How To Troubleshoot Reddy Heaters - Step-By-Step

Reddy Heaters are one of the most popular brands when it comes to heating products.

There are many reasons for a Reddy Heater to stop working, but fortunately, the troubleshooting process is fairly simple.

When troubleshooting Reddy Heaters, there are a few things that you should know before jumping in.

This post will go over the basics and give some tips on fixing common problems with these heaters.

How To Troubleshoot Reddy Heater

A heater that starts to act up when the weather gets cooler may leave your family shivering and could cost you a lot of money.

If you want to save money on your heating bill, then try some basic troubleshooting techniques.

You can fix many of the problems that happen with Reddy heaters with these techniques.

Step 1:

If your heater won’t turn on, see if you can fix it. Check to make sure the cord is plugged in and that the outlet has power. If not, then fix it or get a new one.

Step 2:

Switch off the appliance and remove the plug. Lubricate the fan end of the motor’s bearing. Check for any mechanical damage to the fan.

If you detect any damage to the motor shell, fan, or motor mount, stop using it and replace the damaged component.

Step 3:

If the motor runs but the heater does not light, or if you see smoke or detect a foul odor coming from the heater, check for fuel problems.

Begin by looking for water in the fuel tank, which forms globules if there is any.

If you discover any water in the tank, clean it thoroughly and fill it with the recommended fuel oil, kerosene, or diesel.

Step 4:

If the heater won’t start and produces smoke or odors, replace the fuel filter. Blow-dry the filter and reinstall it to see if the problem has been resolved.

Step 5:

If you suspect a blockage in the fuel nozzle, insert a piece of wire and press down on it using compressed air until any obstruction is removed.

If you detect smoke or an odor from the heater despite attempting to light it and/or see no flame present, replace the entire fuel nozzle.

Step 6:

Check the air filters to be sure they are properly secured to the line. If they appear filthy or damaged, replace them.

Step 7:

If the heater fails to light, check the spark plug for debris or corrosion. Make sure there’s only a dime-wide space between the electrodes. Remove the device and check for any dust or impurities in the spark plug.

Replace the spark plug if it is corroded or damaged. Make sure the transformers’ connections are secure at both ends.

Step 8:

Turn off the heater if flames erupt from the front. Remove the unit’s plug, and examine the fan’s air passage.

Clean out any trash or debris and make sure the fan is properly attached to the shaft.

Stop using it and replace the fan if the shaft appears bent or damaged.

Step 9:

To check if dirt prevents the safety control circuit breaker from functioning, clean the glass surface of the photocell.

If they appear damaged or faulty, replace them with a new circuit breaker and/or photocell.

Most Common Reddy Heater Problems

Reddy Heater Not Igniting

If the heater fails to ignite, inspect the spark plug for only a dime’s width gap between the electrodes.

If the spark plug is rusted or damaged, replace it. Make sure the transformers are securely fastened to each other with wires.

Reddy Heater Won’t Stay Running

If your Reddy heater doesn’t seem to work, there are a few things you can do before calling for help. The first thing I suggest is inspecting the power cord and ensuring it has not been damaged or compromised in any way (i.e., frayed cords).

If the cord seems to be in good condition, I would next inspect all of your internal wirings for loose connections or any other problems.

Also, try to unplug the power from both ends (if applicable), then use an ohmmeter to check the continuity on each wire attached between the components. After doing so and everything seems okay, try plugging back.

If you still can’t determine what is wrong with your Reddy heater after this process, it may be time to call a professional.

It’s important to know what type of propane heater your kitchen is using.

If the thermocouple is too far away from the flame, it can cause the pilot to go out and turn off the propane heater.

Move the thermocouple closer to the flame if necessary. The thermocouple may also be faulty, in which case it must be replaced.

Reddy Heater Keeps Shutting Off

If your Reddy Heater keeps shutting off, the first thing to check is whether or not you have it plugged into a surge protector.

If there’s no power going to the unit at all, try plugging it in again and turning on the thermostat.

Check that your breaker box hasn’t been tripped by something else too close to a circuit if this doesn’t work.

Also, If the thermocouple is too far away from the flame, it can cause the pilot to go out and turn off the propane heater. Move the thermocouple closer to the flame if necessary. The thermocouple may also be faulty, in which case it must be replaced.

