Shop Heater won't run

[horsebroke]

I bought a 25,000 BTU ProCom propane heater for my new shop in August.
No matter what I tried - with/without regulator, I could not get it to light.

So I returned it to Northern Tool, and they sent me a new one, which I received this week. I can't get it to light, either.

If I hook it directly from the propane tank - the flow is too fast, and it blows the pilot out. If I hook it thru a regulator (like one for a barbecue), I get NO GAS flow at all.

So, with same symptoms on BOTH heaters, I thought maybe I had a bad regulator. So I bought a new one yesterday, and tried it. SAME SYMPTOMS - it will not light the pilot!!

Anyone out there have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

thx again for any advice

 

[dave1949]

I bought a 25,000 BTU ProCom propane heater for my new shop in August.
No matter what I tried - with/without regulator, I could not get it to light.

So I returned it to Northern Tool, and they sent me a new one, which I received this week. I can't get it to light, either.

If I hook it directly from the propane tank - the flow is too fast, and it blows the pilot out. If I hook it thru a regulator (like one for a barbecue), I get NO GAS flow at all.

So, with same symptoms on BOTH heaters, I thought maybe I had a bad regulator. So I bought a new one yesterday, and tried it. SAME SYMPTOMS - it will not light the pilot!!

Anyone out there have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

thx again for any advice

Not really. I have seen some newer regulators that are very sensitive to high flow. Some safety thing internally closes them if it thinks the gas flow rate is too high. If that is the case, just crack open the tank valve a little bit before trying to light it.

Does your heater have a thermostat? Tip over safety switch? Pilot light and thermocouple?

Dave.

 

[SPIKER]

Sounds like there is a need for a different type/size of regulator. not sure what size the regulator you are using is set to. Most BBQ regulators are not designed to provide a consistent pressure to flow that may be needed for your heater. or the pressure maybe too low or two high.

If you have wiring specs, and gas specs for the heater & regulator that would help a lot.

Mark

 

[dave1949]

Don't breathe on it, some of those have oxygen depletion shut-offs
Dave.

 

[radioman]

Not sure of your model- assuming you have a full propane tank with valve open. On the heater, you should be able to turn the heater on and THEN press and HOLD until you get a flame coming out. use one of those BBQ lighters with tip of flame near the pipe exit, not in middle of flame. Its the tip part of the flame from lighter is important, no need to have flame in the path of the gas flow.

 

[Matt_Jr]

I'm sure you already know this, but I'll throw it out there anyhow. Some heaters have a thermocouple that the pilot light heats up. I don't know what kind of heater you have, but if it has a button you push when lighting the pilot, you hold the button until the thermocouple warms up, and the pilot should stay lit. Usually for around 15-20 seconds, larger heaters sometimes a minute. Holding too long won't hurt nothing, but too little causes the pilot to go back out. It's a safety feature so that if the pilot light goes out, the valve for the gas will close, so that an enclosed space doesn't get filled up with the gas meant for the pilot light. Hope you get some heat in there. Holding cold tools makes for hands that don't work too good.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

What size tank are you using to feed the heater ?

 

[DanD78]

Your regulator should be putting out about 11" of water collum pressure or around 6.3 oz. You might try lighting with a fire starter instead of the sparker while holding the polit button down. Some times the spark is not in the right spot to light the gas. If you can't get it going I suggest you contact you propane supplyer for advice. Straight tank pressure or any form of usinig a valve to control tank pressure is a bad idea. A grill cylinder should vaporise more than enough gas to run the heater through the proper regulator.

Are you sure the heater is ment for propane and not natural gas.

Dan

 

[horsebroke]

Thanks to all who have offered their suggestions.

A few questions were asked:

What kind of heater? It's a Procom ML250TPA, 25,000 BTU Propane Ventless.
What kind of Propane Tank? It's the standard 20/25 lb one typically used for Barbecues.

I've tried 2 different regulators - both NEW. Neither works.
I've tried 3 different propane tanks - 1 completely full, other 2 partially full
I've tried both with and without the regulators. With the regulator, I get no gas flow at all to the pilot - and it won't light with either the piezeoelectric starter - or with an external lighter. Without the regulator, the gas flow thru the pilot is too strong - constantly blows the flame out.

Matt JR suggested that it might be a thermocouple problem, with the thermocouple not getting preheated enough. This heater has no external power source, so there's no way for the thermocouple to preheat- it gets NO heat until the pilot is lit - and it won't light.

DanD78 suggested the propane should be at "11 inches of water column pressure or 6.3 ounces". How do I measure that? Dan sounds like he's experienced with heating/plumbing - but I'm not.

And lastly, Yes, the heater is designed specifically for propane.

Thanks - and keep the suggestions coming. I'm about ready to throw in the towel and return this darn thing for a refund to Northern Tool Co. They've been absolutely NO help in solving this problem other than "read the manual", which I've done over and over...

 

[dave1949]

What do the installation instructions say about a regulator? Did a regulator come with it or are you supposed to provide one, or what?

Since it is brand new, why not call Procom's tech support? It's possible they put out a batch of heaters that all have the same defective part in them.


Here is one contact, I can't find a Procom corporate web site:
Hopefully there is a customer support number in the manual besides Northern Tool. If not, I would ship it back and buy from someone less anonymous who really wants to talk to their customers.

ProcomVentFree.com is owned and operated by:
Contractors Depot
48 Island Drive
Eastpoint
Florida
32328

You can reach us by email at sales@ProcomVentFree.com

By phone:
1 877 266 3532 (toll free)
1 850 670 1100 (landline)


Dave.