As summer heats up, the need for a patio heater reduces. Warmer temperatures at night means your friends and family will be quite comfortable enjoying the evening weather. With all signs pointing to warmer weather, it is time to put away your patio heater until the autumn.
Putting away a patio heater is not as simple as storing it in a shed until colder weather returns. As with any piece of equipment, it requires special instructions and maintenance to be kept like new for the life of the heater. By following the right steps, your patio heater will be ready to last for years to come.
Important to any fuel burning equipment, remember to follow all instructions that came with your patio heater. Failure to do this can result in permanent damage to your heater, and even injury or death. Remember to have the instruction manual handy, and consult it with any questions or concerns.
When storing your patio heater for the summer, the first step is to disconnect the fuel source from the heater unit. For propane or natural gas fueled heaters, your fuel tank will need to be disconnected – remember to turn off the natural gas before trying to remove it. Store the fuel tank in a cool, dry place free of humidity and varying temperatures. For those with electric heaters, unplug the heater and safely wind the cord.
After you have removed the fuel source from your patio heater, it is now time to disassemble the heater. Even if you can store the entire heater in one piece, it may be a good time to check the heater for structural integrity. Check the reflector dish for chips in the paint – exposed parts in the dish can open your heater up to rust, which will cost you more in replacement parts in the long run.
Once your patio heater has been checked for structural integrity, it is time to protect the moving parts from corrosion or other damage. In humid areas, moisture can get into your heater when it is not working on a regular basis, causing rust or corrosion. To protect these items (including the emitter, gas valve, and burner head), use a silicone-based spray. Spraying silicone on these items will displace moisture that can gather, keeping them brand new throughout the warm summer.
Now that your patio heater has been inspected thoroughly, you can stow it away until you are ready to use it when the temperatures drop once again. Remember to keep the heater in a cool, enclosed place. By doing this, you are reducing the risk of weather damage throughout the summer, and protecting your investment for the next season.
Of course, this will not be the only maintenance you will be working on your patio heater. Before you go to use your patio heater once again, it will need to be inspected for gas leaks. This is a major safety check, as one leak can cause injury or death to you or your guests. An easy way to check for these leaks is attaching the propane or gas tank to your heater, and spraying a mixture of dishwashing soap and water to the connection. If the mixture begins to bubble, a gas leak is present, and signifies that the hose and connection need to be repaired immediately. Never start your heater for the first time before checking these connections.
Taking the proper steps to protect your patio heater now can safely protect your investment for years to come. Tender care now will make sure you have a beautiful heater to keep friends and family warm throughout the seasons.
About The Author
Joseph Kortez is a freelance writer with diverse interests including home and garden, outdoor furniture and backyard living. A media professional, his work has been featured on CNN and the CBS Evening News. He currently writes for http://www.outdoorfurnitureplus.com and http://www.instylepatio.com/.
Buying A Heater Online – 10 Things You Should Know
Are you searching the internet to buy a heater or a heating system for your garage, living room or shop? Here are 10 things you should consider in your web search before you make that heater purchase.
1) Search for a company that specializes in heaters and heating-related products. A web site that sells heaters among hundreds of other non-heating related products is usually just an order-taking catalog house with little or no background in the heating industry. Find a heating expert who can answer all your heating questions.
2) While it’s not necessary in this internet age to buy from a local “brick and mortar” storefront, there are still risks associated with making online or telephone purchases. Is the online company you choose also a well-established heating products distributor? Choose a well-established heating company with a good customer service record.
3) Is there a customer service number you can call for assistance? The company you buy from should be able to offer personal design/application assistance through phone and email support and help ensure that you get just the right heater, heaters or heating system to fit your needs. Choose a distributor who can conduct heat loss and design calculations for proper heater sizing and offer you the best heating solution.
