What are the possible reasons I can't keep a outdoor heat lamp lit?
Question:I have one of those big outdoor heat lamps on my deck like you find at an outdoor restaurant. I also have no problems igniting the pilot or getting the main burner going. I have a half-full tank of propane, so I know there is not shortage of fuel. The problem is that the heat lamp invariably shuts off within 2-3 minutes. It will not stay lit, despite what appears to be an unblocked and steady propane line. Any theories of what could be the problem?
Answers:
in front of the burner unit where the pilot light is, is an element that for safety purposes will shut off the gas to the main burner if it isn't hot enough. Typically it is held open with the heat of the main element burning normally, but it sounds like it could be faulty. Another cause could be a defective fuel regulator, basically it is a diaphram that prohibits to much gas pressure, but can go bad and cause what you describe.
I'm not familiar with these heaters, so I'm guessing, but possibly there is a thermocouple on the pilot, the same as there is a thermocouple on your gas water heater. The purpose for the thermocouple is to shut off the gas to the pilot if the pilot flame goes out. But after a while, the thermocouple goes bad and the pilot won't stay lit. If you find a thermocouple in the pilot flame, remove it and take it to Home Depot or Lowe's for comparison when you buy a new one.
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