Pilot light won't stay lit
If the pilot won't stay on, the burner can't light. Start here.
Help guide · No ignition
Heater won't start at all? Let's get it firing.
You hit the controller, you hear nothing. Or you hear the click-click-click of the igniter trying but no flame. Either way it's the most common winter callout we get in Adelaide. The cause is usually one of five things and most are a same-visit fix. Here's how to narrow it down before you call.
Same-day metro Adelaide
Igniters + sensors in van
Most fixes under $400
Upfront pricing
60–90 min on site
Full diagnostic
CO check included
What's happening
Six things have to line up — one is broken
For a modern gas heater to fire up successfully, six things have to happen in the right order: the controller calls for heat, the control board powers up, the igniter sparks (or the pilot is already lit), the gas valve opens, the gas catches on the spark/pilot, and the flame sensor confirms the flame to the board. If any link in the chain fails, no flame.
From the outside it all looks the same — heater on, no warmth — but the diagnosis is which link is broken. Sometimes you can hear it. Click-click-click then nothing? Igniter is sparking but the gas isn't there or isn't catching. Total silence? Either no power or the controller isn't sending the call. A whoosh of gas then nothing? Spark not strong enough.
We work through the chain with a multimeter and manometer. Most jobs we know within 15 minutes which part is the problem.
Safety check
Is this dangerous?
Mostly no. A heater that won't ignite is sitting cold and inert. The safety system is preventing a half-attempt that would leak gas. CO risk is essentially zero in this state.
What's not ideal: keep mashing the controller buttons trying to force it. Each ignition attempt opens the gas valve briefly, and if the spark is weak you can build up a small pocket of unburnt gas in the burner box. Try it 2–3 times, then stop and call us.
Stop and call 1800 427 532 first if you smell gas around the heater after a failed ignition attempt — there's a chance the valve is leaking past.
Right now
What to check in the next 5 minutes
1
Check the gas tap
The isolation tap is usually behind or beside the heater. Lever inline with the pipe = open. Check it's open.
2
Check the power
Wall switch on. Isolator switch at the unit on. Controller has display. If no display, electrical issue.
3
Check thermostat / setpoint
Set 5°C above current room temp. Mode is HEAT not FAN. Replace batteries if wireless.
Bonus check for LPG users: lift the bottle. If it feels light, you're empty.
Diagnosis
What's likely causing it
- No gas supply. Empty LPG bottle, closed isolation tap, network outage, or a regulator failure. Free fixes (or $80 for a regulator clean). Always check first.
- Pilot light out (older units). Standing-pilot heaters need the pilot lit before the burner will fire. If it's gone out, often a thermocouple issue. See our pilot light guide. $150–$220.
- Failed igniter (common). The spark electrode wears out or cracks. You'll hear the click but no flame. $110–$180 fitted, parts in the van.
- Dirty flame sensor. Burner does light briefly then immediately drops out — control board can't confirm flame. Quick clean — $45–$140.
- Failed gas valve. Igniter sparks correctly but no gas comes through. Less common but does happen. $400–$650.
- Failed control board. Last thing we check because it's the most expensive. The board calls nothing, the unit just sits there. $480–$950.
DIY?
Can I fix it myself?
You can do five safe checks:
- Confirm the gas isolation tap is fully open
- Confirm the wall power switch and unit isolator are on
- Replace thermostat batteries if it's a battery-powered controller
- Cycle the unit's isolator off for 30 seconds, then back on (one reset)
- For LPG: confirm the bottle isn't empty — and isn't a swap-and-go bottle that's been sitting since last winter (regulators can stick after long inactivity)
Anything past those is for a licensed gas fitter under SA's Plumbing, Gas and Electrical Services Act 1995. That includes opening the unit, testing the igniter, checking gas pressure, or replacing any internal part.
When to call
Call us today if
- The five DIY checks didn't fix it
- You can hear the igniter clicking but no flame
- The controller shows an error code (have the brand and code ready)
- The unit briefly fires then immediately drops out
- You can smell gas around the unit (call 1800 427 532 first)
Honest pricing
How much will the repair cost?
2026 Adelaide pricing, GST included, no call-out fee:
- Diagnostic only (if no fix needed): $149
- Igniter replacement: $260–$330
- Flame sensor clean: $45–$140
- Thermocouple replacement: $150–$220
- Pilot rebuild: $220–$280
- Thermostat replacement: $260–$420
- Gas valve replacement: $400–$650
- Control board replacement: $480–$950
We always quote the total upfront before starting. If the unit is end-of-life, we'll tell you straight whether replacement is the better call.
Response time
How quickly can you come out?
Same day across Adelaide metro if you ring before 10am. Most no-ignition jobs are 60–90 minutes on site — diagnose, replace the bad part, gas pressure test, CO check, leave you with a working heater. Igniters, flame sensors, thermocouples and pilot assemblies for every common brand live in the van.
FAQ
Heater won't ignite — common questions
Common causes: empty LPG bottle, closed gas isolation valve, pilot light out, faulty igniter, dirty flame sensor, failed gas valve, or control board fault. A licensed gas fitter can diagnose in 30 minutes.
Gas isolation tap fully open, electrical isolator on, controller set above room temp in HEAT mode, and (for LPG) bottle not empty. If those check out, call us.
Igniter $110–$180. Flame sensor clean $45–$140. Pilot rebuild $220–$280. Gas valve $400–$650. Control board $480–$950. Most diagnostics + repairs under $400.
You can check the gas tap, swap thermostat batteries, swap the LPG bottle, and reset the isolator. Anything inside the unit is licensed gas fitter only under SA regulations.
Same-day Adelaide metro if you ring before 10am. Most no-ignition jobs are 60–90 minutes on site, often resolved with parts on the van.
Related help
Other gas heater problems we help with
Error code on controller
Got a code on the display? Decode it before you ring.
Heater bangs when it lights
If it does fire but with a bang — different fault, read this.
Heater won't start? Call now — same-day across Adelaide.
Igniters, sensors and pilot parts in every van. Upfront pricing. Most jobs done in a single visit.