How to bypass your thermocouple on a propane heater 

I''ve looked at a half dozen of these "fix your patio heater" This was the most helpful

It wasn't the manufacturer that did it but FN government overreach that creates these headaches for most of us.

I smiled the whole time watching your video. I feel the same way about the situation. You voiced it like I am thinking all the time.

this is all i needed to know. Thx, BIG TIME. Got my free patio heater working because who ever own it could not figure it out or did not want to.

Just did this on the first stage of my dual sunflower. Note: you don't want to bypass both unless you add a shutoff valve before the second one. Thanks for the video. I will probably fix it the "right" way later, but I'm not concerned about the safety issues in my application for the short term. Helped in a pinch.

One thing I would like to add to this, during the summer season or when it's not used dust can collect in the orifices and around the burner. Take a can of carb cleaner and spray all that really good. It really makes a difference on the flame coming out more evenly. .Also, I converted mine to Natural Gas , tapped into the gas line on the back of the house, purchased a 50-foot heavy duty air hose so I don't have to refill propane tanks anymore. To do this, drill out the orifice with a drill bit (propane is under more pressure and requires a smaller hole than Natural Gas), slightly increase the diameter with different drill bits until you get the exact flame your looking for. Voila, works perfectly and never run out of heat unless you don't pay your bill lol.

Jeff, this should’ve been the 1st video played when I googled my patio heater not working. This will be one of my “day off projects...” thanks a million.

Great video. No more replacing my heater every year or two because that plunger thing locks up during the summer. Just ripped all that crap out of mine brought mine back from the dead. Plus, no more holding the damn knob down! You saved me a couple hundred bucks. You the man!

Dude you're the man. My heater wasn't even a year old and the thermocouple took a shit. Not to mention the tip switch trips if I breathe near the damn thing.

My husband has been working on our patio heater for weeks; he watched your video, removed the thermacouple and believe the problem is solved. Much thanks!

Awesome. I took mine apart half a dozen times and then saw your vid and bypassed the thermo couple.

Jeff, I have spent countless hours in the last few years to keep my heater running....twice in for repair $$$, and this year I was going to take the saws all to it. Best advise I have ever gotten on you tube! I get all the Safety concerns. Thanks a ton.....and safe riding!

Hey Jeff, This was the RIGHT fix for my yard heater. Although the internal thermal mag switch design differed, the concept was exact. One thing to note for everyone, DO NOT forget that most propane tanks ALSO have a volume cut-off flow safety...having said, if a hose was to burn through, would cut off the propane flow at the tank. WAY to many safety systems (hindering) troubleshooting. SO, now I have a good heater that will not annoy the hell out of me at 2am when I am sitting under the stars. Thanks for the video!

Thanks so much for this video. I have the same heater and it sat in my backyard unused for 3-4 years. I took it all apart, removed the guts as you showed, managed to get it back together and it now works better than new. I had to make one more adjustment though, because it sat for so long, the regulator was stuck and only allowed a small amount of gas through. I removed it, banged it on the cement 4-5 times and then hooked it back up and it worked great. Better than new. Saved me quite a few dollars. Thanks again!

Problem with society now a days is that everyone is being babied that most people dont know how to care for themselves... good job brother

worked like a charm. I have a home Depot brand and the electromagnetic insert can simply be removed so you can put it back the way it was purchased if you want to. Great tip! Thank you!

Great video! Just bypassed the tilt switch on my heater. Now is works great. Thanks!!!

My type a guy. This has to be the funniest how to video. I have fought with a propane heater for 3 hours. I was so dang mad having to fight the thermocouple goin bad. We live rural , 40 miles from town. This video has had me laughing all the way to getting my thermocouple bypassed. I love the common sense approach of tellin the Federal Gov, NOT ALL OF US ARE COMPLETELY LED ROUND BY THE NOSE

Jeff, I cannot thank you enough!! I had about given up. Bought this at a garage sale and was told it worked. I tried everything out there to no avail, and then found this video. Fixed in 5 minutes!! You da man! My paranoia will drive me to replace the switch but it is working fine for now!

Thank you, brother! You saved me a ton of ass pain by being able to disable the thermocouple as well as the level feature. You da man!

Jeff ! You are an AWESOME video producer. You explain things So Well. Thanks very much for your outstanding work.

So after cleaning my thermocouple twice to no avail. I replaced it with a new one. Still no heat ! I found your video, and now my garage is nice and toasty ! You are the man ! Thank you, sir !!

