Starting Issues Or Reduced Heat Production
Outdoor furniture and fixtures accumulate dust, dirt and debris. When these elements stack up on a patio heaters gas or electric heating element, the heater may have starting issues or reduced heat production. If your patio heater has these issues, cleaning it could be all you need to do.
To clean the burner or heating elements, remove the emitter screen to expose the burner or element. Because these should be kept dry, use compressed air to blow off dust and dirt instead of a damp cloth. Reattach the screen.
To clean a gas burners individual ports, remove the emitter screen and take a pipe cleaner or straw brush to remove dirt and debris. Once clean, reattach the screen.
Patio Heater Care & Maintenance
These are all common problems that are to be expected in time with normal use. Most of these problems can be easily remedied, while others may require more in-depth repair work. Performing regular maintenance and care will reduce the need to repair and replace parts on your heaters. Regular upkeep will prologue the life of your heaters, and help to keep them running safely, and at maximum capacity.
Check the gas cylinder on a regular basis to make sure the unit has fuel. Running out of fuel can damage the starter mechanism if it occurs too often. If the fuel cylinder is full, but the unit still does not lite, the ignition system may need repair or replacement- either in whole or in part. Listen to the burner for a hissing gas sound. If you hear gas moving into the burner, your igniter is the source of the problem.
Heaters equipped with an electric ignition system lite the fuel with a spark. If you see a spark, but the heater does not lite, there may be a blockage stopping the fuel from reaching the spark. If this is the case, you can try to lite the unit using a butane lighter. If this does not work, and the cylinder unit contains fuel- then the fuel delivery line may be clogged or disconnected.
Patio heaters are simple, and tend to be very reliable, however, due to the nature of these heating appliances- regular care is required to obtain safe and optimal usage.
What To Expect From Patio Heater Repair In Oakland And East Bay Service:
As soon as you contact us, we will be able to give you a free, accurate estimate and schedule a convenient appointment for you. A qualified repairman will come out to your house to take a look at your patio heater. He will examine it and take it apart if necessary. Most patio heaters are made to last, but soon or later the outdoor environment might make it inoperable. The parts might be rusted or corroded. Often the inside mechanism needs to be cleaned out by professional. Our repairman will clean it and replace parts in necessary. Usually, we carry most of the parts with us, so we do not have to order.
Whatever is the problem, our patio heater repair man will be able to solve it fast. We will test the patio heater to make sure it is safe to use and is working great! Our technicians always clean up after themselves. They also share with you some of their tips on how to keep patio heaters in the best shape longer. We make the repair appointment fast and easy! And the final result is patio heater that works great!
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What Youll Need For The Test :
- Multimeter
- Wrench
- Flame source, i.e., lighter or candle
The open-circuit test is quite a straightforward process, but it is best to look for a professional if you lack experience.
- Make sure to turn off your gas flow before conducting the test since youll have to remove the thermocouple.
- To remove the patio heater thermocouple, unscrew the connection nuts, and copper leads, followed by the bracket nuts.
- Set your meter to ohms. Touch the two leads of the meter. Your reading should be zero. If so, turn your meter back to volts.
- Turn the flame source on to conduct the actual test.
- Heat the thermocouple to a considerable level by placing it in the flame.
- Attach the leads of your multimeter to your thermocouple. Place one lead on one of its sides. Attach the next lead to the end at the flame position.
- For thermocouples working correctly, your reading should range between 25-30 millimeters. If youre reading it below 25 millimeters, you should purchase a new model.
Lack Of Heat Generation
A patio heater has multiple components and all of those are required to perform well for heat generation. If you have found your heater is having issues with lack of heat generation, you should start by checking the gas supply and burner. There could be a problem with the burner and you may need to replace it. If you see a spark after it turns off it could be a gas supply problem. With all of these issues it is best to call a professional. Upon trying to fix it on your own, you could make the problem worse.
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Common Patio Heater Problems And Easy Solutions
Here are a few of the most common issues with a patio heater that can easily be addressed and fixed on your own. These issues can certainly cause some headache, but shouldnt be the end of the line for your patio heater. As long as maintenance is taken care of and your patio heater is properly cared for, then you should be good to go for years on end.
One quick note: these are not the only problems that are possible with your patio heater. There are countless other issues, but the ones listed here are the most common and easiest to fix on your own. Other problems might require the help of a professional following extensive safety precautions. If the issues affecting your patio heater do not match the signs described below, seek further consultation from a pro before moving forward with repairs.
