This will let your heater gas travel easier and as a result, your flame will stay lit. This method can be used alternatively if sandpaper is not available at your home or if you don’t detect corrosion on the ends of the thermocouple, but only dirt or soot build-up inside it. The typical cause for this is that the pilot light flame has become too far away from the thermocouple. Clean dirty area Tighten connection Replace Thermocouple Check connections LPG cylinder is near empty LPG cylinder is near empty Remove, clean and replace Turn knob to ON Replace Thermocouple Place pilot light in correct position and retry. Any repairs to the patio heater must be carred out by a qualified person. Shut off the heater fuel supply. The thermocouple is usually shaped like an inverted "v" and sits in the flame of the pilot light. Pilot Light (if present) If your heater has a pilot light, the thermocouple may have failed. Stay clear of the elements. Loosen the screws by using the screwdriver. Remove the screen and clean it either by blowing on it or with a quick wash and thorough drying. Take the steel wool or the sponge. Thermocouple Cleaning Guide. Winds can blow debris into the heater and rainwater can wash out the fire. If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple senses a loss of heat and the rod covers the gas valve cutting off the fuel supply. The thermocouple, which operates as a safety device, turns the gas supply off when the pilot light goes out. Such buildup as dirt, spider webs and oil will cause the heater's fire to go out. Clean the thermocouple. How-to-Clean-a-Thermocouple-on-a-Patio-Heater Use a Can of Compressed Air. Patio Heater Won't Stay Lit One common issue that patio heater owners face is keeping their patio heater lit. Locate the thermocouple nut and unscrew it with a screwdriver. A breeze can blow out and rainwater can douse a heater's fire. Another method of cleaning a thermocouple on a patio heater is using compressed air. How To Clean Patio Heater Thermocouple. For further assistance, Clean the pilot. Keeping it clean will help it to light and stay that way. Thus, the thermocouple will turn off the patio heater as it tricks the gas value in to thinking that the pilot light is out. That's why it's important to know how to keep a thermocouple clean and in working order. Pull out your patio heater thermocouple. Without a thermocouple or a faulty one, your fuel valve will close, and your heater will go off. Getting to and cleaning these components are essential to having your outdoor heater working again. Turn the patio heater off, and using a pair of pliers (I prefer Needle Nose Pliers like these guys on Amazon), gently squeeze the thermocouple and manipulate it closer to the pilot light. Reconnect the loose gas valve, if necessary. Cleaning the internal parts of your Patio Heater: Reconnect your thermocouple. Steps. If the appliance has a thermocouple, the problem may be a faulty thermocouple. Locate the thermocouple. It functions by permitting current flow when metal gets lit. If the thermocouple feels the heat from a pilot light, it keeps the gas line open. Almost all natural gas or propane patio heaters contain the same components of a control valve, a pilot, a thermocouple and a main burner. Remove the thermocouple from the pilot assembly. Regularly cleaning your heater and thermocouple is the best way to ensure it lasts longer. Let the thermocouple air dry. My Patio Heater Won't Stay Lit. How do you replace a thermocouple on a patio heater? Check for a gas leak. Thermocouples on heating appliances: this article describes thermocouples, safety devices used on gas fired heating equipment. Take the screwdriver at hand. It consists of a heat sensor connected to a solenoid; when the sensor is not heated by the pilot flame, the solenoid closes the gas supply line. Method 4: Patio Heater Orifice Cleaning Heaters use thermocouples to ensure that pilot lights stay lit. 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