White Mountain Hearth Troubleshooting [ 7 Easy Solutions]

Going out of the flame, strange odor, no spark at the pilot, etc., are the most common causes for which you may need the White Mountain Hearth troubleshooting guide. You may encounter and experience several problems with this gas fireplace.

Here, in this article, we tried to accumulate all those problems and their solutions responsible for your bad experience. Let’s discuss all the problems and their solutions below. 

White Mountain Hearth Troubleshooting [ 7 Easy Solutions]

You may encounter the following problems with the White Mountain hearth gas fireplace. We will now discuss the most common problems with this gas fireplace and its solutions. 

1. No Spark at Pilot

Pressing the Ignitor button causes a spark at the pilot or ODS. After pressing the ignitor button, the White Mountain Hearth pilot fails to spark for the following reasons:

  • Broken ignitor electrode
  • Electrode’s Wrong positioning 
  • Wet or broken ignitor cable
  • The Ignitor cable and ignitor electrode are not connected

Solution:

You can solve the pilot no-spark problem by following the solutions below.

  • Replace the pilot to place the electrode in the correct position
  • Reconnect the ignitor cable and electrode
  • If there is any tubing or metal pinch in the ignitor cable, free it
  • Replace the broken ignitor cable

2. Unwanted Odors

White Mountain Hearth produces unwanted odor or unusual smell for the following reasons:

  • Gas leak
  • Hair spray, paint, glue burning vapor
  • Improper room ventilation

Solution:

Are you suffering from a strange smell from your gas fireplace? Don’t worry, and we are giving the solution. Unwanted odors from the white hearth appliances can solve by doing the following:

  • While the White Mountain Heater is running, stop using paint, glues, and other products which cause odor.
  • Ensure room ventilation
  • Identify and fix all gas leaks

3. Flame Goes Out

When the White Mountain Hearth releases the control knob, the pilot/ODS spark light, but the flame goes out. The reasons are the following:

  • Improper or partial press in the control knob
  • The pressing duration is not long enough
  • Partial opening of the manual shut-off valve
  • Thermocouple and control valve’s loose connection
  • Damaged thermocouple and control valve

Solution:

After releasing the control knob, there is light in the pilot if your White Mountain Hearth flame goes out. The solutions to this problem are the following:

  • Fully press the control knob
  • Press the knob for 30 seconds or a long time
  • Entirely open the shutoff valve
  • Tighten the control valve and thermocouple’s connection
  • Replace the damaged thermocouple and control valve

4. Burner Fails to Light

Even if the White Mountain Hearth pilot is adequately lit, the burner might fail to light for the following reasons:

  • Clogged burner orifice
  • Too small orifice diameter
  • Too low gas pressure

Solution:

 If your White Mountain Hearth burner is not lighting adequately, do the following to solve the problem. The solutions are:

  • Clean dust or debris from the burner orifice
  • Replace the orifice if necessary
  • Contact local support or an expert company to correct the low gas pressure

5. Gas Logs Produce Smoke

After the initial operation, if your White Mountain Hearth gas logs appear to smoke, the reasons could be the following:

  • Vapors from the logs paint
  • Smokeless log heater
  • Damaged log heater

Solution:

You could solve the problem after operating the White Mountain Hearth gas logs for a few hours. The keys are the following:

  • Open the damper and run the heater for a few hours
  • For the first few hours, keep the window open
  • Turn off the switch of the log heater
  • Contact the expert even if the problem still remains

6. Whistling Noise from Heater

When the White Mountain Hearth main burner is lit, a strange whistling noise may come from the heater. The reasons for this whistling noise are the following:

  • The control knob turns to a high position
  • Cold burner
  • Air in the gas line
  • Partially clogged or dirty orifice

Solution:

Do the following and your heater will stop producing whistling noise. The solutions are:

  • Warm up the control knob by turning it into a low position
  • Operate the burner to remove the air from the gas line
  • Clean the burner
  • Replace the orifice if necessary

7. Pilot Spark but No Ignition

Press the White Mountain Hearth ignition button and see whether there is an ignition in the pilot or not. If the pilot sparks but no ignition, the reasons could be the following:

  • Gas supply stopped
  • A closed manual shutoff valve
  • Control knob’s improper Pilot position
  • The gas line consists of air
  • Clogged pilot

Solution:

You can solve the problem of no ignition in the pilot in the following ways:

  • Turn on the gas supply
  • Open the shutoff valve
  • Placed the control knob in the proper pilot position
  • Remove the gas line air
  • Replace the clogged pilot

FAQ:

1. Why Does My White Mountain Hearth Gas Fireplace Keep Clicking?

When you turn on the White Mountain hearth gas fireplace for the first time, you will hear particular clicking and popping noises. It’s familiar, and it happens for the first few minutes. The expansion of metal components during the warm-up time creates such sound. 

2. What Causes A White Mountain Hearth Gas Fireplace Not to Ignite?

The dirty pilot light orifice is the most common cause for which the White Mountain hearth fireplace may not ignite. Dirt and soot buildup in the orifice creates obstacles in the ignition. Wiring, thermopile, or thermocouples are other issues that disturb the ignition.  

3. How to Light a White Mountain Hearth Gas Fireplace?

First, push the central control knob to the Pilot position from the off position and then turn it on. Then, press the knob and hold it. Push the knob several times on the spark ignition button as long as the pilot lights do not turn on. 

4. Does White Mountain Hearth Gas Fireplace Heat a Room?

The White Mountain Heath gas fireplace is highly efficient in terms of heating a room. Consistent combustion is the primary source for a fireplace to produce flames. Once the fire starts burning for a long time, it will quickly create heat in the room. 

5. Does the White Mountain Hearth Gas Fireplace Need to be cleaned?

Yes! The White Mountain hearth fireplace needs annual cleaning. It would be best if you could do the cleaning at regular intervals. Natural gas and propane are different from wood as these burning fuels are clean. Still, these gas fuels produce buildup in the burner orifice, which you should clean adequately. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, the above White Mountain Hearth troubleshooting guide has succeeded in depicting what causes are responsible for the problem. The focus is also accompanied by all the relevant solutions to the issues.

Even if you are unaware of something or fail to understand the situation in your heater, you can inform us. Comment your White Mountain Hearth heater problem in the comment box, and you will get the answer soon.

About William

William is the founder of Fireplacehubs.com. He has real life practical skills in fixing smoker & heating appliance issues. He loves to share his knowledge & helps others in fixing their appliances & saving their money. William firmly believes that anyone can repair his or her unit with the correct guidance & knowledge. See more at about us.

4 thoughts on “White Mountain Hearth Troubleshooting [ 7 Easy Solutions]”

  1. Hi I have a White mountain hearth model VFSR-18 NF burner. The pilot light comes on fine and stays lit. It will ignite on low and will stay on but as soon as I touch the knob to turn it to high it instantly goes out. Any assistance would be appreciated.

    Reply
    • Hi Janet

      To fix your White Mountain gas fireplace pilot not lighting issue, clean the dirt & debris between the igniter & thermocouple. Also, blowing compressed air into the pilot area is a good idea to clean it. Then, wait for a few minutes & try to ignite the unit. Hopefully, the problem will be fixed.

      Well, if the pilot light ignites but won’t stay lit, you may need to replace the igniter.

      Best of luck!

      Reply

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