Heat & fire · Anytime
Lighting the Propane Heater in the Addition
The main how-to for the cabin's propane wall heaters, shown in Mom and Dad's bedroom in the Addition. The same heater is in the bedroom directly above. Start here; the Lodge and Pine bedroom heaters work the same way with small differences.
Download opens the video on Vimeo, where you can pick a smaller file size to save space on your phone.
Before you start
- The propane tank outside is on.
You'll need
- A windproof (torch-style) butane lighter
- Backup: the blow torch from the fireplace, adults only
Step by step
12 steps
Turn the thermostat on the wall to HEAT
Every heater is wired to a wall thermostat. Make sure it's switched on to HEAT.
Turn the gas valve parallel to the pipe
Down by the floor, the propane shutoff valve starts out perpendicular to the pipe (off). Turn it as parallel to the pipe as you can; the carpet makes it a little awkward. Give the propane a few seconds to reach the heater.
Lift up and remove the vent cover
Lift up on the front cover and pull it off. It can be stubborn, so keep working at it.
Remove the cover from the pilot chamber
The built-in igniter on this heater doesn't work, so you'll light it by hand. Take off the wing nuts and the small metal-and-glass cover over the pilot.
Turn the knob to PILOT and push it in
Turn the control knob to PILOT, then push it in all the way and keep holding it while you light the pilot.
Light the pilot with a windproof lighter
A regular lighter blows out in there. Use the torch-style butane lighter. If that keeps failing, the blow torch from the fireplace is a last resort, kept as low as possible, with a helper, and adults only.
In the cold, keep the flame on it
When the cabin is cold it can take up to a full minute of holding the lighter on the pilot before it catches.
Keep holding the knob for another 60 seconds
Once the blue pilot flame is going, keep pushing the control knob in for at least another minute. Sometimes you'll hear a click when it's set; sometimes you won't.
Let go and check the pilot is still lit
Release the knob slowly and make sure the pilot stays lit.
Turn the knob counterclockwise all the way
The burners will kick on. That means it's working.
Replace both covers
Put the pilot chamber cover back on and screw it tight, then put the front vent cover back on.
Set the temperature on the thermostat
Set the room temperature on the wall. When it's cold out, expect about 24 hours for the room to fully warm up. After that it holds the temperature well.
Shutting it down
- Take the front cover off again.
- Turn the control knob clockwise all the way until the flame goes out.
- Turn the gas valve by the floor so it's perpendicular to the pipe.
- Put the cover back on.
Be careful
- The blow torch is for adults only, and only with a helper.
