Grandma quickly fixes propane heater that won't stay lit

See how to quickly fix your propane heater that won't stay lit by bypassing a faulty tipping mechanism. The tipping mechanism is a safety feature that is not always needed and often quits working in these propane heaters.
This patio heater is a Hampton Bay.
The full process took less than 30 minutes and required a screw driver, some electrical tape, and a little piece of conductive wire. (alternately, instead of using a wire to bridge those clips the way I did, one could cut and strip the wires and connect them together that way. But I wasn't sure the problem was the tipping unit, so I didn't want to cut the wires just in case I needed to put them back.)
There are just two of us living here and we never use the heater unattended. It's in a low traffic area and has a heavy base. It has never even come close to tipping over and is not ever likely to happen. But every scenario is different, so use your best judgement about the likelihood that your heater could tip over unattended.
Another common problem with patio heaters is the theromcouple. This video shows that unit but doesn't go into how to bypass that.
Please be safe and good luck fixing your heater.

[@bav114]

Madam you are an absolute legend. Our patio heater wouldn’t stay on last night and it was cold here in the U.K. I tried your fix and it’s worked. Sending hugs and love across the pond ❤

[@noblerodkustom976]

I honestly like your voice for narration. It's very calming and soothing!

[@lalovillafranco7600]

I had a different type of model, but I followed your advice and it does work very well. I just cut two small pieces of cable, joined them and put electrical tape on them and it worked perfectly....thank you very much

[@lalovillafranco7600]

my grandmother the most beautiful in the world😊😊thank you !!!!respectful🙏🙏🙏

[@emtluis]

I found a patio heater on market place for $10 bucks and it wouldn’t stay lit. Searched “ patio heater won’t stay lit “ and your video came up , your video is great and I did as you mentioned .. I now have a great working patio heater for $10 !!

[@Groover1]

I'm also 62 years old, my patio heater hasn't worked for 2 years and had no idea why, after watching your video, the issue was resolved instantly. Many thanks for your help, from Wales UK.

[@poshpetals6551]

Grandma thank you so much. We bought a Hampton Bay heater and put it together in 2018 and never used it until this year. It wouldn't light so we watched a video that didn't help and then we found you. You are a godsend thank you again.

[@williamsullivan7080]

Is the top too close to the ceiling?

[@terryrlowe]

This grandpa is thankful for your solution. Worked perfectly!

[@jackbrownarchive]

Amazing! Thank you so much for this fix, I had already tried all the fake "troubleshooting guides"...generic and useless. This instantly fixed my heater.

[@Rayddd447]

It worked! Bypassed the tilt mechanism and it works like new. I am taking my replacement heater back to the store for a refund. Thank you

[@Teachworthrocks]

WOW! this video fixed my problem! excellent video. You saved me sooooo much time! Thank You, Dennis

[@hongdale]

I was going to toss out the unit but because of your video I am encouraged to fix it myself. Thanks!

[@JohnWaclawski]

Thank you VERY MUCH!! You just saved my wife's 60th birthday party!!!

[@rogerkahn]

The tip switch failed after the heater blew over in an intense wind gust. I replaced the switch - instead of bypassing it as suggested in the video - in about the same amount of time. Cost me $11.99 for a two pack. The next time the heater blows over it will turn off - as before - and it won't burn the deck.

[@shannonrebinski6882]

Wow, we thought we had a clogged thermocouple but first tried this instead, and it works! Thanks gramma!❤

[@jencarrigan6797]

Thank you so much, that was our issue! You made me the hero in helping my hubby fix the heater!

[@maximo200100]

After watching many videos, finally ur videos work for us, thank you grandma!

[@teole6228]

wow! Grandma's video to fix the problem is excellent! I saw a few people cut off the connector and then tied both wires together. If they decide to connect back when they replace the safety switch then screw!!!

[@mhern57]

Great job grandma! Doing better than a lot of grandpas I'll tell ya!😀

[@Velnius_Black]

BEST FIX ONLINE!!!!!! DO THIS!!!!

[@Velnius_Black]

BEST FIX ONLINE!!!!!!

[@KyleObst]

Grandma knows best… Worked like a charm!

