Resurrecting Your Space Heater: Thermostat Switch Repair Journey

[@Redbaron_sites]

No sir, with all due respect it's not just entertaining, it saves money and that is very important to me and many others. God bless you for your work❤!

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Leaving for the first of my cancer surgeries shortly and who knows where any of this leads. Hopefully I'll be able to get the planned two step set up to resolve these finicky thermoswitch problems.

[@PropGuru702]

From a young buck to an older cat, I thank you. This allegedly fixed my heater... Hypothetically speaking of course. Thank you sir! You're a saint and a scholar

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Dean, If you have to redo it, it isn't as big a deal this time. I've got a new thermal switch coming I'll be doing a video on installing the new switch and a temporary on switch on the bottom of the heater housing in the event the machine is tipped. Thanks for watching.

[@dgchatham]

The filing of the points was what I was unaware of in trying to get the heater back to working. Thanks.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Hope this video was of assistance in putting your heater back into service. Please subscribe and thanks for watching.

[@hobomike6935]

I took the risk, and tried fixing it at home. The problem *seemed* to just be dirt/dust; but I did see some of that scale buildup on the contacts, which didn’t really touch very well. I used a nail clipper file to abrase most of it that i could reach off, got it wiped/toweled out, and put it back together. Seems to work much better than before! But if it does go bad again in the future, I’ll probably just swap it in for a new space heater

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Mike, I'm glad this was at least some help to you. If you got the point contactors to fit nice and flat when they are mated, it may last you many years to come. Good luck and thank you for watching. I have an update on this repair utilizing new replacement parts you may be interested in. Please subscribe and hit the notification bell for the next upcoming video. I was asked to do a Give Away contest for Super Clean. Cost nothing to enter and you can win a Super Clean Cap and three different Super Clean products shipped to you at no cost. I can use all the help you can muster by sharing and letting people know I'm doing how to and repair videos. Thanks for watching and commenting. Max

[@jamescharles1756]

Sure am glad I found this video. I have watched a lot of videos on room heaters to learn you should just throw them away. Now mine works just like it did for 10 years before the switch burned up. It was crispy. Thank you for helping me.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Looks like it's time to put the old space heater back into service. How's it doing now?

[@louisianaq4192]

Thanks

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@andrewdixon5936]

Thanks for the "entertainment" I enjoyed myself so much I decided to do it myself successfully. Now I have some breathing room while I try to find a spare for when the fun runs out

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Glad we could help. Thanks for watching.

[@michaeljessie1853]

Great job Max, That’s one way to heat things up again.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Thank you kindly Sir! Now you know how to make your old shop heater hit a lick!

[@andrewj7424]

Sadly my contacts are so fried theres nothing really left

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

In that case, find something metallic, fold it several times to make a contactor. Attach it to the metal arm that remains. It needs to take high heat and amperage. It will get you back into business. One of my videos shows I used a commercial paper binder retainer rib. I folded it about 5 times, slid it down over the arm and it's been working perfectly for over a year now. Good luck and thanks for watching. Please subscribe and like.

[@markberry7231]

Thanks. Fixed mine.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Glad I could help. We have some new household and shop appliances we'll be repairing for entertainment purposes in the future. Hope you'll subscribe and hit the little notification bell for those when they pop up. Thanks for watching.

[@blueram8610]

Thank you you sure explain it well

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Hope you get all your space heaters blowing warm air again soon. Thanks for watching. Have an update coming soon.

[@FrugalShave]

I enjoyed this video. It was entertaining. I'm going to replace the switch because I am not in a hurry for that heat, but I enjoyed watching anyway.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Glad you enjoyed it. If you find a good source for those switches, please share as I've never been successful in sourcing them. By the way, all of the little Patton Milk House heaters I've had to breath life into have been doing great this winter. Shoot me some pics of your switch if you don't mind and send them to maxsgarajmahal[at]gmail.com as I'd like to see if it is bi-metal problems or the point contacts are burnt. Thank you in advance, Max

[@MixiricaGames]

Hello! I have a question. Can I connect the cables of a KST thermostat directly to one another? I mean, I have a grill and its thermostat just burned (stop working)... So the grill's lights turns on but the grill itself doesn't have any change in temperature. I tried to find some new Kst254 thermostat to buy, but i couldn't find any. So... In this case, could I connect the cables from the thermostat KST directly to one another?