Hell yeah dawgie I have been pondering on this for quite some time now I don't have the same unit as you do mine has a similar setup and operation. The patio heater I have is from Home Depot. I removed the tilt sensor, valve spring and cut off the plunger to the valve thank you for posting this video it really helped. I removed the whole tower and base to this unit, drilled and bolted a hook to the top and hung it with a chain from the sealing of my outdoor patio. It hangs about 3 ft from the selling above my outdoor couch and I have yet to see and discolor, bubbles or signs of heat damaging the painted beam which it hangs from or damage to the couch which it hangs above in the past 3 winters I also added an 8ft hose extender line so I could hide the propane tank. No more need to worry about it tipping and it makes it so you can change out propane tanks without fighting with that metal cover.

Omg dude. Your the man! Thank you for your video. I been trying to find a way to do this for a long time. Nobody else has had balls to actually say how to do it. Thanks man 👍

Thanks Jeff! You just gave me the idea to use a small battery hooked to a rocker switch. Label that sucker Bypass. Feel your pain brother.

Thank you for this video! My fire pit required it to run on high to keep this switch open, burning through a 20# tank 90 mins. Safe and green! Amazing engineering. Not any more- starts right up and works AS EXPECTED, not as designed.

I have one of the 360° garage heaters. I figured out that if you unscrew the bracket, there are groves in the brass thermocoupler housing cylinder that allow you to adjust its position. I used the next notch down, bringing the element higher (closer to the heat). Works perfectly now!

Awesome bro definitely will do I was getting ready to buy a new thermal coupler for my heater save me some money thumbs up

i watched a few videos but only yours gave me the understanding of the on/off control and the shaft leading to the thermal coupler. I removed the thermal coupler tip n spring plus bypassed the tip over shut off switch. Now my 1.5 year old patio heater is working again- kudos!

Thanks dude. My table top fire pit has a bit different gas valve, but the concept was the same using thermocouple input. Damn thing was intermittent and wouldn’t stay lit. This took care of the issue and now gas is free flow. Great vid!

Great video glad I found it. Have a small tank mounted heater that we use during the winters when shooting outdoor matches. A little wind cools down the thermocouple enough to shut off the propane. Great big pain in the ass. Also tilt switch shuts off every time we move it to another stage. Took the little plunger out and all is better now. FYI, no need to tie the tilt switch wires together, once you disable the plunger it doesn't matter if the tilt switch works or it doesn't. Thanks.

This was very educational. My heater, a Living Accents brand from ACE....one year old, would not stay lit after lighting pilot and holding in for 30 sec to 3 mins. UGH! I watched your video, took it apart and dove in looking to bypass the thermocouple. BUT... It was a one piece completely encased, no screws...(crap). I did disconnect the tilt..why not? I had the sucker all apart....cleaned the end of the thermocouple, put it back to together and prayed.....The darn knob doesn't even need to be held in for 5 seconds!...I just start as normal and turn it on to high....starts and stays on EVERYTIME!....and moving it around without it going out is sweet......THANKS AGAIN!

This helped me to feel better about having done the same thing to a cabinet propane heater I inherited in my new house. It took me a few years to even bring myself to try the dumb thing, only to find out it didn’t work. Then it took me one new regulator w/hose and a few hours of fiddling around with it, to eventually figure out the stupid thermocouple solenoid was stuck in the closed position preventing the propane from flowing, so I did what you did and that fixed the problem. I wish I had seen your video sooner, it would’ve saved me a few bucks and a few hours but hey, that’s how things usually go for me. I just feel better about what I did now that I see I’m not the only one. Stay safe and Never forget that the safety features are disabled on that thing that’s all. Thank you

Thank you soooo much. I have two tank top 360* heaters which I bypassed the thermocouple and the tip switch. It was simple and very similar to what you demonstrated on your video.

Thanks for the info that problem has been driving me crazy with my heater. I disconnected the tip device long ago but did not know about the thermocouple trick. 👍✌

Jeff, you are the man! I too have tired of standing there holding the pilot for what seems like forever and half the time giving up. After giving up last night again, I decided to disable the "safety" thermocouple today. Ironically my fire pit does not have this safety feature for the brain dead but my tall heater does, for the next 10 minutes anyway. Your video is very helpful, great job.

I didn't know that they were such a simple safety device. Were nice and warm in the shop now thanks to your video. The housing broke on ours and quit working.

