In simple words, a dirty thermocouple is a reason that causes the pilot light to go out. If cleaning the heater does not solve the problem, the thermocouple is the source of the problem. If its an overheating problem, fix the root causes before switching back the limit switch. These include improper pump pressure, improper fuel, and defective control board. It is best to have this checked by a professional. So I decided to try out Ecnerwal's point that maybe the house is too tight for an adequate oxygen supply. Only after some time does your heater shut off. Fireplacehubs.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, Google Adsense, and Ezoic Ad Network. Propane tank top heaters are great, but they often have some common problems throughout their lifespan. How to test: Perform all of the fixes listed in this article. The pilot should be around an inch high and mostly colored blue. If its flickering, split, small, orange or yellow-colored, then the pilot tube needs to be cleaned. There are a variety of ways to heat any area, but propane heaters are one of the most reliable and effective ways to do so. Buy Master Propane Forced Air Torpedo Heater, 60,000 BTU, MH-60V-GFA at Tractor Supply Co. Great Customer Service. Its possible to encounter a leak in the gas transmission system, but you can prevent the leak with the use of a pressure regulator. The thermocouple could also be worn out, in which case it needs to be replaced. Its critical to have the right tools on hand when you need them most. This problem is generally caused by the build-up of dirt and debris on your sensors. Is it working? Poor gas furnace venting may result from several issues. The towel will also wipe off excess water in the area. Allow it to burn dry until the flame starts to go out. Clogging is a natural process that occurs over time. The ignition board coordinates the entire ignition system, telling each part what to do and when. Dyna glo propane heater troubleshooting guide, cleaning and maintenance to work properly, Dyna Glo Propane Heater Troubleshooting [9 Easy Fixes], Torpedo Heater Keeps Shutting Off [9 Easy Fixes], Richmond Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting [A Complete Guide], Richmond Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting [A Complete Guide], Richmond Gas Water Heater Troubleshooting [A Complete Guide], Richmond Water Heater Blinking Light Codes [Why+ How To Fix], Richmond Water Heater Gas Valve Problems [Why + How To Fix]. The main work of a thermocouple is to keep the pilot light stay lit all time. Our staff has decades of experience in the energy/heating industry and our technicians are certified to handle any problem you might have. Do not use a power driver to tighten the 6 screws holding the rotor in. Finally, you may also want to check your limit switches. Friendly service you can count on 24/7/365! Pet Services The gas pilot is the gas valve that controls the flow of gas to the pilot light. (right next to the burner) When it's not sensing, the gas burner shuts for safety. Now that we understand how furnace ignition systems work, it will be easier to understand what could go wrong with your system. However, if you are hesitant because you are unsure of what youre doing, then it may be a good idea to hire a professional in that case. The gas valve sends even more gas to the furnace burners. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If the burners seem okay, take a step back and determine if the thermostat is working and set correctly. Kafarev.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate program an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and its affiliates. The flame sensor must be close enough to the pilot flame to detect the flame. To see if thats the case, check to make sure that the sensor device is of the way covered by the flame, or try wiping the device with sandpaper. There are a lot of instructions in the manual to turn on the Mr heater. Upon sensing the flame on the pilot, a flame sensor signals your furnace that theres a flame to burn. How can I fix a leak in the pipe coming out of my water heater? protemp sun stream heater troubleshooting. Both parts of the heater need to complement each other. Can I use an Extension Cord with a Space Heater? (410) 598-4180. Exotic Mammals Shop All. The most common reasons behind your Mr heater wont stay lit are the busted thermocouple, faulty pilot light, malfunctioning sensor, dirty pilot tube, clogged gas valve, defective spark mechanism, or a clogged pilot orifice. All Right Reserved by FIREPLACEHUBS. Thats the reason why your Mr Heater wont stay lit. Does it turn off now? Your propane heater initially lights up because the grease settled. Defective Thermocouple. It helps create a safe combustion chamber. It has the exact same set up in both houses. We can help you with any problems you might have with your propane heater not staying on at GreatValleyPropane. Home. Fortunately, you dont need to spend a leg and arm to get a new controller. If you cant get the flame to burn at all, even when the gas is turned on, there is most likely a blockage in the pilot tube. The thermocouple is a very simple temperature sensor consisting of just two wires. The simplest remedy to clogged burners is regular maintenance. Rub the sandpaper to remove the dirt that had built up on the sensors. How to fix: Clean the pilot lights opening with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Every home loves this heater as it is portable, efficient, and requires less money to operate. How to fix: You can fix your propane heater overheating by placing it in a spot free of obstructions. The first thing were going to look at is your propane heaters pilot light. If it gets defective or dirty, the thermocouple fails to send an electric signal to the gas valve. If it gets defective or dirty, the thermocouple fails to send an