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I won't tell you to do that but you might put some sort of switch between the two wires along with a fuse. That will help keep you in somewhat safe mode. But then I'd never tell you to do that.

[@wesleyashley99]

The thermostat may last longer if less current was going through it. Maybe use a secondary low voltage circuit and a relay to switch the high voltage. Im not an expert and haven't tried it so it's your own risk if you try it.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Funny you mention that as I was thinking the other day when the new switches comes in I'm considering putting a relay in the circuit to reduce the load on the switch itself. Thanks for the information. Thanks for watching.

[@GoldyGamertv]

worked perfectly in my case i only had to clean it with rubbing alcohol and remove all the dust out.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Glad to hear that. Just finished working on two just yesterday that wouldn't turn off. Problem: Points welded together. Solution: Filing the points just enough to clean the contactor surface and make sure they are perfectly parallel when resting together. First one was on camera and I'd messed with it to diagnose the problem and of course it wouldn't let me duplicate the problem as I'd basically already broken the contact surfaces and of course, soon as the filming was concluded I ran into another I had to fix and wasn't enough time to shoot another film. Thanks for watching, Max

[@victorwalter5323]

I straight wired two of my milkhouse heaters, but I have sense enough to Unplug them when I am not there.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Straight wiring isn't something I could afford to show on air as any buildings they burned up might bite me. Can it be done, testing purposes only of course. I'll have a video coming soon to show the new thermaswitch I found along with a temporary on button that allows the termalswitch to turn on when upright. When tipped or picked up it will automatically shut off. ThanksThanks for watching.

[@SouthernSierra56]

18650 baby! That's a bad ass battery. Got about 40 good used ones(from backup modem batteries. Any of those that say 4000 or so up(amp hours) is false adv as these batteries aren't capable of that much capacity. Most RV batteries are made with a bunch of these strung together.

[@midlandernc7403]

Buy replacement for as little as 3.99 and free shipping look up bimetalic thermostat.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I just found the items you're speaking to. However there isn't an inertia weight on them to keep the heating elements from continuing to heat if the heater is turned over. These would create a dangerous situation for most folks and are not recommended by me at this time. I may, however, install a spring loaded temporary on switch on the bottom of the heater housing, wire the switch to it then back to the bi-metal thermostat switch. Another thing required to use this is to drill two small holes to mount it to the heater housing. I don't think most people will spend the money for two switches let alone want to drill to mount the bi-metallic thermostat. I still may do one for entertainment purposes. Thanks midlandernc7403. And thanks for watching.

[@ace8237]

Love the outro song!

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Go by Jon and tell him I sent you. His new brand is KJ Wild. All new music, songs, vocals, etc. You may love the new stuff even more.

[@narimenrhodes-zh7tr]

Nothing ANYWHERE on youtube about: 500w Heater BLOCK repair.😢 Oh, probably a capacitor.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Shoot me some photos of the block heater, the brand, model number and pop it apart for some more photos, I'll see if I can figure it out from this end. Email is below or just add @gmail to my brand.

[@ryanmcdonald5351]

Entertainment has never been so warm...

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

You should have been on this end. lol. Hope you learned something helpful. Thanks for watching. Max

[@MrRichStephens]

anyone know where to get a new thermostat ??

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I have a pair of new thermostats I intend to install that will require a second switch to maintain safety in case of tipping over. Video is coming. So far, I've bought to lots of them and both have been 50% bad upon arrival. If I get any of them to work properly and be dependable, I'm going to be surprised. First thing I must do is make the new thermoswitches work and dependable. Keep an eye open for the updated where to buy, how to install video. Thanks for watching.

[@louisianaq4192]

I like your video lol 👍🏽

[@justineanglemyer3980]

Very entertaining, definitely not going to do that at home😅

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I don't blame you. I do have 12 of those heaters of which 9 now have modified switches that work perfectly unattended during extremely low temps. Bear in mind that all my circuits have ground fault interrupters at the beginning of each run as well as ground fault interrupter breakers with all heaters kept well away from anything that may be flammable. I do tell people this is for entertainment purposes only so I think you may be smart to stay with your first thoughts. Soon as I have one that can't be brought back to service safely the next repair will be the absolute cure for these heaters until their coils are heated and cooled so many times the coils break from embrittlement. How you're probably asking in your noodle? Well, add a momentary switch in the bottom that contacts the surface in order to depress the switch to make contact with an onboard thermostat. May do one with a divorced thermostat that can be hung instead of at such a low altitude that causes the heater to run longer than necessary. Let me know your thoughts on the two thermostats. Thanks for the comment which made me chuckle and thanks for watching.

