Anyone use a propane heater to heat the garage?

[Riflemanz]

Does anyone use a propane heater to heat their garage while cutting deer up or fixing stuff? I have a 60-100 BTU Reddy heater and it will not start. It worked last winter but not now. I have a full tank of propane. I ordered a new gas regulator and thermocouple to see if that works. Anyone ever fix these heaters?

[mr meat]

Try YouTube

[Hi5]

It's usually the thermocouple. If you have some teflon tape (and know how to use it!), you could disconnect the line where it leaves the regulator. Then give the valve a quick open and close, and if you get any propane escape , you know it's the thermocoupler. Just reconnect and test the connection with soapy water to be sure you have a complete seal.

Before you do any of that, try a restart but tapping vigorously on the thermocouple as you try to restart. I'll bet that's the source of your problem. Sometimes a bit of encouragement will get them working.

My most cherished recollection of thermocoupler adventures is ice fishing (or actually trying to siart) and with bare hands in -30 trying to get the heater started.

If my suggestions don't work, I could tell you some of the things I said about the inventor of the thermocoupler. It didn't start the heater, but did make me feel a bit better.

By the way....don't forget you are starting up a carbon monoxide factory. In an enclosed place like a garage, you need to have stale air being vented and fresh air coming in or you can have fatal trouble. Please be careful.

[Riflemanz]

This is a torpedo heater and there is no way for me to tap on the thermocouple as I start it.
I'll try the new regulator and then the new thermocouple.

[Hi5]

If your torpedo heater is the same as what I see when I Google it, you could try the next best thing to tapping directly on the thermocoupler. Try jarring the whole unit on the floor as you try to light it. It's probably something internal sticking in the thermo. Sometimes it doesn't take much and once it's free, it goes on working.

They are a good safety device, but very prone to being cranky. I've had them on industrial burners, camper propane ovens, heaters.

[AJ01]

I don't know about propane heaters, but with my duel fuel, it has an electronic ignitor (spark plug) that fires a spark to ignite the fuel. These do burn up.
If you open the top of the torpedo, (usually 4 to 6 screws) hit the start switch, you should be able to see if the ignitor is working (sparking). If it isn't, check your wiring. If that is okay, then you'll need to replace the ignitor.

Propane heaters tend to eat these up faster than diesel or kerosene.

AJ

[Boo]

Two problems that I've had with propane. Just once the thermal couple was acting up by going out after letting the invite button. After a few tries, it would light and stay lit and go out with a little tap. I tapped on the thermal coupler and its been fine since. More commonly I've had spiders in the gas/air tube and mud wasps plugging the same.

[OhioXBowhunter]

I’ve got two of these Mr. Heater Big Buddy 4,000-18,000 BTU Portable Liquid Propane Heaters they work great for me I use them in my garage and at the hunting cabins they work good for me and do a good job only complaint is they go through the propane if you would go with something like this I’d recommend getting the hose adapter so you can use the bigger propane tanks.

[papabear1]

I’ve got two of these Mr. Heater Big Buddy 4,000-18,000 BTU Portable Liquid Propane Heaters they work great for me I use them in my garage and at the hunting cabins they work good for me and do a good job only complaint is they go through the propane if you would go with something like this I’d recommend getting the hose adapter so you can use the bigger propane tanks.

X 2

[ldock]

My experience with the newer gas heaters is if it has been setting clean with vacuum or compressed air. it always seems the oxygen sensor if applicable needs cleaned out. Just two days ago my gas heater in the house wouldn't light. I went to the gas company and that was there suggestion.Blow it out with compressed until you think it is clean and then blow it some more.Wow it started working after all the blowing.

[Riflemanz]

I put on a new gas regulator and then tapped on the old thermocouple and it fired right up. It ran for 5 minutes and then the flame went out. I then replaced the thermocouple. I didn't have time to re-test it but hopefully that was the problem.

[Hi5]

What you describe confirms (to me, anyway) that it was your thermocoupler that was the whole problem. Keep the old regulator for a spare, and the same thing with your old thermocoupler. It seems capable of working , or you wouldn't have been able to do any restart. I'd bet that if you used one of those compressed air cans that are used to blow out computer parts, and give it an internal shot, it would work just fine.

I'll bet you've been the victim of a malfunction that could have been temporary. The main thing is that you soon will have warmth.