A propane heater is a reliable and cost-effective way to keep your home or business warm. There are those times, however, when the heater just won’t stay on; an aggravating situation when it’s cold outside!

Wildhorse Propane & Appliances, serving Prunedale’s propane needs, plus all the rest of Monterey County and Santa Cruz and north San Luis Obispo counties, has some tips to help you troubleshoot your propane heater.

First, make sure you haven’t run out of propane. Even when you are on a regular delivery schedule, extra cold weather can equal more propane use to keep warm. In fact, when the weather is cold, it’s a good idea to check the tank gauge regularly to monitor the propane level and not run out.

Here are some of the most common issues when the heater just won’t stay on and you have plenty of propane:

• The heater’s sensor may be detecting a defective flame and signaling the heater’s safety function to shut off. The problem could be an issue with the sensor, or an actual defect with the flame. To determine if the problem is with the sensor, check to see if the flame covers two-thirds of the sensor and wiping the sensor with sandpaper to clean of any debris. If this doesn’t fix the problem, call the Prunedale propane company to find and repair the problem.
• Does your heater have a standing pilot flame and is it on? The flame should be about an inch high and mostly blue in color. If the flame is flickering, looks split, is small or yellow/orange colored the pilot tube needs to be cleaned. To clean it, turn off the gas and use a needle to gently clean out the tube.
• A draft might be blowing out the flame. If this is the case, close off the source of the draft.
• The thermocouple, the heat-sensitive safety device preventing the release of unburned propane, might be the source of the heater not staying on. The heat from the pilot heats the thermocouple, which in turn signals the valve to stay open, keep the pilot lit and the heater working. Two issues with the thermocouple can cause the problem; it might be worn out and needs to be replaced or it’s to far from the flame and needs to be moved closer.
• Is the electronic spark working?
• Is the spark working but won’t light?

Wildhorse Propane & Appliance, the Prunedale propane supplier, can help with troubleshooting, repairs or even replacing an old propane heater. The family-owned company has been serving local tri-county communities since 1980. A full-service company, Wildhorse supports the needs of residences, industry, business, farms, ranches and public works projects. Need an emergency delivery? Looking for a reliable company for regularly scheduled propane delivery and service? Looking for propane-powered appliances and leading brand appliances? Call Wildhorse Propane & Appliances today!