The best. Totally removed the tilt switch and cut off the plunger and reassembled. Works perfectly now! Thanks. I was going to buy a new one but do not need to now. As to safety nuts. My heater requires that I open a gas valve and then intentionally push the control in and light it. Not very dangerous at all. No worse than your car and much safer than a stove.

thanks for explaining the how and why. Managed to get all mine working by applying these lessons fi not actually doing what you suggested. Cheers

Before doing what the video shows. Make sure all electric contacts are clean using a small piece of sandpaper. I am refering to all wires including the ones going into gas valve from the anti-tilt switch and the anti-tilt contacts as well. You will have to take the gas valve apart, inside is the little spring loaded plunger, rough up all metal surfaces that the thermocouple will touch to transmit the small current that activates the electro magnet needed to hold the little plunger in the open position. I just did this on my heater, it now works perfectly AND is safe.

Just got back from Christmas Mass awhile ago, drinking beer and keeping warm in the garage now Brother, superb video!!!!

Hey Guy, gotta tell ya the company I work for has a heater just like that except it’s a HomeComfort model, anyway i’m a mechanic working on Forklifts and they called me over to look at this heater and I immediately concluded it was the thermal-couple so I brought it back to my garage and the first thing I did was test it, of course it failed, and for whatever reason I went on RU-vid and u popped up and I gotta say my setup was just a little different then your heater but I did exactly as you did and POOF I had flame, saved me time and money, nice job thx.

Man this is great! My thermocouple just crapped out 10 minutes ago and I figured that there has to be away to bypass it. I built a gas fire pit 3 years ago and it does NOT have a thermocouple. Yahoo and thanks!

Thank you Jeff, I f... around with this heater every year, until now ,..the thing is so cheap the little valve didn't have an "e " clip, pushed it off with spring, I got heat right now thank you, Roy

Could not for the life of me figure out why my propane fire pit would cut out after I released the knob…this did it! Thanks!

Getting cold in Texas and of course my 1 year old heater will no longer light... Going to follow your video and get it up and running. Thanks so much for posting! Cheers!!!

OMG Thank You so much for this video! I applied the steps to a propane tank top heater, same thing, just smaller scale. The thermocouple was malfunctioning so I just took it all off including the tilt switch and now it works perfect!

After You freeze, like near death in your Tree stand, Ice shanty that is 5 miles out because your 2-3 year old heater only works when it wants to. Video's like this feel good. I can remember staring at my mr. buddy on a -10f day with 40mph winds outside thinking I should really do this.

Awesome Jeff. I had mine all apart. Testing the thermocouple but couldnt get it to work. Damn tilt switch. We couldn't figure out WTF that was. Anyways, my brother kept telling me just to bypass the valve and the heck with the thermocouple. :-)

Thanks. My firepit has always been a pain to start. Would usually take 2-3 tries on the pilot before I could get it going. Then it stopped working althogether. I removed the safety mechanism and now it works great. I've always wondered why BBQ grills don't require safety mechanisms but firepits do. There are probably 100X more BBQ grills out there than propane firepits or patio heaters, so 100X more of a chance of someone blowing themselves up.

Way to go Jeff! I appreciate your candor and the information!

Thanks for this video. I disconnected the tilt mechanism and it works perfect now.

Great video. Trying to find a impossible to find thermal coupler for a propane heater. Used this video to bypass mine. Got my heat back!

I ordered the wromg thermocoupler for my propane blower heater as I was looking for the right one stumbled up on this video. Well guess who just yanked that valve apart mine was crimped I pulled the plastic housing apart. Works like a charm thanks man I thought about takin it apart the first time just got tired of trying to get it apart and quit.

I got tired of the BS too. I bypassed mine on a Dyna-Glo heater. A little different from yours but the same approach. Loosen 2 screws remove the spring and reassemble and 6yrs. after your post it works fine. Thanks for the tip !!

THANK YOU, You just saved new years

Awesome! thanks for the tutorial - I had no idea how that valve worked.

I have a lil sunflower heater and it was basically same. Thanks alot worked perfect.

Thank you so much - I've fought this damn thing for 3 months. Your 5 minute fix worked perfect on my propane fire pit.

Freaking excellent, just as frustrated with you with all that crap. Great video, thanks for sharing

I just did this to my one yr old heater that would not stay lit, Best video to get your heater going again, Two thumbs up, good job...

Thank you for your help you saved me 100 dollars.

This is great, I did not use mine just for a few times and getting that stupid problem. problem solved. thanks again.

Brother from another mother... I feel the same as you do!! Thanks for this video.

Dude. Thank you. You have done a great service to mankind.

Thanks for the video. Picked up a couple non working table top heaters for 5 bucks. They're now working table top heaters.

Thanks! My patio heater is working perfectly now.

Thanks!... I was too lazy to pull mine apart but when you mentioned that there was a ball inside the tilt sensor, mine wasn't staying on. So I just jiggled it in hope the ball settled and it did. Now when mine doesn't work I just give it a good shake and shes all good :--)

You are a breath of fresh air.. I enjoyed your wording.. thanks..