[@danielconaway2055]

Grandma AGAIN for the win!! -- same symptom; spliced around my cutoff-switch today and it took right off. AMAZING that the common issue here is what looks-like a 12-cent switch in all of these heaters --

[@shot_by_su_6078]

Great tip! After cleaning the pilot tube I had the same issue. Bypassed the tilt switch and it works!

[@isaacuban5474]

You're a lifesaver. I just spent 2 hours putting mine together only to have this issue. My tilt switch was fine, but the the wires were not even connected. I had to squeeze the terminals with some plyers to get them back on. Fired up, stayed lit after 10 seconds, and away we went.

[@donaldr8431]

Your video is fantastic. I have been working on this heater all day. I was just about to take it to the trash. I saw your video and figured I would give it a try. What do you know. It worked. Thank you so much

[@davee6161]

Thanks for the great information, I was just about to throw our heater away. Works like a charm now.

[@minnieblundell]

This video is awesome. My partner is cheering as this fixed the issue we had on our heater

[@nhavu8244]

Thanks for the video. I almost give up until i see grandma video

[@azazelsgoat]

Never underestimate a determined grandma. 👍

[@jeffreyolsson4451]

So glad I ran across your video. My 2 space heaters haven’t worked in a year. The thermocouples did have some carbon on them which I lightly sanded off. While apart I bypassed the tip over switches just to be sure and everything works Gr8. I’m all about safety but my heaters are never left unattended when turned on so I’m not worried about a tip over switch.

[@DDB28]

Hey I just came to say thanks for the advice, i just fixed my heater right now thanks to your video, thank you again

[@Mondo_0ne]

Grandma for the win!!! Thank you

[@jamesvincent7239]

Fantastic! I just did this trick! Worked perfectly!!! Thank you!

[@kevinwendolowski5466]

Great video! I had same issue... Your video got me back up and running... THANKS!

[@StephanieSomarriba-mv1zt]

Thank you so much, Grandma! It was the perfect fix!😄

[@haroldlasley2887]

Thanks, now I'm ready for winter you were correct. Now unit works great

[@csabi770]

I had no idea this had a tilt switch. Thank you for today’s lesson !

[@natmellon4657]

Thank you for posting, bypassed the trip switch so at least I would freeze tonight at the grill!!!

[@hbadge22]

Oh my god, you’re the best lol. Just found one of these on the street for trash day. Too bad the owners didn’t do their research 😂. Finders keepers!😎

[@eggnog74]

Yes! Already bought the replacement and that was a dud so I had a look at the old one again and this was the fix. Thank you!

[@kurtgoodwin9490]

This is fantastic. Thanks much. Will try again tomorrow. Never thought of a tilt switch.

[@bryanfarndale3091]

Nice fix, 🎉 we are rockin and warm tonight, Thank you

[@josephdohnt2656]

Works a treat, you're an absolute legend

[@davidgalluccio7804]

Thank you for your observation and access steps. Your tutorial was my third. My unit is only a few months old and not used much until recently. Disassembly your way will enable me to clean and inspect fewer steps hopefully.

[@matthewcoleman3162]

This video was perfect for fixing our propane heater. Took maybe 45 minutes to fix! Thank you for posting this!

[@mohamedbenali7028]

Is working now?

[@hamidamtdi]

Thank you

[@ajasmith9913]

Thank You! From one lady to another. My heater had the same problem and this fixed it right up. I think i was tilting it moving it around.

[@polderfamily442]

Excellent tip, worked great. FYI, my particular model had a door to access the tilt mechanism, thus didn’t need to disassemble. Check to see if your model has this access door.

[@joshdunn6334]

Thank you for this video! Fixed our heater in 10 minutes! After messing with other things for an hour! 😆

[@robertanthony3434]

Wow fixed it!! Thanks Grandma! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@chodge8366]

have a similar hampton bay. brand new. im going to try this

[@sigmundsmith6978]

Thanks grandma! It works now until I can get a replacement part

[@zacharyvought5597]

I bypassed the tilt. Fixed. Thanks!

[@justincrisman3797]

Fixed mine in less than 5 minutes! Thank you

[@ranj9964]

Really ! THANK YOU GRANDMA GOD BLESS YOU

[@MarcDwithaC]

Bypassing the tilt switch worked, thanks!!!

