Valor Homeflame Dream Gas Fire

[porkchop]

Our Valor Gas Fire lights up when the ignition switch is pressed but the fire goes out completely when the side switch is raised to increase the flames. Also, if press and keep my hand down on the ignition switch the fire stays on but when i take away my hand the fire goes out. The fire was OK up to recently and is only 5/6 years old. Any advice would be welcome.

[dannyk13]

Sounds like your pilot light might need a clean

[donny48]

Possibly the thermocouple is at fault. Sometimes the thermocouple is not in the flame enough to get hot enough.

[gingejbee]

Pilot light? Surely the "ignition switch" is the thing that lights the burners, not a pilot light?

[dannyk13]

The ignition switch light the pilot light,the on/off switch lights the burners.

[gingejbee]

donny has given a probable cause. Thermocouple problems are common particularly in gas ovens and grills...and, it seems, maybe in gas fires, too.

[donny48]

The fire lights up which suggests the pilot may be ok. The fire stays on when the ignition switch is in, which is as should be, but after a short time the main valve should open by the therocouple getting hot enough to trigger it.

[Togo]

Got to be thermocouple failure or else the valve that the thermocouple operates is not functioning. That is if the pilot is functioning brightly enough the keep the thermocouple operative. Check both.

[dannyk13]

The thermocouple is heated by the pilot light surely so maybe the thermocouple is not getting enough flame.

[donny48]

If you look where your pilot light is there should be a small strip of metal protruding over the flame, this is the thermocouple, if it is not in the flame tweak it. If it is in the flame and there is a reasonable pilot flame then its a new thermocouple.

[gingejbee]

I've never had a gas fire with a pilot light....boiler- yes, fire- no.

[dannyk13]

I have three gas fires and all have a pilot light.

[dannyk13]

Porkchop, I would follow Donny's advice and also make sure that the thermocouple is clean.

[donny48]

I thought all gas fires had to have pilots. New thermocouple for Valor homeflame are under £10 from amazon. I am an engineer and would fit my own but if you have the least doubt call an engineer.

[Togo]

porkchop, the pilot light will have a little copper flattened or pointed end that sits in the pilot light. That little end will be connected to a wire like tube that is usually white or cream. That wire is filled with little ceramic beads that expand and in turn push against a little microswitch inside the gas safe valve. That wire like thing is the thermocouple. They are igne ensure that the gas cannot be switched on without an ignition flame, the pilot light. If the pilot light is not giving enough heat to the thermocouple it may make the gas valve intermittent. I would switch off, clean the pilot light burner and make sure that the flame is blue, not yellow then try again. If the pilot light is good I would then change the thermocouple. After that you need a gas safe fitter.

[donny48]

Perfectly explained, Togo.

[Togo]

igne should be designed.

[Togo]

Lol Donny, didn't know you were a gas engineer. If I could I would blush. I only know these things because I was an electronics engineer.

[donny48]

Points to our respective ages when you say you were and I was, I still try to keep up with new developments but am very happy in retirement.

[Togo]

Ditto Donny, but it does drive the "young" tradesmen nuts.

[donny48]

I was not specifically a gas engineer but a factory maintenance engineer and since we had a lot of gas processes we had to have someone gas qualified.