Signs That Your Patio Heater Is Malfunctioning
There are a few signs to look for when doing a regular check of your patio heater that could indicate something is wrong. If a problem goes undiagnosed, your patio heater could end up wasting gas without producing nearly as much heat.
If the issues continue long enough, then your patio heater might even fail to ignite and youll find yourself with a metal shell that no longer works.
Lets start with the obvious issues that a patio heater encounters. If your patio heater wont start, chances are there is something wrong. This is either due to undiagnosed problems that have been occurring for a while, or one of the issues listed below is causing the ignition process to fail. Another sign that something might be wrong is the length of time that it operates once started.
Some patio heaters, as issues build up and compound, arent able to stay lit for more than a few minutes without going out.
The ignition process is one of the best ways to tell whats wrong with the patio heater. If you can ignite the flame with an outside source like a lighter or match, but the heater wont light on its own, then chances are your igniter is out.
Conversely, if you can light your heater with ease and it stays on as long as there is gas in the tank, but the flame is much smaller than usual or you notice that less heat is being produced, then your patio heater might have a leak somewhere in the system.
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The Propane Igniter Wont Fire Up The Heater
Many gas patio heaters are equipped with a spark igniter , a small electrode that ignites the pilot light to get things started. Over time, spark igniters fail. If you can successfully start the heater with a match or lighter, the igniter is probably the problem.
To test the spark igniter, use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the screen around the main burner . This will expose the ignition assembly, which consists of the spark igniter, pilot tube and thermocouple. Hold down the ignition switch to visually inspect for a spark. If no spark is detected, you may need to replace the igniter.
To replace the spark igniter, note that it is usually secured to the ignition assembly by a single retainer nut that can be removed with a wrench. On the other end, its usually linked to the ignition switch wiring with a push-in connector that can be easily pulled out by hand. Once you remove the old spark igniter, simply reverse the process to install the new one. You can purchase a universal igniter compatible with all patio heaters, or one designed for your heaters specific brand.
Gas Heater Doesnt Stay Lit Or Heat Production Is Reduced
A gas patio heater requires proper gas pressure to function properly. Without it, the pilot tube and burner may not receive enough gas to keep the heater lit, or the burners flame and heat production will be reduced. Low gas pressure is usually caused by broken, kinked or otherwise damaged gas lines.
To fix damaged gas lines, first visually inspect all the heaters gas lines, inside and out, that connect to the primary gas source. Kinked lines are easy to spot, but cracked or broken lines that produce leaks may be more difficult. You can use a leak detection spray to make leaks more visible.
Any damaged lines should be replaced. To do this, use a wrench to loosen and remove both ends of the gas line connections. Then connect both ends of the new gas line to the heater and tighten them with the wrench.
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The Burner Goes Out After A Few Minutes
The thermocouple of a gas patio heater is a safety component designed to prevent gas leaks when the pilot goes out. Its a copper rod that sits next to the pilot tube on the other side of the spark igniter it allows gas to flow through the pilot tube when it detects heat from the pilot light.
If the thermocouple is too far away from the pilot tube, it cant detect the heat and will restrict the gas supply. Free-standing portable units are most prone to this malfunction because the thermocouple may be bumped or wiggle out of place while the heater is being moved.
To fix a thermocouple thats too far from the pilot light, remove the emitter screen to expose the ignition housing. After locating the thermocouple, use pliers to gently squeeze the thermocouple and pilot tube closer together. Reattach the screen.
Patio Heater Problems & Fixes
Theres nothing like sitting on your patio or deck on a warm summer evening with family or friends. Its nice, relaxing, and almost the perfect temperature to go without having to bundle up! Almostas the seasons change, we cant help but want to be outside! The cool temperatures, in the shoulder weeks before and after summer, shouldnt ruin an evening outside and certainly wont as long as you have a durable patio heater.
One issue that many homeowners encounter with their patio heater is proper care. The first step to taking care of your patio heater problems is to diagnose the problem itself. Many issues can plague your patio heater and, without the proper care, could mark the end of it.
Luckily, most of the issues youre dealing with come with a simple fix, once spotted, that can be done without the help of a professional. As long as youve correctly diagnosed the issue, you should be able to start working on a fix right away.
Troubleshooting can be a bit difficult if you arent sure what to look for. For many patio heater owners, the problem could be difficult to diagnose you simply know that something is wrong. It might not even be clear that anything is wrong in some cases, but your patio heater may actually be in need of repairs .
