Why does my gas wall heater keep going out
Emma Valentine
Updated on April 15, 2026
The heater won’t operate properly if the pilot flickers, is too weak or goes out, and the cause could also be blockages in the pilot tube. Another cause of a weak pilot is a faulty thermocouple. It’s a heat sensor placed next to the pilot flame that signals the gas valve to stay open when the flame is burning.
Why does my natural gas wall heater keep going out?
The heater won‘t operate properly if the pilot flickers, is too weak or goes out, and the cause could also be blockages in the pilot tube. Another cause of a weak pilot is a faulty thermocouple. It’s a heat sensor placed next to the pilot flame that signals the gas valve to stay open when the flame is burning.
How long do gas wall heaters last?
Gas Wall Heaters These heaters are expected to live for about 15 years but with proper care, can survive up to 30 years. However, as with any piece of gas equipment, you should have your wall heaters inspected annually.
Why does my wall mount heater keep shutting off?
Lack of air can cause the heaters to shut off of their own accord. If there is not a sufficient amount of air provided to the heater, the exchanger in the set won’t be able to give off heat as a transfer. Take a look at your supply vents and ensure that the area is not blocked.Why is my heat not shutting off?
One of the most common issues is the thermostat. The wiring, switches, or heating sensors can fail on your unit. … A faulty check valve could be the cause of this type of heating system to fail. If your heating system will not shut down, then you need to call a professional technician for help.
How much does it cost to replace a gas wall heater?
On average, it typically costs between $1,000 and $1,350 to install a gas wall furnace or heater. This cost includes the price of the heater itself, all supplies required, and labor. On the high end, it could cost as much as $2,500 for a brand-new gas wall heater.
Where is the thermocouple on a gas heater?
Your furnace’s thermocouple is usually located right in the flame of the furnace’s pilot light. Its copper tubing makes it easy to spot. The thermocouple is made up of a tube, a bracket, and wires.
Do wall heaters use a lot of gas?
Did you know one gallon of Propane costs approximately $3.00 (local average)? One gallon of Propane contains 92,000 Btu’s, which will operate a 30,000 Btu wall heater for a little more than 3 hours. This means the cost to operate a 30,000 Btu wall heater using Propane is around $. 80 per hour.Can gas wall heaters catch fire?
The biggest threat to your home when using one of these heating units is a fire hazard. Although there are no open flames, combustible oils and gasses, or easily ignitable materials, such as wood, a fire hazard is still possible.
Why does my heater keep running when the desired temperature is met?When your furnace keeps running after the temperature has been reached: Check the blower motor – Your forced air heating system uses a blower to push air through ducts and into your living space; sometimes, the blower runs at the same time that your furnace is heating the air, but sometimes it runs on its own.
Article first time published onWhy does my heating come on when thermostat is off?
A check valve is used to stop the natural convection from warming up your home when your heating is switched off. If the check valve is broken or blocked, heat will rise through your system causing your radiators to stay hot. Once again, contact a qualified professional to come and check what the problem is.
How do I reset my thermostat?
- Turn your thermostat off by switching it to the off position.
- Find the breaker that powers your HVAC system and turn it off.
- Wait 30 seconds and turn the breaker back on.
- Turn your thermostat back on.
Should the pilot light always be on in a gas heater?
Most furnaces with electronic ignition have a device called a hot surface igniter. … The difference is that the flame is only lit (by an electronic spark) when your furnace is ready for a heating cycle. When the pilot light is not needed, it is completely off, saving you money on gas.
What causes a weak pilot light?
The cause of a weak flame may also be an obstruction in the pilot tube. You can often remove such obstructions by turning off the gas, unscrewing the pilot tube from the valve control and blowing compressed air from a can through the tube. You can also poke the aperture of the pilot tube with a needle.
Will a pilot light stay lit with a bad thermocouple?
A thermocouple senses the heat of the pilot and allows gas to flow to the burner. A bad thermocouple will shut off gas to both the pilot and the burner so the pilot light won’t stay lit.
What are the symptoms of a bad thermocouple?
If you can’t get the flame to light at all, and you’re sure the gas is on, there’s probably an obstruction in the pilot tube. If the flame lights and goes out when you release the gas control knob after holding it in for the recommended 20 to 30 seconds, that’s the sign of a thermocouple malfunction.
How much does it cost to replace a thermocouple?
The No. 1 cause of pilot lights that won’t stay lit is a worn-out thermocouple. It’s easy to replace and a new one costs $5 to $10.
Can I replace a thermocouple myself?
Thermocouples are designed to detect a pilot light’s loss of heat and close the gas valve to prevent a gas leak. Replacing a thermocouple is a relatively easy fix that can take less than two hours.
Are old gas wall heaters safe?
Old unflued gas heaters within the home may not meet current emission standards. Unflued gas heaters draw air from within the room and emit combustion products back into the same space where the heater is located which can lead to serious health problems including death.
Do plumbers install wall heaters?
Wall furnaces are installed by licensed and trained plumbing professionals.
Are wall heaters safe?
Due to fire and safety concerns, portable heaters should not be left unattended. After use, they should be turned off and unplugged from the wall. Wall-mounted electric heaters have numerous safety features that make them both safe and reliable and can safely be left unattended.
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas wall heater?
When properly maintained and adjusted, gas heaters produce low amounts of carbon monoxide. One cause of carbon monoxide poisoning from unvented heaters– incomplete combustion caused by lack of air–has been virtually eliminated in newer heaters by use of Oxygen Depletion Sensors (ODS).
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a wall heater?
No. Only heaters that burn a combustible fuel to create heat can cause carbon monoxide build-up in your home. … Either way, nothing is being burned up to create heat with an electric space heater, so carbon monoxide poisoning is not an issue.
How long does it take for a wall heater to heat up?
When operated with the proper safety precautions, wall-mounted heaters provide a variety of benefits for home and apartment dwellers. Many of these units will heat up within 60-120 seconds, providing fast and efficient heat when you need it the most.
How long do wall heaters last?
Wall heaters are more compact and use less wall space, which gives your more flexibility with furniture arrangement. Wall heaters usually last somewhere between 8 and 12 years.
Are wall furnaces good?
For the one room or mainly open concept space a wall furnace is designed to heat, its energy efficiency is quite good. Because wall furnaces blow warm air directly into the room instead of forcing it through a network of ducts, wall furnaces are more energy efficient than their central air counterparts.
Do gas wall heaters need vented?
Do gas wall heater need to be vented This type of heater is a gas type. Therefore it requires vent too, like every other gas heaters, especially since it generates so much heat. It is for this reason that the wall-mounted heater has an outdoor part on the outside, through which gas residues from combustion are vented.
Why does my furnace run but not heat?
Dirty filters are the most common cause of furnace problems. Dust and dirt restrict airflow—and if the filter gets too clogged, the heat exchanger will overheat and shut off too quickly, and your house won’t warm up. If the blower is running but no heat is coming out, replace the filter.
Why is my heating coming on by itself?
Most heating systems are setup to automatically turn on and off based upon the setting of a thermostat. When heat is required (i.e. thermostat reading lower than setting) then the heat system will come on till the thermostat reads a new temperature higher than the setting.
Where is the diverter valve?
It’s usually a lever that’s situated behind the bath taps that you can pull up or push down. System and conventional boilers don’t require a diverter valve. This is because the hot water they produce is stored in a hot water cylinder.
Why does my central heating come on at night?
It is not advisable to set the standby temperature too high this will result in the boiler coming on regularly 24 hours a day to maintain a constant high temperature and this will be more prominent at night when the genera ambient temperature falls.