[@justineanglemyer3980]

@@MaxsGarajMahal Thanks for the valuable information. I have a Utilitech heater I am about to fix up with the same thermostat issue you described! Much appreciated!

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

@@justineanglemyer3980 I wish you luck and God's speed. Keep us informed.

[@dirty_butter]

wow

[@louisianaq4192]

❤❤❤❤

[@brucehagadone7398]

🤣🤣🤣🤣. ❤️it !! Everything works in theory , believe me My problem is after fixing a fan issue & after putting back together 2 times. Turn on heats up & turns off I tried different positions on the Rio stat heat control Heats up 2 minutes & turns off just noticed it’s kinda dirty on the heating element I will grab a infrared thermometer at work in a few days & see how hot it get Less Some one tells me a fix ? F - heat worked Just had a bent fan blade. I use the shit out of it heating phones up to separate & Drying out my bathroom

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Bruce, that sounds like the bi-metal spring contacts may be dirty. Clean them really nicely with a metal point file making sure they make nice, flat contact. Another thing could be the bi-metal spring has become over heated on one side and you may have to reshape the leafs so that they have a bit more pressure on one side than the opposite. Just makes sure they are flat and parallel. I'm going to be doing a new 'cure' for all space - room heaters if the switches ever gets here. It is going to involve and brand new bi-metal spring switch but you'll have to drill two holes to mount it to the heater front. It will also require a hole for a momentary normally open switch on the bottom of the machine in the event the machine is tilted about 10 to 15% for safety sake. This repair should bring them back to exactly as good as they were if not better and for sure safe as the machine will have to be sitting flat on the floor to work. I also intend to put at least one on a digital thermostat to override the bimetal switches. I'm doing one with no bimetal spring, just a rheostat switch connected to the momentary switch and wall thermostat to see which one I like best and which performs best. Will make a video of this process. Good luck and thanks for watching. Max

[@victork3397]

Those thermostats are garbage. I did this a few months ago and the contacts ended up getting welded together. I researched for about an hour, maybe two for the thermostats and the only one I could find didn’t have the tilt switch. And you had to buy in bulk from China. I assumed the quality wasn’t any better so I never bought them. I ended up replacing the thermostat yesterday with one from an old in-wall space heater and added a plunger switch to the bottom of the heater, it gets depressed when it’s standing up. When it falls over, it shuts the heater off. Might make a video to show the details. Should’ve taken before after pictures, but oh well.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I've done that to several, however, most folks aren't capable of this simple modification you've done so I teach them how to utilize what they have and make it work properly. I just shot a video of a heater that just came to me with the same problem you had. Contacts welded together. Soon as I finished the video, be danged if I didn't get another one in worse than the one I used for the video. Didn't have time to shoot another though. I simply cleaned the high spots from the crispy contacts making them flat and parallel and it works perfectly. I'm glad you did the correct repair as it will last you many many years. Thanks for watching. Max Hughes

[@kedakoop]

All I did was use a folder that has them paper thin metal things that keep the paper in the folder I ripped one off I put it between the first 2 metal pieces which gave it contact and it worked my turn knob is missing and the pin that actually touches the metal as u screw in or out so that what I did if people want me to make a video how I did itsend comments

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Excellent. My kinda guy. I don't want to know a hundred ways things don't or won't work I only need to know one way they will work. Congrats on a solution for you and others. Why not make a video? You can become a reality star just like me!! NOT or at least I'm not. Thanks for commenting, thanks for watching.

[@kedakoop]

@@MaxsGarajMahal thanks by watching your video I got out of it that them 3 metal pieces touches each other as u turn the knob because before I watched the video I seen the metal that was making a small pin hole and it made metal gather up in that area I had used a razor to pop it off the metal sheet so I thank you for giving me the idea

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

@@kedakoop You are most welcome. I look forward to seeing your video.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I've hit up several manufacturers to sell me a hundred so I could simply mail them out to people in need at a dollar over cost. They want 25000 units at once. Believe I'll have to pass because the quality control on the few samples I've had so far have been 1 of 3 works without having to adjust the bi-metal spring contact points which most of those in need would never get a flat full contact surface and I'd end up sued for their house being burned down. So I've had to pass.

