gas heater defective - replace or repair? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

flat5 · 03-10-2011, 04:46 AM

I bought a used direct vent gas heater to keep my one room apartment warm in 1985. I replaced the thermo-coupler about 15-20 years ago.

The pilot will not stay lit. I mean it acts like the thermo-coupler is bad but it does produce 20 millivolts unloaded. I am not qualified to go further.
I suspect a good cleaning and perhaps replacing the pilot electric valve is necessary. This heater must be older than 50 years.

Question is, should I have a new heater installed or have this one repaired?
When working this heater does a fine job.

Leto · 03-10-2011, 05:05 AM

I would replace. The way that you describe your heater, it sounds like more permanent appliance similar to a furnace. Does it have a quick release valve coupling? I know that I replaced my natural gas furnace 4 years ago, it was 25 years old and needed it. The cost was around $2000. Not too expensive to get more efficient heating and get peace of mind.

flat5 · 03-10-2011, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the response, Leto.

Not exactly quick release. It is a floor standing unit. Vents to a hole in the wall.
Connects to a natural gas inlet. Don't know the technical terms for the subject.

Kind of looking for a local store that sells/installs used heaters.
A new one for less than 400 Euros might be nice.

I'm thinking this threat should be moved to Knowledge.

amonkie · 03-10-2011, 10:11 AM

Thread moved

yournamehere · 03-11-2011, 01:46 PM

Always err on the side of safety when it comes to gas appliances. Replace it.

flat5 · 03-13-2011, 10:41 AM

Bought a used heater for 180 Euros. A friend moved it and installed for 25 Euros.
I did offer him 50 :-)

Now I just have to remove the old one from the hall. It is HEAVEY.

genuinegirly · 03-18-2011, 02:33 AM

Glad too hear you resolved the issue safely!

flat5 · 03-19-2011, 12:45 AM

Thank you, genuinegirly.

I don't know why so many people are afraid of old heaters.
I have never heard of one causing an explosion.
That thing was very heavy and it took two moving men to get it downstairs.
Everybody told me to be wary of old heaters so I replaced it.
I think, if I could have gotten the pilot flame just right the heater would have lasted another 50 years.

The heater I have now works well and looks much better.

snowy · 03-19-2011, 08:25 AM

The reason why people are wary is not fear of an explosion, but rather carbon monoxide, and rightfully so. My in-laws' furnace just broke, and it developed a carbon monoxide leak. My mother-in-law couldn't figure out why an alarm in her house was going off when there was no fire or smoke. She called the fire department, and they came out to the house. When she opened the garage doors, enough CO got out of the house that the alarm turned off. She just thought she had a headache. It was a very near miss.

flat5 · 03-19-2011, 02:01 PM

Interesting. My apartment uses a direct vent natural gas heater.
The heater grabs and vents air from a hole in the wall that pipes to the roof.
It should be cleaned every few years.
So I should get a smoke/CM warning device...

Leto · 03-21-2011, 04:38 AM

YES, you should. very little cost for something that plugs into the wall for detecting carbon monoxide. You can get integrated smoke detectors and CO detectors as well to mount on the ceiling. Those things are law here.

flat5 · 03-21-2011, 05:32 AM

Right after posting I hit Google.
I have a lead on two stores that sell the combined detectors.
I expect to get a battery only version.
Seems the CM detectors only work for 7 years.
That would be because they are chemical devices, me thinks.

03-10-2011, 04:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	gas heater defective - replace or repair? I bought a used direct vent gas heater to keep my one room apartment warm in 1985. I replaced the thermo-coupler about 15-20 years ago. The pilot will not stay lit. I mean it acts like the thermo-coupler is bad but it does produce 20 millivolts unloaded. I am not qualified to go further. I suspect a good cleaning and perhaps replacing the pilot electric valve is necessary. This heater must be older than 50 years. Question is, should I have a new heater installed or have this one repaired? When working this heater does a fine job. Last edited by dlish; 03-11-2011 at 10:43 PM..

03-10-2011, 05:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	I would replace. The way that you describe your heater, it sounds like more permanent appliance similar to a furnace. Does it have a quick release valve coupling? I know that I replaced my natural gas furnace 4 years ago, it was 25 years old and needed it. The cost was around $2000. Not too expensive to get more efficient heating and get peace of mind. __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

03-10-2011, 10:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Thread moved __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

03-11-2011, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	Always err on the side of safety when it comes to gas appliances. Replace it. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

03-18-2011, 02:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Glad too hear you resolved the issue safely! __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

03-10-2011, 09:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Thanks for the response, Leto. Not exactly quick release. It is a floor standing unit. Vents to a hole in the wall. Connects to a natural gas inlet. Don't know the technical terms for the subject. Kind of looking for a local store that sells/installs used heaters. A new one for less than 400 Euros might be nice. I'm thinking this threat should be moved to Knowledge.

03-13-2011, 10:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Bought a used heater for 180 Euros. A friend moved it and installed for 25 Euros. I did offer him 50 :-) Now I just have to remove the old one from the hall. It is HEAVEY.

03-19-2011, 12:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Thank you, genuinegirly. I don't know why so many people are afraid of old heaters. I have never heard of one causing an explosion. That thing was very heavy and it took two moving men to get it downstairs. Everybody told me to be wary of old heaters so I replaced it. I think, if I could have gotten the pilot flame just right the heater would have lasted another 50 years. The heater I have now works well and looks much better.

03-19-2011, 08:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	The reason why people are wary is not fear of an explosion, but rather carbon monoxide, and rightfully so. My in-laws' furnace just broke, and it developed a carbon monoxide leak. My mother-in-law couldn't figure out why an alarm in her house was going off when there was no fire or smoke. She called the fire department, and they came out to the house. When she opened the garage doors, enough CO got out of the house that the alarm turned off. She just thought she had a headache. It was a very near miss. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

03-19-2011, 02:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Interesting. My apartment uses a direct vent natural gas heater. The heater grabs and vents air from a hole in the wall that pipes to the roof. It should be cleaned every few years. So I should get a smoke/CM warning device...

03-21-2011, 04:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	YES, you should. very little cost for something that plugs into the wall for detecting carbon monoxide. You can get integrated smoke detectors and CO detectors as well to mount on the ceiling. Those things are law here. __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

03-21-2011, 05:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Right after posting I hit Google. I have a lead on two stores that sell the combined detectors. I expect to get a battery only version. Seems the CM detectors only work for 7 years. That would be because they are chemical devices, me thinks.