[@brendacassidy5344]

Great job! Not sure if this is the deal with mine but I sure wouldn't have gotten to that w/o calling for help...I hate asking for help..lol

[@Steve-nf1tg]

Thanks, worked like a charm.

[@davidbednar76]

Fixed mine. Very easy. Thank you very much!!!

[@jwoods8573]

Great fix! Thank you!

[@jwoods8573]

I understand safety, but what would be going on to knock one of these down while lit?

[@joshuakitchel383]

Thank you this fixed my issue with mine!.. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@giulianoMX]

Awesome video grandma.

[@kronicprice]

Thank yoi for the video. Worked like a charm

[@Annon89]

So good fix but I didn’t realize they had a tilt sensor in them. Leveling out the heater fixed my problem. Good job though.

[@rigoavalos2218]

Thanks grandma!!!

[@giovannisembenini7244]

Thank you for this quick fix.

[@georgemangle304]

Thank you so much for sharing! Worked perfectly on mine!

[@staceystone2312]

That fixed ours. The base of ours is full of sand, we have no kids or pets that could knock it over and it's out of the way in a corner of our porch. I'm ok with bypassing it.

[@DanielMurphy-n6t]

It worked! Thank you so much!

[@hookbrother]

Thanks Gram!

[@bubbamckenzie7759]

I just shook it violently and it worked😂

[@drewpieros]

AWESOME FIX‼️

[@TaylorTEK]

Thank you fixed my heater!

[@DebbieSmith-qr2is]

Works great thanks for sharing

[@mufdvr83]

Saved me this was my issue thank you so much

[@Nilk666]

Excellent!thank you

[@cynthiapolynice3028]

Hi, great video! Is your plastic wrapper still on? I only ask because the cover looks white instead of silver… if it is, they ask that you remove it as a safety precaution… thanks so much for you very informative and to the point video!

[@leonardanthony2564]

Worked like a charm!!

[@5yankeefan]

Worked perfectly!

[@jimmymondragon2359]

Thanks grandma big help

[@stevemontoya8]

Thank you!

[@saulfregoso7704]

Thank you!!! Worked perfectly!

[@gloryshine1660]

Thank you...worked perfectly!!

[@54egg]

Great video. Thank You! This was my problem. Wish you had a link for the switch, I am going to have to buy one because I am going to sell my heater. I found on amazon $7

[@zackwhaley5350]

Worked great. Thanks for the tip gram grams

[@bartamarine]

Thanks grandma!

[@barryhunter2309]

Thank you. This was my issue as well.

[@lazyserver]

Nice.. thank you!

[@Max_Maximus_69]

Thanks!

[@rjferraro17]

you are the bomb, can you purchase a new tip thingy?

[@keitha.9788]

The thermocouple produces a very low voltage (typically less than 20 millivolts) and current which activates the gas safety valve. The problem is that quite often the tilt switch (sometimes called a dump switch) has contacts that get a little corroded and increase the contact resistance just enough so that the gas safety valve doesn't operate. NOT a very smart idea to bypass that tilt switch considering that you can buy them for less than $20......

[@shaneshapiro]

Do you have a recommendation on where to get this and how to do it?

[@Youtubeuser1aa]

Yeah someone’s one catch their house on fire like this

[@abelfernandogutierrezbusti8981]

Gracias por el video, muy sencillo. Ya arregle el mio, Saludos.

[@ronarollins5182]

Thanks G-MOM ! You rock ! Short Sweet and to the point. Thanks for saving me from the macho man stuff. I watched and listened to 3 videos by men and nothing they recommended work, one video by a woman in half the time and my patio heaters are working.. Men… lol Thanks again

[@pellouch]

yikes. that's pretty close to that wood wall!

[@MRHAM-ALL-DAY]

Awesome!!

[@ivandubois4955]

Worked for me thanks!

[@massholeanglersassociation9891]

Grandma you save my ass today

[@heenabajaj3756]

Thank you so much

[@PB-gb3ii]

Brilliant!

[@standtall7646]

Good tip. However: Use proper male joint splices for connection. They are made for these types of connections. Also, if you live in California or earthquake prone areas, I highly advise NOT relying on this as a permanent fix. Replace the Tilt Mechanism. Thank you, Grandma.

[@colleenbesz8095]

GENIUS!!