[@devonbaker8901]

My weight melted off because they used a plastic peice on a heater lol

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I haven't seen a weight installed with plastic yet. But I'm sure they're out there as you're now the second that's told me this. I haven't bought a new heater in 8 years due to repairing what I have so I'm behind apparently. Thanks for watching.

[@Azumarill]

​@@MaxsGarajMahal make that a third, here - imagine this light colored bar with the barbell on one end @8:41 has melted in half, though I would say mine's easily this old and has the "patton" logo on the front I wonder if it's a safety feature? like obviously since it's gotten hot enough to melt off the weight then it needs to turn off or it'll burn your house down. I could see an argument for "oh they just want you to buy another one" on the other hand.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

@@Azumarill Yes it is a safety feature in the event the the heater is tipped or knocked over. You are on the right track.

[@devonbaker8901]

@@MaxsGarajMahal thanks for your video helped keep me and my wife warm out central heat went out and I got a space heater for temperory because we got in the negatives that week it went out to but thanks to your video I was able to rig it to work I didn’t do exactly what you did I just folded up a tiny peice of aluminum foil and put it in the contacts it worked great I just wanted to say thanks a lot

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I'm very happy my video gave you an idea on how to keep you and your bride from freezing. Now this coming spring, maybe you'll find time to do something permanent in the little heater.@@devonbaker8901

[@beulahverdell]

😂😂😂❤

[@fritz2259]

🥱🥱

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Thanks for watching

[@jamesjross]

I think it was an entertaining video you're a great content creator. I came across this because I need to fix a thermostat problem on a space heater. This was perfect, now I know what I'm looking for. I just needed to know what one looked like. I also found this video entertaining. I just want to add, the "Talk too much, Talk too little, Too much info, not enough..." stuff. People complain about anything and everything. Sometimes they are having a bad day. Sometimes they are just bad people. You will see contradicting complaints on the same video. If another youtuber says something constructive and helpful then maybe then it's worth listening to. Everything else is just noise and I would recommend ignoring it and just being yourself. Just think about the people who make these types of comments and what they had to do to submit their complaint. *FIRST* This is FREE content. It's not Disney+. _They didn't pay_ *SECOND* Free will, people have to choose to click on the videos. Further to that, they can also click off at any time. _They chose to watch_ *THIRD* Videos are accurately titled and described. You're not being sponsored. This isn't product placement. You're not selling anything. _They were not misled into watching it and they didn't have to sit through ad reads_ *FOURTH* After not enjoying the video they then spend time telling you about it. _They waste their precious time telling YOU all the things you did wrong_ So the type of people who spend their time writing disparaging remarks on something they willingly watched are not worth taking ANY notice of. Please ignore them and keep making videos.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

This is precisely what I tell other video content creators that are sharing pertinent information for those that seriously need the help. Especially for those that may not be well off enough to throw away their hard earned money for an item that may be revived for a few more years. I appreciate your encouragement and I truly hope this video did help you out. By the way, I have used both those heaters the last few days as temps have dropped dramatically in Arkansas. I also just installed an overhead heater with remote control, thermostat as well as three mode settings which are actually wattage settings. 3000, 4500 and 6000 watts. I shot a phone video of the short explanation of the installation. Didn't do an indepth video and that will bring the comments: "You didn't show the step by step. Can hardly wait to hear it. hahaha. I have a Microwave - Air Fryer - Convection Oven I will be doing a repair video of in the near future for my oldest sister. I would buy her a new one yet she isn't having it since she's sent back two different new models that doesn't suit her. Understandable if you're as set in your ways as she and I. haha. Thank you again for the kind words and for watching.

[@jamesjross]

@@MaxsGarajMahal Brilliant. I've subbed

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

@@jamesjross I am honored to have you aboard. Thank you kindly.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

Mr. Ross, it is almost time to place the old space heater back into service. Hopefully your repair is still working as desired. Thought I'd check up on you and that machine. Have a glorious Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!