Fireplace help for Los Angeles and Orange County homes

Last updated October 23, 2026 · Reviewed by the Fireplace Helpline tech team

Gas emergency numbers in the Los Angeles area

• SoCalGas: 800-427-2200, or 911. SoCalGas says to evacuate the area immediately and call from a safe location. Call 911 too if the leak could endanger people or property, or if you can't reach SoCalGas.
• Long Beach Utilities (Long Beach and Signal Hill): 562-570-2140, or 911. Long Beach Utilities runs the gas pipelines in Long Beach and Signal Hill. Evacuate first, then call from a safe location, and don't use a cell phone near the gas odor.

If your gas bill comes from a different company, use the emergency number on your bill.

How Fireplace Helpline works in the Los Angeles area

We're a video service, not a local shop, and we don't have an office in the Los Angeles area. You book a call, point your phone at the fireplace, and a real fireplace tech guides you by voice. Many problems can be diagnosed, and often fixed, in one call. If yours needs hands-on work, tell us your ZIP code and we'll help you find a local pro.

Flat prices, shown before you book: Quick Fix $49 · Full Diagnostic $89 · Priority Fix $139.

Gas heat, mild winters

64% of California homes heat mainly with natural gas and 20% with electricity (EIA, 2020). Around Los Angeles, though, a gas fireplace or log set often sits off from spring to fall, so a pilot that won't light or a remote with dead batteries is a common first-cold-night problem. A tech can walk you through your model's lighting steps on video.

Gas logs in a wood fireplace? Keep the damper open

SoCalGas says that with gas logs, the fireplace damper must be kept open permanently to help avoid serious accidents, using the damper lock that comes with the gas log kit. If someone closed the damper to keep drafts out, don't light the logs until it's open and locked.

After an earthquake

SoCalGas says not to turn off your gas meter unless you smell gas, hear it escaping or see other signs of a leak, and only if it's safe. If you do shut it off, leave it off: SoCalGas or another qualified professional should inspect before service is restored and pilots are relit. In Long Beach and Signal Hill, Long Beach Utilities restores service. Either way, your fireplace pilot will be out too, so don't try to relight it until the gas is back on and checked.

Propane fireplace in the Los Angeles area?

If your fireplace runs on propane (a tank or cylinders outside and a propane company that delivers, rather than a utility gas meter), the utility numbers above aren't your first call. Smell gas? Get out, then call your propane supplier, or 911, from outside. In California, 2% of homes heat mainly with propane (EIA, 2020).

Propane fireplaces have a few problems of their own: a low or empty tank, a fireplace that won't light after a refill, and a regulator buried in snow or ice. The propane industry's safety guide says that if your tank runs out, your propane supplier or a qualified pro should leak-check the system before the gas goes back on. Our guide covers the safe checks: propane fireplace won't light or stay lit.

Electric fireplaces in Southern California homes

Lots of Los Angeles and Orange County homes have an electric fireplace or insert, often more for the look than the heat. We help with those by video too. A tech goes through the safe checks with you: plugged straight into a working wall outlet, breaker or GFCI not tripped, fresh remote batteries, and the maker's reset after a cool-down if the unit shut itself off. We'll never ask you to open the unit or touch wiring. See electric fireplace not working.

Los Angeles fireplace not working? Start here

• Pilot won't light: Clicking but no flame, or no spark at all. The usual causes, in order.
• Pilot lights, then goes out: It lights, but won't stay lit. Usually the flame isn't heating the sensor enough.
• Pilot is lit, burner won't come on: The pilot's burning but the main flame never comes up.
• Propane fireplace won't light: Low tank, a recent run-out or refill, or a regulator under snow. Safe checks first.
• Electric fireplace won't turn on: No power, no heat, or it shut itself off. The safe checks manufacturers list, in order.
• Remote not working: Batteries, switch position, then re-pairing. Steps from the manufacturers.
• Proflame 2 blinking red light: One, two or three red blinks on the control module. What each one means and what to do first.
• Need a replacement part? Send us your model and serial, and a tech matches the exact gas, propane or electric fireplace part.

Common questions

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