How to Troubleshoot a Patio Heater
Propane-driven patio heaters are great solutions for extending your summer and controlling the temperature in your yard. They need maintenance periodically, but it's simple stuff. Most problems derive from insects getting into the gas orifices. You can maintain the orifices with pipe cleaners to help keep the patio heater running throughout the seasons. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Open the gas line and bleed it if the pilot won't light. Bleed the line by pressing in the control knob until you smell gas. Check for an empty gas tank if the pilot won't light; lift the tank and compare its weight to a full tank. Low gas pressure (a low flame) when the cylinder valve is completely open is another indicator that the tank needs filling.
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Turn the cylinder valve off and refill the tank if the emitter glows unevenly. Note that the bottom inch of the emitter normally doesn't glow.
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Clean the burner holes with a heavy duty pipe cleaner for any burning problems. Wait for the patio heater to cool first. You can try using compressed air---the kind you get in computer stores---to clean out the smaller particles in the burner holes. Don't clean the holes while the patio heater is lit.
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Clean the dome and emitter with warm soapy water if you see carbon deposits. Don't get the pilot assembly wet and under no circumstances immerse the control valve assembly in water.
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Verify the control knob is on if the burner won't light. Hold the control knob in at the "Light" or "Pilot" position while pressing the igniter and keep it held in until the burner lights. Then move the control know to the Low or High position.
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References
- Photo Credit patio heater. image by guiney from Fotolia.com
