Anyone know what causes them to quit working? It works with the igniter held in, but when I let it go, it quits.

Does the thermocouple go bad or is it the fuel nozzle ?

It's a Reddy Heat 30,000 BTU Torpedo.

Thanks.

 

ive seen plenty of bad thermocouples on natural gas furnaces an water heaters. probably the cheapest part to go after. ive known of people that were told it was a control valve and got a 2nd opinion and it was the thermocouple

 

just thought about it, google or get on a online troubleshooting site

 

it has a spark type ignition right??

 

Yea, I'm pretty sure it has to be, although I've never seen the actual spark, it makes that sound when you hit the button. Two red buttons, one gets pushed in and held in for 20 seconds after ignition (it always ignites), the other you push 1-7 times until ignition. Like I said, it ignites, but after I let go of the the other button (after 20 seconds or so) it goes out. I've held it in for about a minute and it still won't take.

I'm using 20 lb propane tanks, I went thru two of them just fine. Had them refilled and got thru half of one and the problems began. I just by-passed the thermocouple this morning and it stayed running for awhile, but now it's doing the same thing all over again.

I'm thinking I have to dismantle the damn thing and clean everything or just purchase another type propane heater. Don't really have the time to put into fixing this one, unless I know it can be fixed. If that makes sense lol.

I did google it, that's the first thing I did and didn't find much. I'll attempt it again, -re phrase my search and see what I get.

Thanks!

 

Look for air vents holes in the jets, if it has them they are probably just plugged with soot. The holes are probably about the diameter of a toothpick.

 

Your probably right and their most likely up by the nozzle, -which I haven't pulled apart yet. It sucks, I didn't want to work on the thing, I just wanted it to work, - it's 7 degrees out there lol.

Oh well...

My compressor doesn't like the cold either, takes awhile for her to warm up lol. I T'ed forced air from the house this past fall, but never finished getting it to the garage, -kicking myself now, - trying to get by without it.

 

When it gets below 30 I don't get much done. I would bring the heater inside to fix it

 

I suppose I could bring it down in the basement. Thing is, when I do that, I'm find myself running upstairs and out to the garage for tools I need that I forget to bring in the first time

I'll do something, I'm going to quit this whinning, I'll tell you that right now

 

could have some type of flame sensor. its like a thermocouple that tells the main gas to open up.. i work on furnaces at work now and then and thats sounds like a symptom.

 

Good exercise.

 

Could be right as well. That is what doesn't seem to opening anymore. As soon as I let off the hold down button, it goes out that quick. No sputter, just goes out like there's nothing their.

 

yea..thermocouples are for standing pilot type setups like older furnaces, stoves etc.. flame sensor looks like a fininsh nail like 3" long. look for anything like that. those reddy heaters are pretty tough. i have a 10,000 btu one i ran over it with my truck a few years ago and thing still works.. had to bang out a few dents but lol. mines one of the plug in kerosene ones.

 

Thanks for the description, that will help. Well, I'll give it all a try and see what happens. I'll post back after she's running.. Or not lol.

If nothing else, I'll use the runner down with the truck method.

 

lol.. get some pics up if u can..