A good patio heater can turn a cold winter night out on the deck into a fun-filled, family gathering. But when the patio heater stops working, gathering together on the deck to grill out or socialize during the winter months loses almost all of its luster.
Most patio heaters are going to be electric or propane-powered and three are a variety of troubleshooting fixes for them, such as cleaning the pilot light, clearing dust and debris, replacing the spark igniter, cleaning out the burners, the gas supply line, and damaged or corroded wiring.
If you leave a patio heater outside and it’s constantly exposed to the elements, there’s a degree of degradation that you will have to deal with. Some patio burners are too big to bring inside and others reside under the protection of a covered patio. That doesn’t mean that they can’t get dirty or malfunction, however.
Propane Patio Burners
Propane is a good fuel for patio burners. It is efficient and lasts for a long time. Smaller propane heaters come with small propane bottles, but you can buy an adapter to use larger tanks.
If there is a problem with you getting your propane heater to work, there are generally a few troubleshooting tips that will set it right again.
- Repairing the spark igniter
- Cleaning or replacing the pilot light
- Cleaning the burners
- Unclog the gas line
Before you go about trying to fix anything, always ensure that the valve is turned off. Propane ignites instantly and there is a high chance of getting burned pretty badly if you don’t ensure that the valves are shut off.
Spark Igniter
If you can’t see a spark from the igniter, you can test it out to determine that the igniter is the primary issue. To do this, simply use a match or a lighter in place of the igniter. If you open the gas valve to “Pilot,” you should hear the gas flowing just enough to light the pilot light.
Spark igniters are usually universal, so you can buy a new one anywhere and you will be able to remove the old one (most of the time, it only takes removing a single bolt from the pilot light mechanism) and replace it with the new one.
Cleaning or Replacing the Pilot Light
To properly clean or replace the pilot light, you will have to remove it. Even if you don’t need to replace it, you need to have the thing in your hands if you want to properly clean it. Removing the pilot light contraption is usually pretty simple, regardless of which model of patio heater you own. Sometimes, you can simply remove the emitter grid, reach inside with an air compressor hose, and blow the pilot light directly without having to remove it. If you do have to take it out, there’s not much to it, and cleaning it up shouldn’t take long.
Cleaning the Burners
Cleaning the burners is best done with an air compressor as the most that can possibly happen to them is dirt, debris, leaves, and cobweb build-up. You can blow all of this out quickly and efficiently.
If you don’t have an air compressor, you will need to get in there with a hard-bristled, wire brush and work the brush inside as best you can.
Unclog the Gas Line
Not the actual line that’s running from the propane tank to the burner, as it would be very difficult to clog that up unless you unscrewed and used the ends to scoop up dirt. You need to remove the emitter screen so you can reach the pilot tube because that is what you want to clean out.
If you can get an air compressor in there to clean it out, so much the better. Otherwise, you can use a toothpick or something similar to dig into the tube. If you see the dirt coming out, you know you are getting it.
Electric Patio Heaters
Electric patio heaters are actually a little bit easier than gas heaters. The number of the things that could go wrong are smaller in number. Also, if something breaks on an electric patio heater, you usually can’t do much about it outside of tossing the entire thing and starting over fresh.
There are a few things that you can check, however, and the first and foremost item you should look at is the cord and the plug. Cords that get bent, crimped, or otherwise twisted around have a tendency to stop working, as the wires have separated within and the circuit is no longer complete.
If you notice a bad bend in the cord, then this is likely the case. If you are halfway decent at electrical work, you can strip the insulation and reconnect the wires yourself. Remember to unplug the device before you go anywhere near it with wire cutters and strippers though.
Corrosion is another problem and you will often find that the metal connectors at the end of the plug are looking rather dingy. It’s nothing that a wire brush can’t handle. Scrub the connectors vigorously until they are both as shiny as gold.
Check the entire cord from the connection point inside the heater all the way back to the plug itself. Look for anywhere that the insulation has come apart, frayed wiring, or signs of corrosion. Rodents are renowned for the supreme joy that they get from chewing their way into your cords.
For some reason, the insulation in wires is something that they consider to be good nesting material. If you notice signs of rodents attacking your patio heater, you will have to start bringing it in, call an exterminator, or both.
Final Thoughts
If your patio heater stops working, there’s no need to panic as the likely cause is something that you can fix on your own, without replacing the entire unit. This is especially true if you are dealing with a propane heater.
Run through the troubleshooting steps listed above and pay attention to the little things. Before you know it, you’ll have your patio heater up and running in no time.
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