PDV20 Vermont Cast old gas fireplace issue

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.

sweaty

New Member
Dec 13, 2021
55
USA
I have this very old Vermont Cast gas fireplace. The tag has PDV20 stamped on it. It has a Hit-and-Glow remote control. You press a button and the fire comes on. It has a pilot.

Recently the remote control does not bring up the fire anymore. Press the button, the remote clicks but I don't hear a click from the stove. Sometimes, if I fiddle with the valve knob (the one turn the flame up and down) I could get lucky and the fire lights.

I did some research on this forum and it sounds like this is a really old stove and there is no replacement parts.

Could someone confirm this? If there is no part, is it possible to get a valve and/or fix the valve so I can operate it manually? I don't have to have the remote function. If the manual valve knob works right now, I would be perfectly satisfied.

Thanks!
 
Check the connections on the right side of the gas valve.
There is a terminal block there. Make sure the ALL wiring is tight.
 
Check the connections on the right side of the gas valve.
There is a terminal block there. Make sure the ALL wiring is tight.
IMG_20211219_150917890.jpg

I went back and vacuumed the bottom of the stove. When doing so, I touched some of the wiring down there and the fire came on. I then tested by poking at them. It seemed that the fat red wire and silver wire, when pushed sometimes caused a click in the valve. The connectors are all very tight as far as I can tell.

Suggestions?
 
Sounds like a loose connection or broken wire that's got an intermittent connection.
Take each wire off & reinstall it.
What happens when you jump the TH (bottom) & TPTH (top) terminals?
 
...
What happens when you jump the TH (bottom) & TPTH (top) terminals?
The stove blows up? :) Joking aside, I have not tried it. I don't really understand the logic behind shorting these two.

I think you are right. It looks like loose connection/broken wire somewhere. We are going on vacation in a couple of days so I will have to put this on hold for now. I may come back with more questions once I have a chance to look into it more.

Thanks!
 
Jumping or shorting those two terminals will function as if you closed a switch or a thermostat called for flames.