Facts: Greenhouse is 20’ x 60’ or 1,200 square feet, 12’ high.
Have tried three brand-new un-vented propane heaters. (two different models)
Symptoms: They light and burn, but about midnight are found to be out—perhaps after working about four hours. It seems the unit runs okay, but after a while the pilot begins to flickers and is eventually sucked out when starting on the next cycle. When try to relight the unit it won’t light until the next day after the door is opened to the greenhouse and it is aired out. A butane lighter (used to light charcoal grills) and the lighter with a flexible hose used by the technician wouldn’t light in the area either.
Thought it might be elevation problem (I live at 4,600’), but the last unit I bought is supposed to work to 5,500’. It seems to be some environmental problem.
I put a two-inch flexible hose from the outside to come in under the heater for fresh air…butane lighter lights in front of pipe...not in room. HELP!
2006-12-21 20:33:43 · 7 answers · asked by Cactus Dan 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Fact: Unvented heaters and reasonably airtight greenhouses do not mix.
Read the section in the owners manual on ODS, The Oxygen Depletion Sensor is simply doing what it was intended to do. The 2 inch hose for combustion air is irrelevant with neutral air exchange to the outside atmosphere.
Install a direct vent unit, or gravity vent unit with air exchange. Depending on your geographical location you most likely have quite a few options to choose from. Find a local heating contractor that has done Greenhouse installations. If you need help finding one, contact a large Greenhouse operation in your area. Inquire as to who installed heating for them. You should be able to get some info on what works best in your area.
2006-12-22 14:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by lpgnh3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you lite the pilot and hold if for about 30 sec, you let the button up and the pilot goes out or it stays lit? If it doesn't and goes out, it could be a bad thermocouple or the pilot is dirty. Check on the heater and see if the unit has an Oxygen Depletion Sensor. (ODS) If it does, when you lite the pilot, is the flame a clean blue flame burner strong across the top 1/8 of the thermocouple. or does it burn lazily, blue at the base and about 1/2 of it yellow and curving up and not touching the pilot. If this is the case, turn the pilot off and let it cool. If you have some canned air, stick the straw into the end of the pilot and blow back Thur it. You will see dust fly out of the Ishtar at the base of the pilot. If you don't have canned air, place a long drinking straw over the end of the pilot and blow thru it forcefully. After that , re-lite and it should stay lit. Now, if it doesn't have an ODS pilot, some of that is going to change. Let me know and I will go from there
2016-05-23 14:25:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like the pilot orifice has become, or is becoming clogged up. Ya might be using some dirty gas. Use a needle to
CAREFULLY ream out the pilot's small opening. Don't change the size of the orifice in no way shape or form. That would explain why it would go out when it got warm because it would soften the obstruction making it more obstructive. Then, when cool, it would shrink again clearing the way for the gas so the pilot would work; till it got warm again... I hope this works for you, it's all I got.
2006-12-21 22:09:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would guess the flexible pipe isn't bringing in enough air either. The air isn't "coming in" enough, it has to be forced in with a small fan, try that. The idea is there, the air isn't. My uncle had this problem, he kept riping his hair out.
The air was coming in but not fast enough or at all, by itself, it needed a boost, that's all so, he put a small fan in the air line and tried it and, it worked. After the he hooked it to a thermostat and when the heat came on, the fan did also. no more problems.
2006-12-21 22:26:56 · answer #4 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my pilot lite on my propaine wall heater wouldn t stay on, I got on this site at 3AM found my pilot orfis probly was dirty, took match and run it into orphis swirled it around , and wallah. it stayed lit, no more trouble. the temp. was 20 deg. TKS SO MUCH FOR THIS SITE
2015-03-07 00:07:22 · answer #5 · answered by ron 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its possible air flow is blowing out the pilot. How often are you changing your tanks? I could be a leak in a pipe somewhere. Ill call my dad tomorrow and ask see what he knows.
2006-12-21 20:44:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you growing in the Greenhouse, is it releasing something that replaces oxygen in the environment. Just guessing, .
2006-12-21 21:28:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