This is common to all vent-free gas log sets, not just Rasmussen Chillbuster or Alterna VF sets. Before purchasing a replacement ODS, please read this article thoroughly - it may save you money and time.

Testimonials: "Just thought you’d be interested in knowing that when I had trouble keeping the pilot light lit on my ChillBuster, I went straight to your website and found the solution. I was back in business within 15 minutes. Thanks for keeping us customers informed." - KW

"Thank you for the troubleshooting tip on Nuisance Shutdown ODS Pilot. I scheduled a repairman in at $99.00 an hour but before he came I read your website tip and performed the cleaning myself. Worked fine and I canceled the service call. Thanks again." - MP

 "Thanks to your most helpful website, I have my wonderful Chillbuster back in operation again, and without a service call. The pilot went out, looked like low gas, got a shipment, pilot wouldn't light, went to website, cleaned out everything, and SHAZAM! Pretty fireplace again. The gas company offered to come out and "service the unit" (now I know what THAT means) for only $75 flat fee. HA! Thank you, RIW." - AD, North Carolina

Symptoms: 

1. Unable or difficult to establish the pilot light; or
2. Burner(s) and/or pilot shuts down after a few minutes of operation.

Probable Cause: The ODS Pilot has two small holes that draw in air to mix with the gas to create a stable pilot flame. Unfortunately, over time lint and dust in the air accumulate inside these holes, which disrupts the proper operation of the pilot flame.

Action to Take: 

1. Gather tools needed:
   1. Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
   2. A can of compressed air with a tube (the type that is used to clean computer keyboards) or a drinking straw.
2. Vacuum up all lint, dust & debris from logs, grate, burner(s), burner air intake and air shutter regions (underneath burner, where air gets drawn in), and pilot area. View photo of burners.
3. Using the compressed air or a straw, blow out:
   1. Burner ports (where the main flame comes from);
   2. Burner air intake and air shutter regions (end of burner(s) where gas and air mix);
   3. Around the valve knob (the one you depress to light the pilot); and
   4. MOST IMPORTANTLY, the air intake holes of the ODS Pilot Assembly. These small air intake holes are between 1/16" and 1/8" in diameter and are located about 2” from the end of the pilot from where the pilot flame originates. Use the compressed air or straw to blow out these holes. Repeat a couple of times.

Please note: on units made before 1998, the top hole is covered by a thin metal strip.  Slightly lift the metal strip and point tube or straw directly into the hole and blow out several times.  Be careful not to permanently bend this strip when accessing the hole).

We recommend that you perform this type of maintenance annually before the start of the heating season, more often if the symptoms reoccur.

In most cases, replacement of parts is not needed.  However, replacement ODS Pilots for Chillbuster sets may be purchased online. Please specify the serial number of your gas log set, as adapter parts may need to be included for older gas log sets.  These ODS Pilots may not work with other manufacturer's products due to differences in thread types.

Direct links to our webstore to purchase a replacement ODS:

ODS-RCN-N (also the replacement for old ODS-ROP-N)

ODS-RCN-P (also the replacement for old ODS-ROP-P)

ODS-CN-P (also the replacement for old ODS-OP-P)

ODS-CN-N(also the replacement for old ODS-OP-N)