Hi Billy and great question!

I assume your gas long are unvented since they are giving you useable heat. If they are in-fact vented logs, disregard the O.D.S. statement below and move to the next paragraph…

All unvented gas products such as logs, stoves, inserts & fireplaces are required by law to have a safety shutdown device called and Oxygen Depletion Sensor, or ODS. This device is very sensitive and is easily manipulated by pet hair, lint or dust that gets sucked into the device. A little dust can fool the ODS into believing that the oxygen level in the room has reached an unsafe low and shut down the logs. This can also cause the pilot flame to be too cool to generate enough electricity through the thermocouple and cause a shutdown as the valve is fooled to believe the pilot ligh has gone out.

Either of these scenarios can be remedied with cleaning. Here is the procedure;

Get your vac out with the small hose and brush attachment. Look at your log setup very well and try and remember where they all go. Now, remove the smaller top logs one at a time and vac them off and lay them asside in a position relative to their reassembly. repeat until all logs are cleaned and removed. Go ahead and vac your burner system and the firebox itself. Next locate your pilot assembly. The ODS will be integrated into that part. Use NON-FLAMABLE computer duster in a can to blow out the pilot and ODS devices. Reverse blow through the pilot hood. Brush off any carbon deposists you may see on the thermocouple or pilot hood.

IF a dirty ODS is not the problem or the unit is vented and has no ODS, this is a sign of a weak thermocouple. Most ODS devices have integrated thermoucouples now and are non-repairable. A new assembly will need to be installed. Don't hate that though as this is the core safety unit for the logs. You want it to be right.

If the thermocouple is not integrated to the ODS (welded to the side of the pilot hood) it can be replaced. Simply remove the thermocouple and replace with a new one.

Always try cleaning first. at least 8 out of 10 service calls I go on with vent-free logs is just dust or hair causing the problem.