Imagine being the guy who invented the thermocouple mechanism and then watching this video

Awsome When you flying the plane And bypassing all the safety equiptment Awsome bid thanks

Good video! I'm working on a one year year old heater, my fifth one, and already the main burner will not light. Every time I let go of the knob the pilot goes out. I tried cleaning the thermocouple, nothing works. Sounds like this will get me back in business. Will the pilot still function or will I need to light the heater manually?

Informative AND entertaining! Thanks

Thank you for this video you are the best I removed the tilt sensor didn’t bother with the Spring jumped the wire and all is good thanks again

Your no nonsense attitude has made me and my partner laugh out loud. Hopefully you have solved our problem and we enjoyed watching you thoroughly. Thanks for your help. We now realise that a tip switch is a pile of shite!

I like the cut of your jib sir! And thanks for the help!

I Love it! I tore the spring out of my mine and now it works the way it was supposed to when I bought it. I love the disclaimer for "Stupid".. Much needed now days...

I have the same Kirkland heater and we think alike,thanks son. Chuck C.

Great showmanship, you should be on radio. Thanks, your vid helped me and I learned something on the function

Finally a man's man on here show us how it's done Darrel ....tip over switch if it falls over I threw the damn thing so chances are good I saw it happen so listen Linda we don't need it

Excellent. Thanks pal. Saved me £200 for a new heater. Noticed you're a biker too; it's a state of mind innit?

Good info. Worked perfect. Thanks.

You can also keep the safety feature thermocoupler installed and just wrap a piece of small solid copper or brass line around thermocoupler and to the lines at the valve so heat transfers slightly quicker if it triggers it to kill quicker then wrap another wire around each end your just looking to displace heat really and coil your own lines itll return the heat off of coupler to valve how you want it to by how many times or how much you wrap the thermo heat line sensor thing.

You the man i was just getting ready to rip it apart and figure out something.

Bypassing the thermocouple....I had tried to replace mine - so I have it removed (cant get right sized thermocouple). If TC not needed anymore - do I need to put it back? I would imagine so at the at the brass fitting to close the value where the electro magnet is.

thanks. I've got a sunflower heater that's new. it seems 1/2 the time I have to move the wires around on the thermocouple to get the blasted thing to light. so today that puppy is going bye bye! I've done it to others. I just wanted to see what someone else did.

You are the man! Thanks brother, my worked terrible. Works perfect now.

Master Brand has got to be the worst brand of heater out there for exactly this reason. I had no idea how to do this and have tossed two different heaters, and was ready to toss this one. Thanks a ton!

Sage and epic. Thank you Jeff!

Thanks Jeff. I now feel like a criminal bypassing all the anti-dumbass devices, however my heater now lights every time and I will deal with "patio heater safety police."

Thanks all the way from afro you are more clear than any cmpny u disservice a badass award

The stupid tilt switch was faulty on my Mr. Buddy heater. This helped. Thanks!!

can you adjust the heat with the knob or do do use the gas bottle to adjust the heat ?

On my small heater . I duct taped that spring valve thing down that your removing. Just incase I wanna fix it later. now it works like it should 👍.

thank you , I have a gas heater and the light won't stay lit though I replaced the thermocouple and magnetic bobene but nothing chang , please help me, thanks.

I felt your frustration. Although my propane heater is much smaller unit (Stanley garage heater, but made by smaller manufacturer & Stanley just puts their label.....bought it at Amazon), it slowed my plan for the weekend. I use it in my garage (vented at the ceiling), and a few hours ago it suddenly quit. No parts available for this crap. This is only the 3rd year for it, WTF. So, being a jet plane mechanic & HVAC certified tech, I took it apart (no instructions or parts illustration available), tinkered with it and finally decided to remove ALL safety features at my own risk (thermocouple & trip protection). I reinstalled part of the shut off valve (removed the valve part) just keep propane from escaping. Now, it's back in service and I don't even have to keep pressing the stupid propane feeding switch. Your vid is only missing one critical part; grabbing a sledge hammer and beating the crap out of the stupid valve. It's NOT the people's safety or lives the manufacturers are worried about, it's the LAWSUIT they are afraid of. Enough of crap in human society.

everything in my wall unit is clean and yet when you go from pilot to first setting it goes out. gas is more then full and unit is not a year old. iam out of ideas on what the problem could be.

Will this work on a Robertshaw 700 gas valve LP

Amen brother! Thank you!

Great Video, Love the GOLDWING 💪