No Gas

[Drjohn]

I have a nat. gas Heatilator GC 300E fireplace. When switched on the igniter sparks but no flame although a week or so ago it did work sometimes. It has a Robershaw Gas Valve NG (71516). There is a current to the valve when the igniter operates. There is no gas smell. Could the valve be defective and how can one test it?
Thanks
PS The gas is turned on.

 

[DAKSY]

Try "rapping" on the gas valve with the plastic handle of a large screwdriver.
The regulator may be stuck. You don't want to smash it. Just rap on it.
Let us know if that works.

 

[Drjohn]

Tried it, no gas - now do I get to smash it? I'll try a couple times more tonight.

 

[DAKSY]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Tes...1PPWAhXHTCYKHe2cDosQvwUIJSgA&biw=1366&bih=662

 

[Drjohn]

Yikes, they expect a guy to know something.
The cost of a new valve is about 1/3 what the average call would be. The work would be straight forward, what would the chances that that would fix the problem?

 

[DAKSY]

It may not be the valve. Can you post a picture of what the valve looks like?
Can you also post a pic of the pilot assembly?

 

[Drjohn]

Hope these work for you.

 

[DAKSY]

Wow. Old stuff there. Somebody else may hafta chime in on this one.

 

[Drjohn]

Was installed in 1996. Thanks for your help

 

[DAKSY]

Those older DSI units were troublesome. The only time I worked on them was to change them over to a standing pilots.
That might be the better option than simply replacing the outdated one.

 

[Drjohn]

It provides plenty of spark. How would one find a standing pilot to replace it?

 

[DAKSY]

You hafta change out the valve & the igniter assembly. The newer valve will hook up to the pilot assembly.
If you have the owner's manual, it shows BOTH types of valve for your unit.

http://downloads.hearthnhome.com/installManuals/19781.PDF

 

[Drjohn]

You work magic! I have spent several days tapping the gas valve (I'm retired) and eventually it got better and now it lights every time. One thing that I noticed is the controller has a fairly loud hum to it for 10-20 minutes then it stops. The hum is not in the transformer but the controller.
What would this be?
Thanks