Do it yourself

I opened the outside vent and no blockage. The gas company, although they said they wouldn't handle it, said it wouldn't be air in the line. I figured if it was dangerous to even turn it on the gas company would have told me. So after I had turned the whole thing off once including the pilot and let it rest, and then got the pilot light and the gas going again...what it took was just having the guts to leave it turned on when the flame died out. Instinct told me to run and shut off the switch. Eventually though I found that the flame would start again if I just waited. After doing that over and over it is now starting and staying on pretty well. I think it had a lot of buildup or something from burning the pilot light constantly but just being used a couple time a year. At least now I know a lot more about it and I know how to turn the pilot light off during the warm half of the year. Thanks for the suggestions, Sunny