Reddy Heater Runs Then Shuts Off

If your Reddy heater runs for a few minutes, then shuts off without warning, this could be an indication of one or more problems. Some of the most common causes include:

A dirty air filter – This would be indicated by the Reddy heater running fine in your garage, but when you take it out to the job site, the engine is having problems turning over or not starting at all. To fix this problem, you should replace/clean your air filter.
Low oil level due to a possible leak from an external source such as; defective oil line gasket, incorrect mounting of the tank onto the machine (improper orientation). To fix this problem, you should check the oil level and replace/repair any defective parts.
Dirty or faulty fuel filter. This would be indicated when you start the machine, but it doesn’t want to turn over (turns slowly). To fix this problem, you should clean out your fuel system. Particularly the tank, lines, pump, etc. And then replace with a new fuel filter if necessary.

Reddy Heater Blowing Smoke

Reddy heaters are known for producing high energy output, even when they aren’t operating at full capacity.

However, there is little you can do with a heater that’s smoking or blowing smoke out of the vent besides replacing it.

If your Reddy heater is producing too much smoke and not heating up properly (and thus needs replacement).

Here are some tips on how to troubleshoot the problem quickly before getting rid of it:

Check the oil – Oil furnaces sometimes emit a small amount of smoke, but if you’ve just filled up your tank and it’s still smoking excessively, try adding more oil to see if that helps.
Check the heat exchanger – If you’re getting a lot of black soot coming out of your vent, it’s possible that there is too much carbon buildup on your heat exchanger, and it needs to be replaced before any more problems occur.

Cleaning required – Sometimes, all you need is a good old-fashioned cleaning from someone who knows how these things work. Which would be difficult if not impossible for most people since they are somewhat complicated machines.

Reddy Heater Not Getting Fuel

If you’re experiencing issues with your Reddy heater not getting fuel, here are some things to check before calling a technician.

Ensure that the fuel inlet is open and not clogged with debris.

Check for loose gas fittings, which can cause leaks in your system’s hoses or carburetor parts. If anything looks like it might be leaking, tighten all connections (if you find something leaking after tightening everything, call Reddy customer support).
Make sure there’s enough pressure coming from the regulator. If this isn’t happening, contact your heating contractor immediately, as they’ll need to make adjustments at their end of the line if necessary (in rare cases where serious issues exist with regulators on-site may require replacement).

Reddy Heater Fan Not Spinning

If your Reddy heater fan is not spinning, here’s what you need to do:

Check that the power supply is on.
Turn off and unplug from the wall outlet for 30 seconds, then plug back in to reset the fan motor.
Check that the thermostat is set to heat. (80 degrees for heating and 60 degrees for cooling). The fan will not run if the air temperature in the room doesn’t call for it to do so.

Check that the heater is not turned off at a circuit breaker.
Make sure there are no obstructions around the blower wheel, such as pet hair or dust bunnies. This can easily cause overheating and damage to your machine.

Reddy Heater Won’t Stay Running

If your Reddy heater won’t stay running, there are several potential causes. First, check that the heater is plugged in and switched on (if it has a switch).

If it’s not working even when plugged in, you might need to replace your power cord or attach new wiring if necessary.

If these steps don’t work, remove the front panel of the control box by unscrewing screws on its corners.

Inspect all electrical connections for loose wires and corrosion and fix them accordingly before putting everything back together again. Test-run your Reddy heater once more.

It should hopefully function perfectly.

Additionally, if there is no power running to the unit, it will not stay on. If you are plugged into a wall socket without power, check that your breaker switch for this outlet has not tripped or blown a fuse.

Tripping breakers might also cause problems with other appliances in your home, so be sure to restart any electrical devices if they have recently stopped working.

If none of these issues seem likely, contact an electrician who can help diagnose and fix the problem. They can wire between the heater itself and its control box and among various components inside its control box (like fuses).

Reddy Heater Circuit Board Problems

Circuit board problems can be frustrating. They can seem to come out of nowhere, and without any warning signs, they stop working for seemingly no reason.

Circuit boards are great, but anything with moving parts will eventually wear down over time, even if it’s only used on the weekends or once a month.

So, what do you do when your Reddy heater circuit board malfunctions?

The first thing you need to do is to check the circuit breaker. The Reddy heater will not work if there is no power getting to it.

So, you need to make sure that nothing has tripped the circuit breaker or blown a fuse in your house’s electrical system.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, move on to checking all of the wires leading into and out of your Reddy heater unit.

If everything looks fine with these parts, take out one wire until you find which one isn’t working correctly.

You can put tape around any connections that are loose (not completely disconnected).

Because when they get hot, sometimes they come undone very easily and cause problems like overheating or short circuits.

Make sure you know what each part is called and what it does. Each Reddy heater circuit board varies from unit to unit.

But they all have a few major parts that you need to know about before diagnosing problems with them.

Remember that names can vary depending on the brand of your Reddy heater. So, make sure you refer back to this list while going through each wire if necessary.

