Why Stanley Heater Keeps Shutting Off [7 Easy Solutions]

There are many possible reasons why your Stanley heater keeps shutting off. Most commonly this issue happens due to blocked vents, a faulty thermostat, loose contact in-wall outlet and tripped circuit breaker.

But, most often a faulty thermocouple, bad heating element, and tip-over safety feature kicking in are also responsible for your Stanely heater keeps turning off automatically. 

stanley heater keeps shutting off

However, keep reading our guide and follow along to get your heater running again ASAP.

Stanley Heater Keeps Shutting Off [7 Easy Solutions]

In this section, we’ll explore the simple solutions to make your heater run smoothly. 

1. Blocked Vents

Blocked vents limit the airflow in your heater. Coldwater won’t be able to enter your heater and the heat will be trapped inside the heater. The heating elements may grow brighter because they are hotter than usual. 

When your heater overheats, it will trigger the auto safety shut-off feature and shut down the system. So, blocked air vents can make your Stanley heater shut off.

Solution:

To overcome this issue, you need to ensure that the vents are clean and free airflow is possible. Here’s how you can clean the air vents of your Stanley heater.

  • Turn off your heater and plug it in. Wait for it to cool before proceeding.
  • Take a duster or microfiber cloth to clean your air filter. Wipe the air filter. 
  • With a can of compressed air, you can spray the filter and get rid of the remaining dirt and grime. 
  • Use your vacuum cleaner attachment to suction out the dust in your air filter that is hard to reach.
  • Give the front and back of your heater another wipe. Turn the heater on.

You also don’t want to place your heater too close to a solid object, like a wall, that will obstruct airflow and result in overheating.

2. Faulty Thermostat

Your heater’s thermostat is there to regulate the temperature. You can set your Stanley heater to your desired temperature by controlling the thermostat.

However, the thermostat may begin to malfunction and cause our Stanley heater to keep shutting off every time you turn it on.

This can happen when the heater’s internal temperature increases than what the factory-set temperature range for the thermostat is. 

Solution:

Ensure that your heater isn’t getting overheated by checking the air filter and placing it in a place where airflow is good. Check the wiring of the thermostat and make sure it is connected in the right place. 

After that, if the problem persists, you’ll need to replace the thermostat with a new one.

3. Loose Contact In-Wall Outlet

Your space heater will periodically shut off if your wall outlet has loose contact. Fortunately, this is a simple test.

Simply put your space heater into a different wall outlet to see if it works properly. You are almost certain to have the situation if your space heater runs constantly without shutting off while hooked into another socket. 

Solution:

You can call an electrician to repair your power supply’s loose contact. This shouldn’t be too costly. If you prefer to do your own repairs. Read how to install electrical outlets.

4. Tripped Circuit Breaker

The circuit that your space heater is connected to can get overloaded and cause the circuit breaker to trip.

This can be a result of a faulty heater part that is drawing in more power than it should or it could simply be that the circuit has too many heavy appliances plugged into it.

Solution:

Inspect your circuit breaker to see if it has been tripped. In case your circuit breaker has tripped, flip it to turn it on again.

To avoid this issue, remove some gadgets from the overloaded circuit and put them into other circuits that are less crowded. 

If your circuit breaker trips again when you run the heater, ask an electrician to take a look at your circuit and your heater to determine the fault. You may have a defective heater part that needs replacement. 

You can also try installing GFCI outlets so that, in the event of a ground circuit, the outlet shuts off before the circuit breaker.

Just keep in mind that GFCI outlets guard against dangerous ground faults, not circuit overload. 

5. Faulty Thermocouple

A thermocouple is an internal part of your space heater The thermocouple’s purpose is to keep the flame lit.

This is accomplished by providing a small electric current to a sensor on the gas valve, which signals the valve to remain open. So, a faulty thermocouple can prevent gas flow and the heater may keep shutting off.

Solution:

Check whether the thermocouple is working properly or not. To test the state of your thermocouple, you’ll need a multimeter. 

Remove the thermocouple sensor from your Stanley heater to ensure that no current is flowing through the circuit. Set your digital multimeter to ohms to measure resistance. Choose x1 if there are numerous ohm levels.

Take a measurement of the circuit’s resistance. A thermocouple is made up of two wires that are connected at one end (the “hot” junction). Read the multimeter display after placing one probe on each of the wires.

The circuit is continuous if the resistance is low (less than one ohm). The circuit is open if the resistance is infinite, which means it is defective. In that case, you’ll need to have it replaced.

6. Bad Heating Element

The heating element will malfunction and need to be fixed if it gets cracked, damaged, or discolored in any manner.

When a heating element breaks, the surface area on which heat is produced is frequently reduced.

This significantly increases the likelihood of the heating unit overheating, posing a safety concern to the user. Even if you turn the heater on numerous times, faulty heating elements will usually cause the heater to shut off.

Solution:

Switching on your heater and taking a short look at the things themselves is a quick way to test and determine if your heating elements are in good working order.

When a heated element is at its best, it will glow bright orange, like the dying embers of a fire. It’s possible that the elements will need to be replaced if the items don’t burn or glow dimly. You can further test with a multimeter. Watch this video for assistance.

7. Tip-Over Safety Feature

Stanley heaters come with a safety function that turns them off whenever the safety device detects that it is in a tilted position.

So, if your heater is on an uneven surface or is inclined to be aside for whatever reason, it will shut off.

Solution:

Make sure that the heater is on a firm and flat surface. Even better if you put it on the ground only. 

FAQ:

Why is my electric furnace short cycling?

Your heater may be shutting off prematurely because your thermostat is getting an incorrect reading, dirty thermocouple, or the heater is too big for the room. 

How do you reset a portable heater?

Your heater may have a reset switch that just needs to be pushed to get your heater to reset. Without the reset button, you can manually reset the heater by switching it off, unplugging it, waiting 10 minutes, and plugging it back on.

What type of space heater is best for indoors?

Radiant space heaters are one of the greatest indoor heating alternatives. This style of heater can also be used outside. Radiant heaters are popular because they do away with the requirement for insulation.

How long can electric heaters be left on?

A higher-end heater can be expected to run for almost 10 hours without any trouble. The majority of fire safety experts recommend heating a room for two to three hours before sleeping, then shutting it off.

Conclusion

Hopefully, your Stanley heater keeps shutting off no longer after you have tried out our effective and easy solutions. Enjoy the cozy winter!

If still you have any quires, let’s know in the comment box. You’ll hear from us soon.

About William

William is the founder of Fireplacehubs.com. He has real life practical skills in fixing smoker & heating appliance issues. He loves to share his knowledge & helps others in fixing their appliances & saving their money. William firmly believes that anyone can repair his or her unit with the correct guidance & knowledge. See more at about us.

2 thoughts on “Why Stanley Heater Keeps Shutting Off [7 Easy Solutions]”

    • Hi Randy

      First, make sure that the wall outlet where you plug your heater provides enough electricity to power up it.

      Then, check for any loose wiring & blocked blades & fix them if needed. Also, clean the fan blades, then, try to operate the heater.

      Hopefully, your heater issue will be solved.

      Best of luck!

      Reply

Leave a Comment