diff --git a/homeassistant/components/intellifire/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/intellifire/__init__.py
index 8a32515212034..77171044e9b9a 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/intellifire/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/intellifire/__init__.py
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ async def async_setup_entry(hass: HomeAssistant, entry: IntellifireConfigEntry)
     try:
         fireplace: UnifiedFireplace = (
             await UnifiedFireplace.build_fireplace_from_common(
-                _construct_common_data(entry)
+                _construct_common_data(entry),
+                polling_enabled=False,
             )
         )
         LOGGER.debug("Waiting for Fireplace to Initialize")
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/intellifire/coordinator.py b/homeassistant/components/intellifire/coordinator.py
index dc9aa45d58bcd..c2eb374c3a14c 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/intellifire/coordinator.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/intellifire/coordinator.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 from datetime import timedelta
 
+import aiohttp
 from intellifire4py import UnifiedFireplace
 from intellifire4py.control import IntelliFireController
 from intellifire4py.model import IntelliFirePollData
@@ -11,8 +12,9 @@
 
 from homeassistant.config_entries import ConfigEntry
 from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant
+from homeassistant.exceptions import ConfigEntryAuthFailed
 from homeassistant.helpers.device_registry import DeviceInfo
-from homeassistant.helpers.update_coordinator import DataUpdateCoordinator
+from homeassistant.helpers.update_coordinator import DataUpdateCoordinator, UpdateFailed
 
 from .const import DOMAIN, LOGGER
 
@@ -52,6 +54,14 @@ def control_api(self) -> IntelliFireController:
         return self.fireplace.control_api
 
     async def _async_update_data(self) -> IntelliFirePollData:
+        try:
+            await self.fireplace.perform_poll()
+        except aiohttp.ClientResponseError as err:
+            if err.status == 403:
+                raise ConfigEntryAuthFailed("Authentication failed") from err
+            raise UpdateFailed(f"Error communicating with fireplace: {err}") from err
+        except (aiohttp.ClientError, TimeoutError) as err:
+            raise UpdateFailed(f"Error communicating with fireplace: {err}") from err
         return self.fireplace.data
 
     @property
diff --git a/tests/components/intellifire/conftest.py b/tests/components/intellifire/conftest.py
index a82deba64ee92..008e1db9fc3b4 100644
--- a/tests/components/intellifire/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/components/intellifire/conftest.py
@@ -257,6 +257,8 @@ def mock_fp(mock_common_data_local) -> Generator[AsyncMock]:
         mock_instance.set_read_mode = AsyncMock()
         mock_instance.set_control_mode = AsyncMock()
 
+        mock_instance.perform_poll = AsyncMock()
+
         mock_instance.async_validate_connectivity = AsyncMock(
             return_value=(True, False)
         )
diff --git a/tests/components/intellifire/test_init.py b/tests/components/intellifire/test_init.py
index 307a9df812c50..ac689a164b5ba 100644
--- a/tests/components/intellifire/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/components/intellifire/test_init.py
@@ -342,3 +342,32 @@ async def test_update_options_no_change(
     mock_fp.set_control_mode.assert_not_called()
     # But async_request_refresh should still be called
     coordinator.async_request_refresh.assert_called_once()
+
+
+async def test_coordinator_performs_poll(
+    hass: HomeAssistant,
+    mock_config_entry_current: MockConfigEntry,
+    mock_apis_single_fp,
+) -> None:
+    """Test that the library only polls when instructed by the coordinator.
+
+    The library auto-polls by default; ensure the coordinator disables that
+    and drives polling explicitly via perform_poll().
+    """
+    _mock_local, _mock_cloud, mock_fp = mock_apis_single_fp
+
+    with patch(
+        "homeassistant.components.intellifire.UnifiedFireplace.build_fireplace_from_common",
+        new_callable=AsyncMock,
+        return_value=mock_fp,
+    ) as mock_build:
+        mock_config_entry_current.add_to_hass(hass)
+        await hass.config_entries.async_setup(mock_config_entry_current.entry_id)
+        await hass.async_block_till_done()
+
+        # Verify the fireplace was constructed with library background polling disabled
+        mock_build.assert_awaited_once()
+        assert mock_build.call_args.kwargs.get("polling_enabled") is False
+
+        # Verify the coordinator drove exactly one poll during initial refresh
+        mock_fp.perform_poll.assert_awaited_once()