The next step is understanding how these parts work together for everything else to function properly.

You may notice some extra wires or other components attached directly onto the circuit boards inside your Reddy heaters, but you shouldn’t worry about them.

Photocell Problems

Photocells are present in many low voltage lighting systems to provide automatic control. You will find them on the circuit board of Reddy Heaters and other brands.

A photocell works by allowing current through when it detects light, shutting off power when darkness sets in. However, they can be useful for specific applications.

They aren’t always necessary, such as controlling a fan or pump while you’re away from home. Here we’ll discuss how to bypass them if needed:

Photocells can be bypassed by removing them from the circuit board. The photocell will need to be replaced if you do this.

So, we recommend taking your item into a local repair shop or electronics store and discussing options with an expert before making any changes.

If you can’t remove the photocell yourself, ask someone familiar with electricity and electronic circuits to help.

Another way to bypass photocells problems is by using a manual override. This is done by using the “on” and “off” buttons to switch your heater on or off, rather than allowing it to use photocells for control.

Photocell problems are common with Reddy Heaters that have had their circuit board replaced.

Therefore, you must have a trained professional or electrical expert perform the work if you can’t handle fixing it yourself.

Damaged Nozzle

If you have a Reddy heater with a damaged nozzle, the best way to fix it is to get a new one. Replacing the nozzle is an easy task that you can accomplish independently with few tools, and it will cost less than getting someone else to do it for you.

To change the nozzle, follow these steps:

Disconnect the power supply to your unit. Make sure that it is completely turned off before you do anything else.

Locate the screw holding in the nozzle of your heater, and remove it with a wrench or pair of pliers.
Hold onto the old nozzle while taking out its replacement from its package; if there isn’t any visible damage, then place it into the space from the old one.
Replace the screw, and you’re all set.

Worn Out Plug

A worn-out plug on your Reddy heater can cause it to stop working, so inspect the cord before you plug in your heater.

If there are any cracks or tears on the insulation of the wire, replace it immediately.

If your Reddy is plugged into an extension cord with a broken prong, unplug and do not use that extension cord again until repairs can be made.

Never attempt to fix anything electrical by yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Fuel Contamination

Fuel contamination in your Reddy heater means the fuel has dirt or another substance in it that the supplier did not filter out.

This can cause issues with your heating unit, so you should troubleshoot to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it.

If there are black specs outside your Reddy heater’s tank, check for low oil levels before attempting any other steps.

If you have plenty of oil but still see these specs, then try running a new tank through your system without adding primer fluid or starting fluid.

You may need to drain the old tank entirely if this does not work – repeat until clean.

Broken Rotor

If your Reddy heater has a broken rotor, the best way to fix it is to replace it with a new rotor.

To do this, you will need to remove the old one and replace it with another. The following steps can guide you:

First of all, ensure that your Reddy heater is unplugged from power before starting work on it.

Ensure that there are no flammable materials in front of or around where you’re working. That’s because they could cause fires.
To begin, use an adjustable wrench to hold onto the nut located at the base of where your rotor sits.
Use a socket set to unscrew the bolts holding down any components above the burner head (since we’ll be removing those).

With the bolts removed, you should be able to pull down any components above the burner head and slide out your broken rotor.
Then insert a new one in place of it. Ensure that all holes are lining up correctly with the other parts before screwing everything back into place.
Before replacing components like pipes or wiring, ensure they’ve not tangled around where you need to work first by unplugging them from the power.

Once done fitting your replacement part(s), plug your heater back in and switch it on.

Air Leaks

If your Reddy heater is experiencing air leaks, the cause might be the gas line is disconnected.

To correct this problem, first, check to make sure the appliance has been installed correctly by having a heating contractor verify its installation before using it again.

The next step would be to determine which section of the Reddy heater’s vent pipe system might need adjustment or replacement.

After that, tighten all the fittings and connections in your vent pipe system. Hold it together with any loose or missing bolts, screws, or washers, then tighten them down securely before testing out your Reddy heater again.

If you find air leaks around the draft hood of your burner assembly, this may mean the gasket is faulty and should be replaced with a new one to correct this problem.

The connection between the gas line and the control valve can also cause an air leak. So, inspect these components for tightness as well if needed.

If none of these solutions work, then replacement parts might need to be installed.

Conclusion

Heaters are a great way to keep your home warm and cozy. They can save you money by not having to use electricity or gas. If installed properly, they will last for many years and provide you with consistent warmth at all times of the day and night.

If you have any more questions about Reddy Heater’s troubleshooting, we would be happy to answer them!

Just ask in the comment section below or reach out to us through email, and we will be more than delighted to help you out.