Reddy Heater Not Igniting [7 Easy Solutions]

Reddy heater not igniting because of faulty pump pressure, carbon buildup in the spark plug, the gap in the spark plug, a dirty fuel filter and nozzle, water in the fuel tank, and a bad electronic ignitor. 

However, there is an easy way of fixing all these issues. We will cover all these factors in this article, elaborate on how they are preventing your heater from lighting, and how you can easily solve all these heater problems. So, go on reading for solutions and find your heater working fine. 

Reddy Heater Not Igniting [Fix Now]

To fix your heater, try these solutions one by one. Keep checking if your heater is back to normal before moving on to the next solution on our list.

1. Wrong Pump Pressure 

When you find your Reddy heater not starting, then the pump pressure can be the first culprit behind it. If the pump pressure isn’t set right, the heater won’t ignite. 

Solution:

You’ll need to adjust the pump pressure. Here’s how you do it:

1. First, you’ll need to pull out the pressure gauge plug from the end cover of the filter.
2. You should get a pressure gauge with your heater. Install that. 
3. Next, turn on the heater and wait till the motor reaches full speed.
4. To adjust pressure, turn the relief valve. Turning it left will decrease the pressure. Turning it to the right will increase the pressure.
5. The required pressure for each model is different. Look at this table to know which one is right for your model.

Model	Pressure
150,000 BTU/Hr	4.9 PSI
90,000 BTU/Hr	4.4 PSI
70,000 BTU/Hr	3.8 PSI
30,000 BTU/Hr	2.6 PSI

6. Now detach the pressure gauge. Put the pressure gauge plug back in the end cover of the filter. 

2. Carbon Build-Up On the Spark Plug And Improper Gap 

The spark plug receives voltage from the electronic ignitor. It then ignites the air mixture and fuel. When there is a carbon build-up in the spark plug or the gap in the spark plug is too narrow or wide, voltage can’t pass through it. So, there is no ignition. 

To prevent this from happening you can avoid using heavy fuels. The use of heavy fuel promotes the build-up of carbon in the spark plug. Also, cleaning and re-gapping the spark plug after every 600 hours of use is recommended.

Solution:

Cleaning the spark plug and re-gapping it should solve the issue. In case, there is still a problem, you’ll need to replace the spark plug with a new one. Follow these steps to fix your spark plug:

1. First, you’ll need to remove the upper shell of the heater. You do that by removing screws on both sides of the heater that hold the upper and lower shells together. Lifting the upper shell off, remove the fan guard. 
2. Next, remove the fan.
3. From the spark plug, remove the spark plug wires.
4. Take a 13/16” wrench and detach the spark plug from the burner head.
5. Now, you’ll need to clean the spark plug thoroughly. Get a piece of sandpaper and an air hose. 
6. By folding the sandpaper in half, rub it on the space between the gap of the electrode and the spark plug arm. Sand both sides.
7. Clean the space between the electrode and the white insulator as well. Make sure to remove all the dirt and grime inside the grooves. 
8. With the air hose, blow away all the debris left.
9. Regap the electrodes to 0.055” or 1.4 mm.
10. Reinstall the spark plug in the burner head.
11. Reattach the spark plug wire.
12. Replace the fan, fan guard, and upper shell respectively.

3. Dirty Fuel Filter

A dirty fuel filter can be another reason behind your heater not igniting. Sometimes, you may find your heater igniting initially but it won’t stay running.

Solution:

To prevent the fuel filter from getting dirty, avoid using heavy fuel. Also, cleaning the fuel filter twice every heating season is the best practice. But you haven’t been doing these things, your fuel filter is probably dirty and preventing heater ignition.

It’s very easy to clean a fuel filter. Follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Take a 5/16″ nut driver to remove the side cover screws in your heater.
2. Take off the side cover.
3. From the fuel filter neck, pull out the rubber fuel line.
4. In the fuel tank, there is the bushing and fuel filter. Carefully remove it. 
5. After washing the fuel filter with clean fuel, put it back in the tank.
6. Reattach the rubber fuel line.
7. Put the side cover back on. 

4. Dirt In Nozzle 

The nuzzle on the burner’s head blows out air coming through the airline. This air helps lift fuel from the tank so it sprays into the combustion chamber in fine mists.

If the nozzle is blocked by dirt and debris, this cannot happen. As a result, your filter may not be igniting. And if light, the heater won’t stay lit for long.

Solution:

You’ll have to clean the nuzzle. Here’s how you do it:

1. Remove the upper shell and fan.
2. From the nozzle assembly, detach the fuel and air line hoses. 
3. After turning the nozzle assembly a quarter turns to the left, and pull it towards the motor to separate.
4. Then, placing the plastic hex-body into a vise, tighten lightly.
5. Take a 5/8″ socket wrench to take the nozzle off the nozzle adapter.
6. To clean dirt from the nozzle, blow compressed air on it. 
7. Check the nozzle seal for any sign of damage.
8. Tighten the nozzle on the nozzle adapter with the wrench. Give it 1/3 more turns.
9. Put the nozzle assembly and burner strap together.
10. Reverse steps 2 and 1.   

5. Water In The Fuel Tank

Having water in your fuel tank can also prevent the heater from igniting.

Solution:

You need to flush out the fuel tank of your heater with kerosene. Using fresh kerosene as old fuel can cause damage to the unit. Take a look at our guide to flushing fuel tank clean:

1. Pull the drain plug on the underside of your fuel tank. Older models have fuel caps instead of a plug. Remove the cap and drain the fuel tank completely.
2. Replace the drain plug if your model has one.
3. You need 4 liters or 1 gallon of clean, fresh kerosene. Pour it into the fuel tank.
4. Replace the fuel cap if you have one.
5. Jerk the heater back and forth to stir the kerosene in the tank.
6. Drain the tank again. Be careful to remove all the fuel inside.
7. Put the fuel cap or drain cap back in place.

Dispose of the old fuel properly. Improper disposal can hurt the environment. It is also a safety hazard.

6. Electronic Ignitor Not Grounded  

When your ignitor isn’t grounded, your heater won’t ignite.

Solution:

This one is the easiest to fix. Just ensure that the ignitor mounting is tight. If it isn’t tight, tightening it should fix the issue of your heater not igniting.

7. Bad Electronic Ignitor

Electronic ignitors usually last as long as seven years. When your ignitor is old, it is likely broken. This can be why your heater isn’t igniting.

Solution:

When you have a bad electronic ignitor, you’ll need to replace the ignitor. If you don’t have much experience with heaters and other appliances, hiring a licensed technician is best. 

If your unit is still under warranty, you’ll only be paying for labor. In that case, it should cost you about $150. Otherwise, replacing the ignitor can cost up to $250. 

FAQ

Who manufactures Reddy?

Ans: A manufacturing company named Desa makes Reddy heaters.

How much propane does a Reddy heater use?

Ans: That depends on the model. For example, the 15,000 BTU/hr model needs an entire 20 lb. propane tank to run for 43 hours. 

Does kerosene go bad?

Ans: Kerosene can go bad if stored for long. Water speeds this process. 

What is the longest-lasting fuel?

Ans: The best fuels to store overtime are-

• Propane
• Alcohol
• Charcoal
• Wood

How long will a 20 lb propane tank last at 30 000 BTU?

Ans: It should last a little more than 14 hours given that you run it at full capacity the whole time.

Conclusion

Hopefully, our Reddy heater troubleshooting guide has helped you fix your heater. If you have any more queries, let us know in the comments. We’ll get back to you with a handy solution.