4) Ask whether you feel the company you buy from will be around for technical support later on, even many years after the initial purchase. The fact is, all heaters are mechanical in nature, meaning they will eventually fail. Will the company you buy from be able to offer replacement parts and technical support to help fix a problem down the road?
5) Get educated. Know what it is you are trying to accomplish. Are you looking for a garage heater, family room heater, greenhouse heater, patio heater, shop heater, infrared heater, construction heater or fireplace? Vented heater or vent free heater?. There are different heaters for different purposes. What appliances are best suited to these applications? The beauty of the internet is that you have information at your fingertips. The beauty of buying from a heating expert is that you will have someone to speak to in person to get your questions answe
1000
red.
6) Does the web site offer detailed guidelines, specifications and an explanation of uses for each heater? Sites with mere thumbnail photos and “checkout” buttons, with little information by way of heater descriptions and specifications, could be an indication that you are dealing with nothing but an order fulfillment site. Most of these sites offer little in the way of technical expertise and product support.
7) Some heaters require the installation expertise of a qualified heating professional. These heaters may include gas and electric furnaces, garage heaters, fireplaces and many other gas fired vented, unvented and high voltage electrical heating products. Will you be able to do the work yourself, or will you need to hire a professional installer?
Ask – what is the company’s return policy? What is the manufacturer’s product warranty? How easy will it be to return the product if there is a problem? A reputable company should give you a 30 day money-back guarantee should you decide to return the heater. This normally does not include return shipping charges, unless the heater is damaged or defective. In the latter case, the company should offer a complete replacement (including all shipping charges) at no charge to you. NOTE: This normally does not include labor charges. If you hired an installer, you might be obligated to pay that installer the cost of labor to replace the heater, unless he is willing to do so as part of his labor contract with you. If you are acting as the installer, it is not incumbent upon the seller (heating products distributor) to pay you any labor charges to re-install a new replacement heater or do any repairs. As an owner/installer, you accept that risk. That is an industry standard practice.
9) Not only is it important to choose a reputable online company, but you’ll want to choose heating product brands with years of proven use in the marketplace. Choose a heater model with a strong performance record. Imported heater brands are just fine as long as they have been and will continue to have a solid presence in the market for years to come. Few things are more frustrating than finding out that what you purchased 6 months ago is now obsolete, with no recourse for warranty, parts and support services.
10) Lastly, buy from a company with friendly customer-service skills to help you through the selection, purchasing, fulfillment and post installation process. Buying a heater should be as hassle-free as possible. It starts by choosing the best company with the best products and the best customer support.
By: heaterman
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Scott Workman owns and operates Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc. of Draper, Utah. In business since 1986, Infra-Red Products has become recognized as one of the foremost leaders in energy saving infrared heating system design and sales for residential, commercial and industrial consumers. Want to learn more about garage heaters, patio heaters, vent free heaters, gas heaters, electric garage heaters, radiant tube heaters, infrared heaters and more? Email us at getheat@msn.com or visit our web site at: =>
www.heatersunlimited.com
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Home Improvement Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From – Home | Home & Family | Home Improvement
Finding the perfect Roofer Salt Lake city
How the Right Auto Detailing Supplies Can Cut Down Water Consumption
Solid Hardwood Floors v/s Engineered Hardwood Floors
Trends in School Furniture
Manhattan Home Design – Providing Value And Excellence In Furnishing Services
Find a reliable salt lake city roofer for all your future needs
The Environmental, Fiscal, And Personal Advantages Of Applying Home Solar Power
Provencal Fabrics – A Great Choice for Your Household Linens
3 DIY Cleaning Tips You Can’t Live Without
Dont’t Make The Misteke Of Not Buying An Electric Fly Killer!
Corgi Registered Plumbers Bexley
3 Pieces of Information You Need to Have Before You Shop for Living Room Furniture
Make the Most of Bedtime with Bespoke Childrens Beds
Redesign Your Home with Cellular Shades for Your Windows
Rejuvenate Your Home with Remodeling Services
Mail this post