Masonry repair
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Gelco Gas Fireplace Repair in San Antonio: What to Know First
We repair Gelco gas fireplaces across San Antonio, and most jobs are done in a single visit. You’ll get a written price before any work starts, and every repair carries a 365-Day Done Right Promise. No vague estimates, no surprise line items when the tech is already in your living room.
This page is for homeowners whose Gelco unit has started acting up. Maybe the pilot won’t stay lit, the flame looks weak and orange instead of blue, or the wall switch stopped doing anything. We’ll walk through how Gelco fireplaces fail, what repairs actually cost in San Antonio, and why a burned-out thermopile doesn’t mean you need a new fireplace. Call (254) 276-4116 and a live person answers, 24/7.
How Gelco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Gelco made a lot of gas log sets and vented fireplaces that ended up in San Antonio homes built in the 1990s and early 2000s. We see the same handful of failure patterns on Gelco units year after year. Here’s what we find and what we do about it:
- Pilot won’t stay lit on Gelco vented log sets. The thermopile, which is the sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot flame is actually burning, weakens over time. It reads low voltage, the valve thinks the pilot went out, and it shuts the gas off. A homeowner will relight it, it holds for ten seconds, then drops again. We replace the thermopile with an OEM-spec part, not whatever generic sensor happens to be in the truck.
- Flame looks lazy and yellow on Gelco Vented Gas Log Sets. San Antonio’s air is humid, and gas log burners collect dust, pet hair, and sometimes the fine soot from candles. The burner ports get partially blocked, and the gas doesn’t mix with air the way it should. We pull the logs, clean the burner assembly, and check for spider webs inside the venturi tube. Spiders love propane and natural gas lines in Texas. That’s a real thing, not a joke.
- Wall switch or remote stopped controlling a Gelco gas fireplace. On Gelco millivolt systems, the wall switch circuit is low voltage and runs through wire connections that corrode, especially in San Antonio homes where humidity sits high for months. The fireplace itself is usually fine. We test the circuit, replace the switch or remote receiver if needed, and verify the valve responds before we call the job done.
- Unburned gas smell on Gelco vent-free models. Gelco made vent-free gas logs, and these are sensitive to combustion air quality. If the burners are dirty or the gas pressure is off even slightly, you get incomplete combustion and an odor. We clean the burner, check the oxygen depletion sensor, and test the gas pressure at the valve. A vent-free unit should burn clean and odorless when everything is set right.
- Popping or clicking noises from the firebox on Gelco units. That’s the metal firebox and log grate expanding and contracting as they heat and cool. On older Gelco fireplaces, loose log positioning can make it worse because a log sits too close to a burner tube and creates a hot spot. We reposition the logs per Gelco spec and tighten the grate hardware. Sometimes the fix takes fifteen minutes.
One thing we won’t do on a Gelco job is talk you into a replacement when a repair gets the unit back to safe working order. If the gas valve is shot or the firebox has cracked panels, we’ll tell you plainly. If a thermopile and a cleaning gets you another five years, we’ll tell you that too.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Gelco Gas Fireplace Repair Process
Here’s what happens when you book a Gelco repair with Hadley Chimney San Antonio:
- 1
You call (254) 276-4116. A live person answers and asks a few questions about your Gelco unit: what model it is, what it’s doing or not doing, how long it’s been acting up. That helps us bring the right parts.
- 2
We send a background-checked tech in a tracked arrival window. You’ll get live arrival updates, so you know exactly when we’re pulling up, not a four-hour guess.
- 3
The tech runs diagnostics on your Gelco fireplace. Millivolt readings at the thermopile, gas pressure at the valve, continuity on the switch circuit, burner condition. We show you what we find. You’ll see the photos before we quote a dollar.
- 4
You get a written price before any work starts. That price includes parts, labor, and our 365-day written guarantee. If the repair fails within a year, the second visit is free. That’s standard, not an upsell.
