The gas fireplace has been working fine until today. Tonight, when turning it off via the wall switch, it stayed on (the main burner, pilot was also still on). I turned it off by closing the gas valve underneath. About 30 minutes later I re-lit the pilot, and fired up the main burner. The wall switch turned the fire on, then I turned the wall switch off, and the fire went out. About 3 seconds later, the fire lit again. I've got everything turned off now until I figure out what's going on.
Any ideas?

You need the model to determine the control circuit.

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
You need the model to determine the control circuit.

It's a Monessen Hearth Systems BDV series fireplace.

What's the model number on the gas valve?

You'll want to check this out...
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2...-due-to-risk-of-fire

Don't know the answer other than the standard one of you need to stop using it, turn the gas off to the unit and call in a qualified expert.

I'm actually to some degree and expert but I've always had to deal with units that won't light, not ones that won't turn off.

These new ones with electronic ignition are a pain... government tries to save us gas and not have a standing pilot light and it actually causes more problems than it solves... nothing new.

After writing all that I will make one suggestion, which often fixes the basic units I work on...

Hit the control valve unit with a hammer

I would file a report with the CPSC in addition to turning off the gas line to the fireplace and contacting a qualified repair person.

We have gas furnaces on some of the homes in my neighborhood.

There is a problem with the gas being on and the electronic igniter malfunction. You see some of the caps on the vents missing.

I assume the gas comes on and is not ignited until later or the control valve is leaking or not shutting off so the vent stack is filled with gas. The next time the igniter fires, it blows the cap off. You have to wonder if the vent stack to the roof is not leaking due to a seam separation.

The ventless gas logs leave a lot of white particles in the room. Never liked gas logs.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
What's the model number on the gas valve?

You'll want to check this out...
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2...-due-to-risk-of-fire

Thanks for pointing that out. Fortunately (?), ours is older than those being recalled.

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
We have gas furnaces on some of the homes in my neighborhood.

There is a problem with the gas being on and the electronic igniter malfunction. You see some of the caps on the vents missing.

I assume the gas comes on and is not ignited until later or the control valve is leaking or not shutting off so the vent stack is filled with gas. The next time the igniter fires, it blows the cap off. You have to wonder if the vent stack to the roof is not leaking due to a seam separation.

Most people have homes around them with gas furnaces.

There's no problem with them, as they have safeties to protect them and you. They're not the reason for the missing vent caps.

Your assumptions are far from what happens in reality.

It’s turned on and off by a wall switch no thermostat control? I just had a similar problem yesterday but ours is run by a remote control/thermostat. I had to put new batteries in the receiving module behind the stove. Yours reads like a thermostat issue.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
We have gas furnaces on some of the homes in my neighborhood.

There is a problem with the gas being on and the electronic igniter malfunction. You see some of the caps on the vents missing.

I assume the gas comes on and is not ignited until later or the control valve is leaking or not shutting off so the vent stack is filled with gas. The next time the igniter fires, it blows the cap off. You have to wonder if the vent stack to the roof is not leaking due to a seam separation.

Most people have homes around them with gas furnaces.

There's no problem with them, as they have safeties to protect them and you. They're not the reason for the missing vent caps.

Your assumptions are far from what happens in reality.

So how is the cap being separated? You can see some of them bent back and not completely missing.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
It’s turned on and off by a wall switch no thermostat control? I just had a similar problem yesterday but ours is run by a remote control/thermostat. I had to put new batteries in the receiving module behind the stove. Yours reads like a thermostat issue.

We don't have a remote control with ours, only a wall switch. I suppose it's possible the switch is defective.