Q&A Outdoor Propane Heaters and Portable Propane Heaters Lamps

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This article is about some common fixes and functions of the patio propane heater or outdoor propane heaters for homes. Questions from my friends about outdoor propane heaters are usually about regulators. Regulators function independent of the burner so that the gas flows through the tubes to the main shaft. Many people have problems with their compression fitting regulators leaking. When there is leakage, propane won't feed to the burner properly and won't give the heat that you need and/or the heater won't start. You have to make sure that the regulator is tightened with two wrenches and it is tight. And, you also need to regularly check for leaks. A little soap and water spray solution if sprayed on the regulator will expose a leak coming out by bubbling in reaction to the escaping propane. That's one of the most common problems my friends have with their outdoor propane heaters for homes in Michigan.

Another common problem with patio propane heaters for homes would be the starting unit at the top near the burner.The most important thing about propane heating is making sure that you have a burning pilot light. To keep a pilot light burning in your propane heaters and direction the heat to your seats underneath, I suggest you place a rectangular patio umbrella over-top of the heating lamp. If you don't have a pilot light you're heater will not start. Pilot lights serve a couple different functions. First they heat up the control panel which heats up the main control valve which starts your heater. So, without the pilot light working your heater will not start. Other portable propane heaters you will need to turn it to your pilot position.

If you're heater is still not lighting, then you have a lot of air in the lines that run from your regulator all the way up through your bladder and out your hose or fitting tube. You will need to get that air out of the lines because air does not burn. So, first of all we want to make sure that the gas is turned on, go to your control on by turning it to the pilot position and hold it in. Now, if you look up there in the heater you'll see a spark. You want to make sure that you have a spark first of all because the spark will ignite your pilot light. Sometimes you might have to hit this many many times before you are able to light your pilot light. The main thing is to get your pilot light lit. Once you see your pilot light lit, you want to heat up your thermal cup. So once your pilot light is lit hold it in for another 10 seconds to heat this up. After this release the knob and your heater should turn on. If by chance it turns on and it shuts right off you could possibly have another problem. It could go back to their regulator being lose and not tightened properly and/or it could be if you were heaters older than 10 years. Generally, new propane heaters are trouble-free, but from time to time you're going to have a certain item defect. However, if you don't get a pilot light and your pilot light goes out I would venture to say that your regulator is not tight.

Sometimes on a new regulator we get the air out of the diaphragm. Simply take your regulator off the propane tank and just it on your propane tank a couple of times. A lot of times that solves the problem by letting the diaphragm release that air pocket and you're good to go. Also, after we checked the diaphragm we make sure the regulator is tight and replace it back on the propane tank. Then, you go back to the heater and restart the pilot light again. Turning the knob to pilot, making sure the gas is on, pushing the pilot and holding the button to light the spark that turns on the pilot. Now, if you're pilot light still doesn't turn on than it could be that something is stuck like bugs that can get inside the pilot tube itself. Any obstruction in the pilot light tube or the orifice of the pilot light tube will keep your pilot light from working. So check back for any blockage. See if it is working you often have to place it in a glass of water because the orifice is so small and the gas pumps so slightly.