Who Do You Call for Gas Fireplace Repair?

A licensed gas fireplace specialist. Not a handyman, not your HVAC company, not a general plumber. Here's why — and the short answer on who to actually call in Florida.

Why not a handyman?

• Florida requires a gas license to touch gas lines or appliances
• A handyman who guesses on a millivolt reading will replace the wrong part
• If something goes wrong, his general liability policy won't cover gas appliance work
• Your manufacturer warranty becomes void the moment unlicensed work is done

Why not your HVAC company?

• Most HVAC techs are great at AC and furnaces — but rarely train on hearth products
• They don't stock fireplace-specific parts (IPI modules, pilot assemblies, log sets)
• Most HVAC dispatch fees are higher with no repair credit

What to look for in a gas fireplace tech

• Florida gas license (we are)
• Liability insurance specifically covering gas appliance work (we have it)
• Factory training on the major brands — Heat & Glo, Majestic, Napoleon, Valor (we have it)
• Flat-rate, written pricing — not hourly with surprises (that's us)
• Parts on the truck so you're not waiting a week (we stock the common ones)

The most common gas fireplace problems (and who fixes them)

Bob Vila's piece on this topic frames it well: most gas-fireplace failures trace back to the pilot light, the thermocouple, or the gas supply itself. Here's how each one breaks down — and which is realistically a "call a pro" vs. a "try once" situation.

• Pilot won't light at all

  Pro — could be an empty propane tank (DIY-checkable) but usually a clogged pilot orifice or bad igniter.

• Pilot lights but won't stay lit

  Pro — almost always a failing thermocouple. Needs a millivolt test, not a guess.

• Main burner won't fire even with a strong pilot

  Pro — wall switch, thermopile, or gas valve. All involve gas under pressure.

• You smell gas, even faintly

  Pro — emergency. Shut off the gas at the appliance valve, leave the house, and call a licensed gas tech.

• Glass is cracked or fogged white

  Pro for glass replacement. Fogging is a DIY clean with the right non-abrasive product.

• Remote stopped working

  DIY first — try fresh batteries in both the handset and the receiver. If that fails, call a pro to re-pair or replace the receiver.

What does a gas fireplace repair call actually look like?

A reputable specialist will follow the same general flow on every visit, and you should expect a quote before any work begins — not an itemized bill at the end.

1. $69 diagnostic on arrival. Flat fee, credited toward repair. No vague "service call charge plus shop time."
2. Symptom-by-symptom test. Millivolt on the safety circuit, manometer on the gas pressure, visual on the burner.
3. Quote in writing. You approve before any parts come off the truck.
4. Same-visit repair when possible. Common parts ride with us — thermocouples, thermopiles, pilot assemblies, igniters, common gas valves, receivers.
5. Test, leak-check, walk-through. Soap test on every fitting, full burn cycle, and a quick explanation of what failed and how to avoid it.

How much should a gas fireplace repair cost?

The widely-cited range is $200 to $1,000, and that holds up in Florida too. Most of what we touch sits at the bottom of that range — thermocouples, igniters, receivers, blowers — in the $200–$450 installed band. Gas valves and control boards push toward the top end at $400–$850. See our full repair cost guide for line-item pricing.