Before we get into the most common patio heater problems and how to fix them, itll be helpful to know how to spot an issue in the first place.
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Now About Carbon & Corrosion
As Patio Heaters age, the Propane can begin to form a layer of Carbon around and or in the orifice. A simple solution is to use a toothpick to make sure you bore out the orifice to its unclogged state, and also use light sandpaper to sand off the outer coat of Carbon. This can clear things up considerably.
****Keep in mind were assuming youve checked to ensure your Propane Tank is on, and that it has gas.
Sometimes there is air in the gas line which is blocking propane from getting to the heater head unit. The solution for this is to purge the gas line. Open the gas line by turning the knob on the propane tank to fully open. Then depress the control knob for two to three minutes. Make sure all gas has cleared before attempted to ignite the patio heater.
Using Your Patio Heater Safely
Once youve diagnosed and fixed whatever problem was causing issues with your patio heater, its important to keep safe use in mind. The more care you give your patio heater, the longer it will last and the better experience youll have with it. There are certainly a few things that patio heater owners can do that could compromise either the heater itself or the space around it.
One such problem that many patio heater owners encounter is the weather.
It can be enticing to have your patio heater up day in and day out, providing that sense of warmth that allows the party or dining to continue even as the night rolls around.
However, if the rain starts to come around, it might be time to end the party and that includes turning off the patio heater. Always cover and protect your patio heater from rain or harsh weather. It can become easily compromised and you might have to fix it yet again. If the heater was freshly used and is still hot when rain starts, bring it under an overhang. If its been a while since you last used it, place a cover over it.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Bad Thermocouples
There are a few signs you can note in defective thermocouples.
- Tube contamination signs- these may include things like cracks, discoloration, or pinholes.
- Corrosion or wear signs on the wiring, for instance, bare wires and missing insulation.
- Physical damage to the connectors. Faulty ones may interfere with the outcome of the test readings.
The Pilot Wont Light Or Stay Lit
If the spark igniter produces a spark but the pilot wont light or stay lit, a clog in the gas supply line to the pilot could be to blame. The pilot feed tube located on the ignition assembly and attached to a small brass fitting connects the pilot tubes supply line to the heaters main gas line. Often, one or both of these components becomes clogged with insects, carbon deposits or accumulated dust and debris.
To unclog the line, start by removing the emitter screen with a screwdriver to expose the ignition assembly. Grab a small wrench and loosen the orifice from the gas line. Use a toothpick, needle or compressed air to remove the blockage from the pilot tube and orifice, then reconnect the orifice to the gas line. Finally, reattach the screen.
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Check The Gas Regulator
Your Patio heater has two basic parts for the transmission of gas, the gas tank, and the gas pipe. For proper connection of these two, there is a gas regulator that ensures the flow and pressure of the gas.
If for some reason the regulator gets turned off, then the Patio heater will stop working. Sometimes, heavy shakes can turn off the gas regulator. Some Patio heaters even come with automated gas regulators where the regulator gets turned off when theres a leak or if the pressure inside changes.
Try to find a flip switch which is somewhere on the gas regulator. The gas regulator is at the top of the cylinder. If you see the switch is on the off sign, just take it back to on and your problem might get fixed.
Patio Heater Won’t Stay Lit
common issue that patio heater
Thus, the thermocouple will turn off the patio heater as it tricks the gas value in to thinking that the pilot light is out. Other potential causes are not having enough gas pressure or the pilot light/orifices are more restricted due to corrosion.
Another simple cause is that a breeze is blowing just right and is blowing out the pilot light.
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Check The Gas Of Your Patio Heater
The patio heater runs on gas. And just like other things that run using gas, the patio heater will also stop working if the level of gas decreases or the gas tank gets empty. It is a very common reason for the heater to stop working. So, the first thing you should do is check the amount of gas inside the cylinder.
The gas level indicator is usually in the base of the patio heater. In some models, the indicator is in other parts of the heater.
There are some of the patio heaters that do not come with any gas indicator. In that case, try to lift the gas cylinder with your bare hands and see if it is unusually light.
If you feel the cylinder is lighter than it should be, then you have run out of gas and all you need to do is refill the gas cylinder.
Even if the cylinder has some gas, the Patio heater may stop working. For the basic operation of the burner, some of the gas gets utilized before producing heat. In these cases, people think that their patio is broken when all they need to do is just refill it.