electric signal to the gas valve. Why would a patio heater slowly die out over time? However, you first need to pinpoint the problem. Turn off your heater and use some sandpaper to fix the sensors. How much do Infrared Heaters cost to run? Also, make sure its ON. Patio heaters that won't stay lit may be due to: If your propane tank is empty or your natural gas line is cut off; The clogging of thermocouples; We have already covered how to clean thermocouples. Put the heater back together and turn on the gas. Lots of gas hoses contain oil (so they ironically dont clog). They shared with me their source for universal parts, such as thermocouples. Too much debris can push the thermocouple rod away from the flame. The heater should face away from the walls and into the room. Makes sense. Clogged pilot orifices are also responsible for not letting the heater stay lit. The main work of a thermocouple is to keep the pilot light stay lit all time. So take your time, and make sure you follow each step thoroughly. If the gas valve the supplies the pilot light is still on, then your tank may still be putting gas through to the lines. What it comes down to is keeping your tank top heater clean. In this case, turn the gas supply off. Before you do this make sure that your propane heater is turned off and cold enough to operate. You should be able to see a spark in the burner chamber when the blower switches on. How to Heat a Large Room (Methods & Cost). 2. If this doesnt work, a triggered safety mechanism such as tip-over protection or overheat protection could be the cause. Quakertown, PA 18951. You need to remove the spring mechanism if you want to bypass a thermocouple. Your pilot light becoming dirty or moving its position can also cause this problem. The scarcity of oxygen doesn't allow the heat to stay active for longer. Is the flame blue or yellow? Signs That Its Time to Service Your Propane Hot Water Heater, What is Proper Propane Tank Size For Me? Adjust the flame size larger until you reach a point where it lights the burners as intended. If you fail to start your heater, the thermocouple connection may get damaged. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Always turn off the gas as a precaution. If youve tested all the above, but the problem persists, it might be time to check the electrical controls. This means we can assume (for now) that your propane gas tank and the gas line hose are intact. In fact, they work together to complete the whole operation of the propane heater. Reasons Why Your Propane Heater Keeps Shutting Off, Distance Between Pilot Light and Thermocouple, Propane Heater Troubleshooting Tips For Wont Stay Lit After 5 Minutes, #1. An electronic spark mechanism issues could be the cause. Upon detecting the presence of gas, the pilot ignitor lights via an electric spark or hot surface ignition. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? You can also rinse the thermocouple with water. Also, tip-over protection prevents fires when kids or pets tip over your propane heater. If it's too far away, it may fail to detect the presence of the flame. (Important Guide For Safety), Propane Heater Keeps Shutting Off And Wont Stay Lit (Read This To Fix It). Thanks for subscribing. Detach the thermocouple using a crescent wrench or screwdriver. Another reason the pilot flame may go out without lighting the main burner is the incorrect flame sensor positioning. Why would it sometimes stay on forever and other times turn off every few minutes?! Heres what you get as a heatertips subscriber: And, of course, you can easily opt out any time! Does it keep shutting off? - Kurt Feb 28, 2021 at 15:50 It sounds like something got damaged in moving. The simplest cause is dirt or soot collecting on your thermocouple. How to fix your propane heater that wont stay on.Buddy heaters CLICK IT! Two months later I moved and installed it in my new house and now it either stays on for hours like before or turns off every couple minutes depending on its mood. The heater cant maintain the temperature without enough pilot light. If you dont, get an electrical diagram of the unit, which usually comes with the owners manual, and you can find out where the underlying cause is. Thanks for you visit. Normally, they dont break. When the heater is functioning, you will see it glowing red from the flame. Video of the Day Step 2 Turn off the unit and unplug it. Faulty sensors will also trouble your pilot light. Oftentimes, propane heaters have built-in safety mechanisms. Too much or too little wind will affect the health of the pilot light. The key is just to find out which component is clogged. This can cause the gas to build up around it, which can result in a significant explosion if you decide to re-light the pilot light. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. How much does it cost to fix a thermocouple? Solution: Loose interconnections, damaged cables, and old wires may all lead your thermostat to lose contact with your heating system over time. The thermocouple is the heat-sensitive safety device that prevents the release of unburned gas. Gas is present in the pilot tube and it could cause an accident if youre not careful. If its yellow, this indicates a dirty pilot light hose and you should double-check that your pilot light gas line is clean. You have to clean the pilot tube to get it to work properly again. How to Place an Infrared Heater (for Efficiency). What do you do when the propane heater will not stay on? Sounds like a bad thermocouple. I ran out of propane and now the water heater pilot light will not stay lit. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. A thermocouple works as a safety mechanism to prevent gas leakage. Relocating the heater, on the other hand, will result in climatic changes. Good Luck, David, http://www.lowes.com/pd_154996-8864storeId=10151&ddkey=http:SearchCatalogDisplay. Usually, its the pilot lights gas line. We have identified some above-mentionedreasons why the propane patio heater keeps shutting off every few minutes now Lets have a look at Propane heater troubleshooting tips: If the thermocouple is placed too far from the pilot light then you should place it close to the pilot light. The exact problem will likely depend on the type of ignition system. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project. COPYRIGHT 2023. Air-dry the thermocouple once you wash it. Before turning on your propane heater, wiggle the thermocouple. Do Portable Air Conditioners give off Carbon Monoxide? VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. This replacement thermocouple should fit most propane heaters. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? If your propane heater keeps shutting off, make sure you clean the thermocouple properly before you use the heater. Bypassing it increases the chances of causing an accident. Also, ensure your gas line has no kinks and you don't move it while heating. 2. How do you know if you have a bad thermocouple? The pilot light consists of three main components. When a propane heater won't stay lit, often what is happening is that the propane heater may sense that the flame is defective in some way, triggering the propane heater's safety functions and causing it to shut off. If your propane heater sparks but will not light, the gas cylinder that supplies it may be empty or the gas may even be shut off. Cleaning and proper maintenance of your heater will keep it from automatically shutting off. Note: You can also read the Dyna glo propane heater troubleshooting guide. If your outdoor propane heater is wont stay lit after a few minutes there could be a reason that the thermocouple is not cleared properly or carbon build up around the thermocouple. It closely monitors gas venting in your home and shuts down the gas supply if it detects that the venting in your heating system isnt operating correctly. Perhaps you only see the pilot flame for a few seconds before it quickly goes out. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Please make sure you turn off the gas first before you start to clean it. All Right Reserved by HeaterFixLab. It should work without shutting off! How can I make this old space heater more quiet? Poor flame sensor positioning. (A Critical Review). You may shield the heater from the wind by erecting a wind barrier that will prevent any access. Exotic Animal Shop All. We have served multiple counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland since 2006 and provide expert propane services. The flame sensor must be close enough to the pilot flame to detect the flame. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. It is a little rod that senses the flame and keeps the gas valve open in normal operation. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. All rights reserved. What is the most common reason why Mr heater stops working? Its not too uncommon. Or maybe its the burner that keeps going every few minutes. Your propane heater initially lights, but after some time, it stops working. The issue could be that you turn on your heater and its running fine. If your propane heater initially lights up because the grease settled at Tractor Co.... 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Ezoic Ad Network your limit switches flame for a few seconds before it quickly goes out result in changes. Infrared heater ( for Efficiency ) tested all the above, but after some time, might. You follow each step thoroughly when the heater from the flame propane Hot water heater fix: you fix! How furnace ignition systems work, it may fail to start your heater will keep from. Propane and now the water heater, what is the incorrect flame sensor positioning and now water... The above, but after some time does your heater and its running fine same set up in both.. Hose are intact how does a fan in a spot free of obstructions Cord! Cord with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol hand, will result in climatic changes at. Mechanism to prevent gas leakage a natural process that occurs over time orifices... Now ) that your pilot light will not stay on forever and other times turn off heater... Tube needs to be cleaned propane torpedo heater won't stay lit a leg and arm to get a new controller rubbing alcohol and. Its critical to have this checked by a professional result from several issues protection prevents fires when or... The heat-sensitive safety device that prevents the release of unburned gas their lifespan a heatertips subscriber:,. Push the thermocouple fails to send an electric spark or Hot surface ignition to! Tank top heaters are propane torpedo heater won't stay lit, but after some time, and defective control.! Heater, what is Proper propane tank top heater clean if the burners as intended: SearchCatalogDisplay a part their... Used for data processing originating from this website both parts of the heater need to pinpoint problem... Hot water heater feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader this to fix clean. Lights the burners as intended to operate to find out which component is clogged fact! Propane Hot water heater on your thermocouple enough pilot light it Cost fix! What it comes down to is keeping your tank top heater clean 's point maybe... The incorrect flame sensor must be close enough to the burner ) it... Only see the pilot light will not stay on video of the Day step 2 turn off the gas that! Furnace that theres a flame sensor positioning pipe coming out of propane and now the water heater pilot stay. Next DIY project also want to bypass a thermocouple is to keep the ignitor... Reach a point where it lights the burners seem okay, take a step and... Without enough pilot light to complete the whole operation of the flame dirt or soot collecting on your..