BBQ Repair Doctor does patio heater repair at homes across Los Angeles County and Ventura County. We fix propane and natural gas heaters that won’t light, light and then go out, burn with a weak or yellow flame, or never get the screen glowing, and we replace the igniters, thermocouples, tilt switches, regulators and gas valves behind those faults.
We’re a family-owned company with more than 30 years of work on outdoor gas equipment, from built-in grills to the tall heater standing next to your dining table. If yours sat unused all summer and won’t cooperate now that the evenings have turned cool, here’s what we look at and what a visit involves.
Patio heater problems we fix
Most calls start with one of these complaints. Next to each one is the part we usually end up testing.
- Won’t light at all. A failed igniter, a cracked electrode, a pilot orifice blocked by spiders or debris, or no gas getting past the regulator.
- Lights, then dies the moment you let go of the knob. The thermocouple isn’t proving the flame, or the tilt switch wired into the same circuit has opened.
- Igniter clicks but nothing catches. The spark is jumping to the wrong spot, or gas isn’t reaching the pilot.
- Runs for a few minutes and shuts itself off. Usually a tired thermocouple or a pilot flame too small to keep it hot.
- Weak, lazy or yellow flame, sometimes with soot on the screen. Dirty burner ports, a partly blocked orifice, or low gas pressure.
- Flame is on but the emitter never glows. Low pressure from the regulator or a gas valve that won’t open fully.
- Knob is stiff, sticks, or won’t turn to high. A corroded or failing gas valve.
- Frost on the regulator, or a cracked hose. Both get replaced, not patched.
Want to rule out the simple things first, like an empty tank or a dead igniter battery? Our guide on what to do when a patio heater won’t light or stay lit covers the checks a homeowner can safely make. Anything past those is work for a technician.
Heater types we repair
Tall propane heaters are the most common call. That means the mushroom or umbrella style with the tank hidden in the base, and the pyramid or glass tube style with a flame running up a quartz tube. Glass tube models look great on a patio, but they have more to go wrong: the tube itself, the seals that hold it, and a burner sitting low in the base where water and leaves collect.
We also service wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted heaters on patios, under eaves and in outdoor kitchens. Some are natural gas units piped into the house supply. Others are infrared heaters, gas or electric, that run from a switch or a remote. Tabletop propane heaters get the same attention as the big ones, since they use the same kind of valve and thermocouple, only smaller.
Brands we see often include Bromic, Dayva, DCS, Endless Summer, Fire Sense, Infratech, Lava Heat Italia, Lynx, Patio Comfort, Solaira, SunGlo, Sunpak, Sunmaster and UniFlame. If yours isn’t on that list, call anyway. Most heaters are built around the same handful of parts.
What happens on a repair visit
The technician starts by asking what the heater does when you try to start it, then watches it happen. Seeing the fault in person is quicker than guessing at it.
- Leak check the tank connection, the hose and the regulator before anything is lit.
- Test the ignition and safety circuit: the igniter spark, the thermocouple output and the tilt switch.
- Inspect the burner, orifice and emitter screen for blockage, soot or rust.
- Give you a firm quote for the repair before any work starts. You decide whether we go ahead.
- Replace the failed part, then leak check every joint that was opened.
- Light the heater and run it, checking the flame and the glow across the whole screen before we pack up.
Parts we install and the labor to install them carry a warranty. If the head is rusted through or the valve body is cracked, we’ll say so and let you weigh repair against replacement with the facts in front of you.
Once it’s running again, a little care through the wet months keeps it that way. Here’s how to maintain your patio heater between visits.
When to switch it off and leave it off
Turn the knob to off, close the tank valve or the gas shut-off, and wait for us if you notice any of these:
- A gas smell that comes back after you’ve tightened the tank connection.
- Black soot on the head or a sharp exhaust smell.
- Flame showing around the control housing or the bottom of the head instead of at the burner.
- A heater that has tipped over or been scorched, or a hose that’s kinked, cracked or chewed.
If the smell of gas is strong, get everyone away from the heater first. Then call your gas utility’s emergency line or 911 from somewhere safe.
Where we work
We come to homes throughout Los Angeles County and Ventura County, including Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Calabasas, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Pasadena, San Marino, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Camarillo and Ojai.
The same technicians work on grills, so if the barbecue next to the heater needs attention too, take a look at our pages on BBQ repair in Los Angeles and barbecue repair in Ventura County. Running a restaurant or bar patio with a row of heaters? That work has its own page: commercial patio heater repair.
Common questions
Is it worth repairing a patio heater, or should I replace it?
Most heater faults come down to one small part, such as a thermocouple, an igniter, a tilt switch or a regulator, and the rest of the heater is fine. Replacement starts to make sense when the head or the post has rusted through, or the emitter screen is burned out. The technician will tell you which situation you’re in before you spend anything.
Do you repair natural gas and wall-mounted heaters, or only propane?
Both. We work on freestanding propane heaters and on natural gas heaters mounted to walls, beams and ceilings, along with gas and electric infrared units. For a hard-piped heater, let us know where the gas shut-off is so the technician can isolate it.
What should I have ready before the technician arrives?
A propane tank with gas in it, so we can run the heater once it’s fixed, and clear access to the heater. If you can find the label with the brand and model number, a photo of it helps us bring the right parts. Note anything you’ve already tried, too.
Can you come out the same day?
Same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows. If your model needs a part that has to be ordered, the technician will tell you before leaving and set up the return visit.
Do you also fix fire pits and outdoor fireplaces?
Yes. Gas fire features use the same pilots, thermocouples and valves as a patio heater, so we handle fire pit repair and outdoor gas fireplace repair as well. One visit can cover the heater and the fire pit beside it.
Get your heater working again
Call 818-392-8666, describe what happens when you press the igniter, and give us the brand if you can see it. Our certified technicians will look at the heater, give you a firm quote and get it burning properly again. You can also send the details through our online form.
