Heat n Glo 6000TRB DSI igniter gasket issue

[skinned knuckles]

Hello all,
My Heat N Glo 6000TRB DSI gas fireplace has been nothing but trouble for many years, and I have had a professional out every year, most recently to try to fix nuisance lockouts.
For the last three or four years, he claimed the igniter was the problem, that it was no longer manufactured, and he "insulated" it with a huge wad of red caulk, which would work for one season. This year when it locked out, I went on the internet and found the igniter new, and bought it, as well as a new junction box with wiring harness and control module, since the connections between the pins on the two parts was loose. I started to look around and saw that the blower the he sold to me and installed to replace the original had the ground prong cut off so that it would fit in the junction box outlet. I lost my last shred of faith in him at that point, so today I installed the new parts myself. I cleaned off all of the red caulk from the old igniter and got the metal plate clean, and installed all of the new parts, and the fireplace works great.
Here are my questions:
1. There is a big hole in the metal floor between the logs and the electronics below, where the red caulk used to be googed all around the bottom of the igniter and the igniter wire. It looks like there might have been something there before. Is there a gasket missing? Should I insulate between the new igniter and the hole in the metal? Can I leave it as it is? I don't want that black rubber to melt.
2. Can I still use the blower with the ground prong cut off, or should I buy a new one? I grounded the new junction box that it plugs into.

 

[DAKSY]

1. There is a big hole in the metal floor between the logs and the electronics below, where the red caulk used to be googed all around the bottom of the igniter and the igniter wire. It looks like there might have been something there before. Is there a gasket missing? Should I insulate between the new igniter and the hole in the metal? Can I leave it as it is? I don't want that black rubber to melt.

Use RTV silicone, again. Just use enough to completely seal the opening. You are burning gas fuel & that gives of CO as a by-product. You do NOT want that leaking into your home. It will also act as an insulator between the new igniter & the fireplace body.

2. Can I still use the blower with the ground prong cut off, or should I buy a new one? I grounded the new junction box that it plugs into.

You can use the old one as is, or you can replace the plug on the end with a grounded plug.
A new blower units is a couple hundred bucks. Don't replace it until you absolutely need to.

 

[skinned knuckles]

1. There is a big hole in the metal floor between the logs and the electronics below, where the red caulk used to be googed all around the bottom of the igniter and the igniter wire. It looks like there might have been something there before. Is there a gasket missing? Should I insulate between the new igniter and the hole in the metal? Can I leave it as it is? I don't want that black rubber to melt.

Use RTV silicone, again. Just use enough to completely seal the opening. You are burning gas fuel & that gives of CO as a by-product. You do NOT want that leaking into your home. It will also act as an insulator between the new igniter & the fireplace body.

2. Can I still use the blower with the ground prong cut off, or should I buy a new one? I grounded the new junction box that it plugs into.

You can use the old one as is, or you can replace the plug on the end with a grounded plug.
A new blower units is a couple hundred bucks. Don't replace it until you absolutely need to.

Thank you very much. I will do that!

 

[Inside Guy]

View attachment 172965 Hello all,
My Heat N Glo 6000TRB DSI gas fireplace has been nothing but trouble for many years, and I have had a professional out every year, most recently to try to fix nuisance lockouts.
For the last three or four years, he claimed the igniter was the problem, that it was no longer manufactured, and he "insulated" it with a huge wad of red caulk, which would work for one season. This year when it locked out, I went on the internet and found the igniter new, and bought it, as well as a new junction box with wiring harness and control module, since the connections between the pins on the two parts was loose. I started to look around and saw that the blower the he sold to me and installed to replace the original had the ground prong cut off so that it would fit in the junction box outlet. I lost my last shred of faith in him at that point, so today I installed the new parts myself. I cleaned off all of the red caulk from the old igniter and got the metal plate clean, and installed all of the new parts, and the fireplace works great.
Here are my questions:
1. There is a big hole in the metal floor between the logs and the electronics below, where the red caulk used to be googed all around the bottom of the igniter and the igniter wire. It looks like there might have been something there before. Is there a gasket missing? Should I insulate between the new igniter and the hole in the metal? Can I leave it as it is? I don't want that black rubber to melt.
2. Can I still use the blower with the ground prong cut off, or should I buy a new one? I grounded the new junction box that it plugs into.

DSI systems can be very sensitive. The critical connection is to ensure the grate and/or burner is grounded very well to the bottom of the firebox, ensure good clean connections. Without getting into a lot of detail, the ystem works by the sensor on the pilot, touching the flame of the burner, which in turn touches the grate and/or burner, which is connected the the metal firebox (ground). Like I mentioned, these systems are sensitive. I beleive the manufacture sells an update kit that converts these older systems to a new spark to pilot system. The part number is IPI-UPGRADE. You should be able to get this through hng dealer.

 

[skinned knuckles]

Thanks, Inside Guy. If it happens again I will buy the upgraded product. You have been a great help.

 

[jdstigall]

If the gasket of your gas fireplace wear out then it can allow poisonous carbon monoxide into your home. Taking care of your fireplace will protect it and ensure a beautiful fire for a very long time.