I have a Vermont Castings VF25 indoor gas log free-standing stove. I
have never used it and it came with the house. I tried starting it
last night but was unsuccessful. The gas company representative was
there today messing around with it also. He confirms gas getting to it
and spent 30 minutes attempting to purge the line. You can smell and
hear the gas. The ignitor sparks but the burner doesn't light.

I was going to try and light it manually but access to the burner or
thermocouple is prevented by the front cover. I have tried finding the
manual online but it looks like the company is out of business.

Any ideas?

badgolferman wrote:
I have a Vermont Castings VF25 indoor gas log free-standing stove. I
have never used it and it came with the house. I tried starting it
last night but was unsuccessful. The gas company representative was
there today messing around with it also. He confirms gas getting to it
and spent 30 minutes attempting to purge the line. You can smell and
hear the gas. The ignitor sparks but the burner doesn't light.

I was going to try and light it manually but access to the burner or
thermocouple is prevented by the front cover. I have tried finding the
manual online but it looks like the company is out of business.

Any ideas?
I do not have this log set, but this sounds like a bad thermocouple. One thing
to check is to make sure there is no dust by the pilot light housing. Use some
caned air and shoot it across the pilot housing and thermo coupling.

The front cover should come off to gain access to the thermocouple.

Chris

Chris wrote:
....

I do not have this log set, but this sounds like a bad thermocouple. One
thing to check is to make sure there is no dust by the pilot light
housing. Use some caned air and shoot it across the pilot housing and
thermo coupling.
....
Possibly LP orifices instead of NG (or vice versa depending on OP's
actual fuel source)???

--

badgolferman wrote:
I have a Vermont Castings VF25 indoor gas log free-standing stove. I
have never used it and it came with the house. I tried starting it
last night but was unsuccessful. The gas company representative was
there today messing around with it also. He confirms gas getting to it
and spent 30 minutes attempting to purge the line. You can smell and
hear the gas. The ignitor sparks but the burner doesn't light.

I was going to try and light it manually but access to the burner or
thermocouple is prevented by the front cover. I have tried finding the
manual online but it looks like the company is out of business.

Any ideas?


Maybe it's not getting air. Look for some form of carburetor and see
that the air intakes are clear of spider webs, etc.?

Surprising that the supposed expert (the rep) couldn't figure it out though.

Matt wrote:

badgolferman wrote:
I have a Vermont Castings VF25 indoor gas log free-standing stove.
I have never used it and it came with the house. I tried starting
it last night but was unsuccessful. The gas company representative
was there today messing around with it also. He confirms gas
getting to it and spent 30 minutes attempting to purge the line.
You can smell and hear the gas. The ignitor sparks but the burner
doesn't light.

I was going to try and light it manually but access to the burner or
thermocouple is prevented by the front cover. I have tried finding
the manual online but it looks like the company is out of business.

Any ideas?


Maybe it's not getting air. Look for some form of carburetor and see
that the air intakes are clear of spider webs, etc.?

Surprising that the supposed expert (the rep) couldn't figure it out
though.

I got it to work by disassembling the front cover and unscrewing the
front screen and gaining access to the pilot light. I lit the flame
with a lighter and the the thermocouple heated up enough to let the gas
flow freely.

The gas company representative could not gain access to the innards due
to the front screen which was not readily removable. He was trying to
light it with the ignitor and it hadn't been lit in a long time.

--
"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men
have mediocrity thrust upon them." ~ Joseph Heller