- 5
We complete the repair with OEM-spec or quality aftermarket parts. For Gelco units, we use parts that match the original specs. Where aftermarket makes sense, we say so and explain why. Either way, you know exactly what’s going into your fireplace.
- 6
We test the unit fully and send you photo documentation. Before we leave, we fire the fireplace, verify flame quality, check the venting, and confirm the system cycles correctly. Digital invoice goes to your phone. You can pay from a link.
What Gelco Gas Fireplace Repair Costs in San Antonio
Most Gelco gas fireplace repairs in San Antonio fall between $180 and $420. A thermopile replacement on a Gelco vented log set typically runs $180 to $280. A full burner cleaning with log repositioning is usually $150 to $250. Replacing a remote receiver or wall switch runs $150 to $300 depending on what’s compatible with your system.
If the gas valve has failed or the firebox is damaged, the cost climbs. What moves the price is parts. OEM gas valves cost more than common thermopiles, and some older Gelco parts take longer to source. You’ll hear the number before we order anything, and our estimate is always free. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll tell you what your Gelco repair will cost.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterWhy San Antonio Homeowners Call Hadley Chimney San Antonio for Gelco Work
Cory Mitchell has spent the better part of two decades cleaning, inspecting, and repairing gas fireplaces across the Southwest, from Los Angeles Trade-Technical College foundations to years of San Antonio service calls. He built this company on a simple idea: you should see the problem, understand the fix, then decide. That’s how it should work.
Every Gelco repair we do in San Antonio carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the fix fails within a year, we return free. Every job gets a written price before work begins, live arrival tracking, before-and-after photos, and a digital invoice. We also work with DuraFlex liners and HeatShield ceramic repair compound when a Gelco fireplace job reveals issues in the chimney itself, so you don’t need a second company for the follow-up work.
We’re an independent Gelco service provider, which means we’re not tied to manufacturer pricing or warranty scripts. We call things as they are. And we answer the phone. Always.
FAQs
No, using an independent service provider for repairs does not automatically void a manufacturer warranty. We’re an independent Gelco service provider, and we use OEM-spec parts when a Gelco unit is still under warranty. If the fireplace is older and out of warranty, we’ll recommend the best quality parts available and tell you the difference before ordering. Call (254) 276-4116 and we can check your model’s specific situation.
Common Gelco parts like thermopiles, thermocouples, and switches are usually on our truck or available same week from San Antonio suppliers. Less common items, like specific gas valves for older Gelco models, may take five to ten business days. We tell you the timeline before charging you anything. Call (254) 276-4116 for a free estimate and parts check.
Most Gelco repairs cost between $180 and $420, which is almost always cheaper than a full fireplace replacement that runs several thousand dollars. If the firebox is cracked or the gas valve is obsolete, replacement starts to make sense, and we’ll say that directly. We don’t sell fireplaces, so our advice doesn’t lean toward a sale. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll give you a straight answer based on your unit’s actual condition.
Most Gelco repairs are finished in a single visit because we stock the common failure parts. If your unit needs a less common component, we’ll get it ordered and schedule the return visit quickly. Either way, you’ll know the plan and the price before we leave. Call (254) 276-4116 to ask about your specific Gelco model.
We recommend a service inspection once a year, ideally before the first cold snap in late fall. San Antonio’s humidity and dust mean burner ports collect grime faster here than in drier climates, which leads to weak flames and pilot issues. An annual service catches a failing thermopile before it leaves you without heat on the coldest night of the year. Call (254) 276-4116 to book a Gelco service check.
Schedule Your Gelco Gas Fireplace Repair in San Antonio
If your Gelco fireplace is acting up, don’t wait for the problem to get worse or the first cold front to catch you off guard. Call (254) 276-4116 now. You’ll get a live person, a straight answer, and a free estimate. Every repair includes a written price before work starts, a 365-day written guarantee, and photo proof when we’re done. Serving San Antonio and all surrounding areas.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner, Hadley Chimney San Antonio at Hadley Chimney San Antonio, serving San Antonio and nearby areas.