Gas fireplaces · Kelowna & area
Gas fireplace repair, service & installation in Kelowna
Fireplace won't light, keeps shutting off, or burns weak and yellow? We repair and service gas fireplaces, and install the gas side of new fireplaces, inserts and outdoor fire features.
Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting · owner-operated · last updated
Gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC (LGA0212697)
Quick answer
For gas fireplace repair, service or installation in Kelowna, call Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting at (250) 859-3548. We fix pilot and ignition problems, weak flames and shut-offs, and install fireplaces and inserts under permit as a gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC (LGA0212697).
A gas fireplace is a gas appliance like your furnace or water heater. Common causes of trouble come down to a handful of parts: the pilot assembly and the thermocouple or thermopile that proves the flame, the igniter, the gas valve, the venting, and dirt or debris where it doesn't belong. When one of them is off, the fireplace won't light, lights and drops out after a few minutes, or burns with a lazy yellow flame and soots up the glass.
Because it runs on gas, the repair needs a gas contractor. We hold a gas contractor licence with Technical Safety BC (LGA0212697), so we work on the burner, valve and gas supply directly, leak-test the connections and check the venting before we hand it back. Most manufacturers recommend a yearly service, and fall, before the first cold night, is the easiest time to book it.
For new installs we run the gas line, set the fireplace or insert, and start it up under a gas permit. A wood-burning fireplace converted to a gas insert vents through a new liner run up the existing chimney. Framing, finishing and chimney repairs are done by others; if the chimney needs cleaning or repair by a chimney specialist first, we'll tell you before we quote.
Dealing with this right now? Gas fireplace won't light: what to check first
Why a gas fireplace shuts off
- 1Weak or dirty pilot. A small, lazy or yellow pilot flame does not heat the sensors enough, so the fireplace shuts down.
- 2Thermocouple. Tells the gas valve the pilot is lit. When it wears out, the pilot goes out as soon as you let go of the knob.
- 3Thermopile. Makes the small voltage that opens the main burner valve. A weak one means the burner will not light from the switch, or drops out.
- 4Wall switch or remote. Loose switch wiring, dead batteries or a failing receiver can look like a gas problem.
- 5Venting and safety switches. Some models shut off if exhaust is not venting properly or the unit overheats. Never bypass one. It is telling you something.
- 6Gas supply. Low pressure or a partly closed valve can starve the pilot once the burner lights.
If you smell gas, leave right away and call FortisBC’s 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 or 911 from outside. Then call us for the repair.
Illustration for explanation, not a photo of a specific job. Layout varies by model and home.
Services covered
Gas fireplace repair
No pilot, clicking but no flame, a flame that drops out after a few minutes, weak or yellow flames, or a remote and wall switch that stopped working. We check the thermocouple or thermopile, igniter, gas valve, burner and venting, and price the repair before we do it.
Gas fireplace maintenance
Burner and pilot cleaned, thermocouple or thermopile and igniter tested, flame and venting checked, glass cleaned and the gas connections leak-tested.
Gas fireplace installation and hookup
Gas line and shut-off valve for a new or replacement fireplace, venting to the manufacturer's instructions, and startup with a burner and leak check, under a gas permit.
Gas fireplace insert installation and conversion
A wood-burning fireplace converted to a gas insert, vented through a new liner run up the existing chimney. We can also switch a fireplace between propane and natural gas with the manufacturer's conversion kit.
Outdoor fire features
Natural gas lines for outdoor fireplaces, fire tables and fire pits, with a shut-off at the appliance and the line pressure-tested.
Gas line installationWhen to call about your gas fireplace
- The pilot won't stay lit, or the fireplace clicks but won't ignite
- It lights, then shuts off after a few minutes
- Flames are weak, uneven or yellow, or the glass is sooting up
- You smell gas or hear hissing near the fireplace (leave and call FortisBC first)
- It hasn't been serviced in more than a year
Fireplace won't light? Check these first
A few things you can check safely before booking a repair.
