7
Maintenance & Troubleshooting
TROUBLESHOOTING
At full power and after two to three minutes of warm-up time, the heater element should glow a warm orange color, similar
to the color of coals in a hot fire.
If the element does not warm up at all:
•
Is the service power on at the circuit breaker?
•
Is there a switch or dimmer in the circuit? Is the switch on?
•
Is the element in working condition? Burned out elements normally have visible burn marks on the face of the element.
If there is no evidence of damage, and you still suspect the element, turn off the power at the circuit breaker, disconnect
the service power and check element resistance. It should be approximately 10 ohms.
•
Are the high temperature leads connected to the element? Turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Remove the element
from the heater housing and check the connections at the back of the element.
If the element barely glows:
•
Is the outlet on a dimmer? Is the dimmer turned full on and operating correctly?
•
Is the heater plugged into an outlet that provides 120V? If the outlet provides less than 120V the element will not
operate correctly.
If the element glows a bright orange-white and heats up very quickly:
•
The heater is receiving too much power and will burn out very quickly if it is not turned off.
•
Is the heater plugged into an outlet that provides 120V? If the outlet provides more than 120V the element will not
operate correctly.
•
Is the element damaged? A short circuit between adjacent coils will cause some coils to go dark and some coils to
overheat. Damaged elements cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
MAINTENANCE
•
The heater body can be washed with gentle detergent and a soft wash cloth.
Do not use a pressure washer.
With an air
hose regulated to 30 psi, blow off any dust and dirt from in front of the heater that has accumulated on the reflective
surfaces of the heater and reflective lens. A vacuum cleaner can be used as well. Accumulated dirt will degrade
performance.
•
Blow off or vacuum any accumulated dirt on the vent holes of the heater and make sure they are not bent such that the
vent area is reduced.
•
When not installed or in use, store the heater in a dry, dust-free place and be sure the lens-assembly is protected from
any possible damage.
•
The heater lens is manufactured from thin aluminum and is easily bent and damaged. Heater performance deteriorates
when the lens is bent or damaged. In most cases the lens can be bent back into shape by hand or with pliers. If the
lens cannot be repaired, it can be replaced.
•
If the heater is turned on when wet it may steam and sizzle a bit but this will subside as it dries.
TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF THE HEATER
•
The outer housing of the heater can be spray painted with 160° metal paint.
DO NOT
paint the bare aluminum lens or
inside surfaces. (The bare aluminum reflects 100% of the infrared heat; paint absorbs infrared and will cause the unit to
overheat.
This will void the warranty.
)
