Gas Fireplace Service & Repair in Nanaimo & Vancouver Island
P3 Mechanical & Electrical services, repairs, and installs gas fireplaces and inserts for homes across Nanaimo and central Vancouver Island. An annual service and cleaning takes a couple of hours; a new fireplace or insert is a bigger job and usually goes in within a day. Parts and labour are quoted in writing before we fit anything, not after.
Why gas fireplaces stop lighting
Most no-heat calls on a gas fireplace come down to the ignition. On older millivolt units the pilot flame generates the current that holds the gas valve open, and the thermopile producing it weakens with age. Newer electronic-ignition units fail at the module, the igniter, or a flame sensor coated in residue.
The rest is upkeep. A white haze on the glass, sooty log tips, or a burner that lights unevenly means the appliance needs cleaning and the logs and embers put back to the manufacturer’s pattern — a log out of place is a common cause of soot. On the coast, a vent terminal sitting in salt air is worth checking yearly.
What's included
- Inspection of the burner, pilot assembly, and venting
- Cleaning of the glass, logs, embers, and burner tray
- Thermopile, thermocouple, and igniter testing or replacement
- Gas pressure check and a carbon monoxide test
- Blower and fan service, where the unit has one
- Installation of new gas fireplaces and inserts, including the gas line
Pricing & what's covered
Free estimate
We price the job after an in-home visit, once someone has seen what's there.
- One-year warranty on our labour. Equipment and parts are covered separately, under the supplier's or manufacturer's own warranty.
- Licensed in BC: Gas Contractor licence LGA0207015.
How it works
Assessment — we confirm whether it is ignition, gas supply, or venting before changing parts.
Written quote — parts and labour agreed up front, including any gas line a new unit needs.
Service or install — cleaning and repair, or a full fireplace and gas line installation.
Permit and inspection — a new or relocated appliance is permitted and inspected.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my gas fireplace pilot light keep going out?
Most often a worn thermopile — it generates the small current that holds the gas valve open, so as it weakens the pilot lights but drops out when you release the knob.
How often should a gas fireplace be serviced?
Once a year, ideally before the heating season. The annual clean and inspection keeps the glass clear, catches a failing thermopile early, and includes a carbon monoxide check.
How much does a gas fireplace service call cost?
A service and cleaning visit is a few-hundred-dollar job rather than a few-thousand-dollar one — it is scheduled maintenance, not a replacement. Parts such as a thermopile or an igniter are quoted before we fit them, so nothing lands on the bill you have not agreed to.
How long does a gas fireplace installation take?
A service and cleaning visit takes a couple of hours. A new fireplace or insert usually goes in within a day, and running a new gas line or changing the venting route adds to that — the written quote says which of them applies to your house.
Do you service wood-burning fireplaces as well?
We work on gas fireplaces and inserts. Wood-burning appliances and chimneys are inspected under the WETT program, a separate trade from gas work, so book those with a WETT-certified inspector.
Do I need a permit to install a gas fireplace in BC?
Yes. Gas work in BC is regulated by Technical Safety BC, so a new fireplace or a new gas line run to one needs a gas permit and an inspection. Pulling it is the contractor’s job: P3 holds Technical Safety BC gas contractor licence LGA0207015, and the permit and the inspection are part of the job rather than something left with you.
Ready to get it fixed?
Call now, or send us the details online and we'll follow up.