Switch or remote
Try the wall switch and replace the remote's batteries. A dead remote or receiver is a common no-start.
Gas valve at the fireplace
There is usually a shut-off valve behind the lower grille. Make sure it is open (handle in line with the pipe).
Is the pilot lit?
Look for a small blue flame near the burner. If it is out, relight it following the steps in your manual.
Other gas appliances
If the stove or water heater is also out, the problem may be the gas supply, not the fireplace.
Let it cool
The glass gets hot enough to burn. Give it time before you touch anything.
Smell gas?
Do not try to light it. If you smell gas, leave right away and call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 (or your propane supplier) or 911 from outside. Then call us for the repair.
Current as of November 2026
Gas fireplace rebates
Getting your fireplace serviced before winter? FortisBC pays part of it back. Here's what's running right now.
$25 per fireplace
Gas fireplace service
Residential FortisBC gas customers get $25 back for each indoor fireplace serviced by a licensed gas contractor, up to two per household. Outdoor fireplaces do not qualify.
Details on FortisBCUp to $150
Yearly gas appliance service
Residential FortisBC gas customers get $50 back for a furnace service, $50 for a tankless water heater service and $25 for each of up to two indoor fireplaces, up to $150 per household. Claim online within 60 days of the service invoice.
Details on FortisBC$250
Gas fireplace with a conversion
Add an eligible natural gas fireplace at the same time as a rebated gas furnace or direct vent wall furnace when you connect to gas.
Details on FortisBCRebate amounts and rules are set by FortisBC and can change, so always check the official page before you buy. FortisBC rebates need a gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC. Ours is gas contractor licence LGA0212697. Service rebates are claimed with the paid invoice; the switch-to-gas rebates also ask for the gas permit number and the contractor's licence number on the invoice. CleanBC rebate finder
Licence and how we work
Gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC (LGA0212697).
- Owner-operated. The owner quotes every job and is on site for the work.
- A fair, upfront price first. You get the price before any work starts, so you can say yes or no before you are committed.
- Gas work under permit. We pull the permit on gas work, and we can put the permit number and our licence number on your invoice.
- Honest repair-or-replace advice. We assess the job first and explain your options in plain language. If a repair makes more sense than a new unit, that's what we'll tell you.
If you smell gas, leave right away and call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 (or your propane supplier) or 911 from outside. Then call us for the repair.
About usQuestions, answered
Why does my gas fireplace turn off after a few minutes?
Usually the safety system is not sensing the pilot flame properly, often because the pilot assembly, thermocouple or thermopile is dirty or worn, or the pilot flame itself is weak. It can also be a venting problem. It shuts off to protect you, so have the cause found rather than relighting it over and over.
How often should a gas fireplace be serviced?
Most manufacturers recommend once a year. A yearly service keeps the burner and pilot clean, confirms the venting and gas connections are safe, and is the easiest way to avoid a fireplace that will not start on the first cold night.
Can you convert my wood-burning fireplace to gas?
Usually, with a gas insert vented through a new liner run up the existing chimney. We run the gas line and install the insert and liner. If the chimney needs cleaning or repairs first, we'll tell you so a chimney specialist can do that before we start.
Do I need a permit to install a gas fireplace?
Yes. Installing a gas fireplace or running a new gas line needs a gas permit. Inside Kelowna, the City of Kelowna issues most natural gas permits. Propane work, and all gas work in West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon, Peachland and Oyama, is permitted through Technical Safety BC. We pull whichever applies.
I smell gas near my fireplace. What should I do?
If you smell gas, leave right away and call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 (or your propane supplier) or 911 from outside. Then call us for the repair.
Can I use my gas fireplace when the power is out?
Often, yes. Many gas fireplaces with a standing pilot run without household power, though the blower fan will not. Models with electronic ignition may need a battery backup or may not light at all. Your owner's manual says which type you have, and we can show you on a service visit.
Areas we serve
Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country (including Oyama), Vernon and Peachland.
Get an honest answer and a fair, upfront price
We are open 24/7 and tell you honestly when we can be there. You get the price before any work starts.