What to Know About Fireplace Log Ignitions
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What to Know About Fireplace Log Ignitions

What to Know About Fireplace Log Ignitions

The ignition types are another important part of your fireplace log set. So, how do you determine how you want your fire to start? There are three main ignition types for fireplace logs: match light, standing, and IPI. Let's discuss those now.

Match Light: A match light fireplace log set technically doesn't have an ignition system, so calling it an ignition type might need to be clarified. These log sets are also called "no pilot" on our website and are typically lit via match, as the name implies. Due to their mechanical simplicity, these are often the lowest-cost ignition systems.

Standing: A standing pilot light can also be called a millivolt ignition system. Once lit, the pilot light of a standing ignition system is always on. This makes your fireplace very easy to ignite when you want a fire. Thanks to the standing pilot light, your fireplace can still be used mostly or completely during a power outage. If you want to know more, please check out our What Is A Standing Pilot article, written by an NFI-certified technician.

IPI Ignition: Also known as electronic ignition, this type of ignition uses electricity to open and close the gas valve, turning your fireplace off and on by igniting or extinguishing the pilot light. Many consider an IPI ignition system to be more cost-efficient thanks to its ability to save money on fuel. It should be noted, however, that this is considered a premium feature and may be more expensive or leave you with fewer choices than other ignition types.

For more detailed information about types of pilot lights, check out our Pilot Light Types article. But for now, let's talk about the next step – controlling your fireplace log set.

About the Author

Dani Bell

Dani, our Head Writer and Editor, has been in the hearth and fireplace industry for six years. She has written a number of our articles for both eFireplaceStore and eCanopy to balance technical knowledge with customer-friendly terminology and style. Currently, she is studying to earn all of her National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certifications and works with the content department to add products to the eFireplaceStore and eCanopy websites.

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