Electric heaters are some of the most reliable heaters available. But sometimes they do have problems and you need to troubleshoot them. This tutorial will look at the possible issues you may run into and how to fix them.
Symptom: Heater Does Not Work - No Heat
Possible Cause(s):
- Loose or disconnected wiring connected to unit;
- Circuit breaker tripped;
- Fuse is blown;
- Incorrect thermostat setting;
- Obstructed airflow from unit;
- Heating element in heater is defective;
Possible Repair(s):
- If the breaker is tripped, reset the circuit breaker;
- If the fuse is blown or popped, replace with appropriate fuse;
- If fuse or breaker are good, please make sure power is turned off to the electric heater at the service panel before making this repair. Once power is turned off to the heater, remove the heater control knob and if the unit has a separate thermostat, remove the thermostat knob, and loosen the knob stem nuts and face plate mounting screws and remove the unit from the wall. Check the wiring connections and tighten any loose or disconnected connections.
- Check the thermostat setting to make sure it is not set too low and not calling for heat;
- Check to make sure there are no obstructions to air flow such as drapes, furniture, plants, etc.
- If all the above do not work, then it is likely the heating element in the heater is bad and will need to be replaced.
