two years
ago. The current cold snap has caused me to want to use it again.
I can't get it work right.

What happens is this. I ignite the pilot manually the usual way
(turning the knob to pilot and while holding the knob in, pressing the
igniter button which clicks a spark). I then turn the know to burner
position, and turn the burner wall switch ON. After a slight delay
the main burner comes on and will stay on. Now the bad part. If I
close the front plate glass, the burner will not stay on - going out
and taking the pilot with it. If I don't put the glass on, the burner
will stay on, presumably forever. The blower fan seems to work fine
off the wall switch - so I don't think that is a factor.

It is almost as if, the burner goes out from lack of air. So that
raises a question. If I can't get any help as to what is wrong with
my fireplace, I at least would like to understand where the air comes
from to support the burner flames? I simply do not see any
passageway(s). I have read and printed every web documentation on
this fireplace, and no mention is made of where that air would come
from.

Thinking that is my problem, I am looking to find out why air is not
getting to my burners.

Anyone?

Thanks

Jethro
Try cleaning the pilot light It should be a blue flame with very little
yellow.

Thanks for response Gary.

Since my post, I bit the bullet and removed the imitation logs so I
could better view the burner + pilot. Lo - I found the source of air
that worried me so much. Turns out there are two elliptical holes
under where the logs were through which the needed air would be
supplied. That answered anyway. I have also vacuumed the insides
including the pilot assembly. Also, as I watch the exposed burners
now, I see that the pilot flame seems to deteriorate badly when I
close the glass front panel. I think the down draft from the stack at
the top is the source of that. I don't know what to do about that,
but maybe I can move or raise the thermo duo so as to be more
enveloped by the pilot flame. I have found no way to increase the
pilot flame though. That surprises me. If there is an adjustment
knob for the pilot flame, I sure don't see it.

At least, can you tell me how should I clean the thermocouple and
thermopile? Maybe you have an idea about the pilot flame? Or moving
the thermo pair?

Thanks again

Jethro