Diagnosing and repairing a gas patio heater problem

If your gas fired patio heater stops working, or appears to be working in an incorrect way, there are some actions that you can take. If the solution is a simple one, then you may be able to undertake the repair yourself. However, if you are unsure, it is advisable to employ the assistance of an engineer.

Firstly, check all the settings to make sure that the problem is not one of your own making.

Most problems will revolve around a failure of the gas to reach the ignition point, or a failure of the ignition of the gas to take place. This means that you will normally be looking for a blockage, a leak or a malfunction of one of the garden heater's components.

Perform any checks or tests in an outdoor environment and be conscious of the smell of gas.

Diagnosing the problem

These diagnostic actions take the form of examining the unit and "attempting" to generally diagnose the problem. If you can discover the problem, then it is possible that you may be able to make the repair yourself. But equally it will save time and cost if you need a technician or engineer's help and you can direct them to the fault.

Start with basics and eliminate the obvious. After any corrective action, re-check the heater to see if the problem has been rectified. After each check or corrective action ensure that you allow time for the gas to reach the chamber before attempting to ignite it. Impatience can sometimes give the impression of a fault when one does not exist or has already been cured.

Gas garden heater Checks

• Ensure that you have sufficient gas in the bottle or cylinder and that the feed valves are open (turned on at the regulator).
• Are all connections secure.
• Check the LPG hose, it may be blocked, cut or damaged in some way. This is particularly likely after a prolonged period of storage.
• Check for leaks. These could be at connection points or in the hose itself. (There is a procedure for doing this using very soapy water).
• Carbon build-up and the accumulation of dirt can often be an ignition issue. Could the piezo igniter or the thermocouple be suffering from carbon build up, or does any other dirt or material need cleaning from them. Inspect them and clean if necessary.
• Could the pilot be inhibited by dirt etc. Check it and clean it.
• Check the piezo igniter for a spark. It is possible that you may be getting a gas supply, but with no spark to ignite it. If this is the case you should also be able to detect the small of gas.

Two other possible "failure to function" problems can be the following.

• Most gas garden heaters have a "tilt switch" as a safety feature. If this switch is not working it will prevent gas from reaching the burner. There are different versions of this tilt switch, but they are usually replaceable.
• If the weather is cold and you are using butane this may also be an issue. Propane is a superior gas for most patio heaters in cool conditions.

What next

If you determine (by excluding the above) that there is an operational problem that you cannot identify, the next step is to seek help. Take your garden heater to the supplier or retailer, or employ an engineer to make the repair. Some very cheap heaters may prove more economic to replace than to repair, so get a quote or estimate before you give an instruction to repair the unit.