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Found out my gas fireplace was costing me $40 a month just in pilot light gas
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zarag172mo ago
I read something about this recently that said pilot lights can eat up like 5-10 bucks a month on their own. $40 sounds high even for gas, so maybe you have a bigger unit or your rates are higher than average. A lot of newer fireplaces have electronic ignition now, which only sparks when you actually turn it on. My buddy swapped his pilot light for one of those, and he said his bill dropped by like $25 a month right away. If yours is an older model, it might be worth looking into that upgrade, but check with a pro first because some conversions aren't simple. Your mileage may vary depending on how much you actually use the fireplace too.
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the_olivia2mo ago
Respectfully, I see it a bit differently honestly. Tbh, $40 is pretty normal for a pilot light where I live, especially if you've got an older unit that's not super efficient. Your buddy's swap is cool but I've heard some of those conversions can be pricey up front, maybe not worth it if you don't use the fireplace a ton.
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rowanw912mo ago
Oh man, your buddy's story reminds me of my uncle who tried to save money on his gas bill by turning off his pilot light in the summer. He forgot to relight it before winter and spent like three hours trying to get the thing going again with a long lighter while freezing his butt off. Honestly pilot lights are one of those things you just accept until you get a shock from the bill, then suddenly you're an expert on electronic ignitions. Ngl I've heard mixed things about those conversion kits too, some people say they're great and others complain about the spark failing after a year. Tbh your advice about checking with a pro is solid because I've seen too many DIY fireplace stories end with a call to the fire department.
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