Hello! I have a 20-year old Vanguard (Desa) direct vent fireplace that was installed when my house was built. Now it has stopped working. One fireplace company told me it needs a new pilot head assembly, but since Vanguard is no longer in business, it can't locate a replacement part. Another company suggested trying to repair it with a universal pilot head assembly at an install and unit cost of $460 with no guarantee that it will work. The alternative is to replace my unit and mantel at a cost of $8,000. Any opinions on the chances of a universal unit working? Thank you very much for any feedback.
![[Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard [Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/284/284657-91ef14e10d5ee668a24b31af9a5685c7.jpg?hash=i1Jbd9rx1f)
![[Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard [Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/284/284658-e07a46f50b2bf48954ac5550de7da7bc.jpg?hash=YMw-R4AIa4)
![[Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard [Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/284/284664-ff42ec6d87f8c4e4b74cfb61a2e0f5a6.jpg?hash=tpiIHA1QGd)
![[Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard [Hearth.com] Universal pilot head assembly - Vanguard](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/284/284665-44e443046babf36e4f5a793964ad1326.jpg?hash=Kn4exzRepu)