Gas fireplace help for DC-area homeowners

Last updated October 22, 2026 · Reviewed by the Fireplace Helpline tech team

Gas emergency numbers in the DC area

• Washington Gas: 844-927-4427, or 911. Washington Gas says to move to a safe location, call 911, then call its Emergency Leak Line at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427) and select option 1.

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

How Fireplace Helpline works in the DC area

We're a video service, not a local shop, and we don't have an office in the DC 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.

Three jurisdictions, three different fuel mixes

Natural gas is the main heating fuel in 56% of DC homes and 49% of Maryland homes, but only 36% of Virginia homes, where electricity leads at 50% (EIA, 2020). Depending on which side of the river you're on, a gas fireplace may be one of the only gas appliances in the house.

Fireplaces need air

Washington Gas points out that gas appliances and fireplaces use oxygen from the room. In a tightly sealed home, that can lead to incomplete burning and carbon monoxide, which is why it says never to enclose gas appliances. It also suggests a residential methane detector, alongside smoke and CO alarms.

Propane fireplace in the DC 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 Virginia, 5% of homes heat mainly with propane (EIA, 2020); EIA doesn't publish a reliable propane figure for DC or Maryland.

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.

Washington, DC 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.
• 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.

Common questions

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