Need help with natural gas heater.

[OrangeCrush 86]

I bought a Mr. Heater Big Maxx from Fleet Farm last weekend. My second garage has a natural gas line plumbed from the meter. I hooked everything up and the unit works, except the burners will not light. The system does not have a pilot, it runs sparkers each time it starts. It won't light, it's almost like there is no gas flowing through to the unit. We purged the line of air so it should be getting gas. Only thing I don't know how to do is check the NG pressure (in inches of water?).

Anyone with HVAC experience have any ideas? I figured I would ask on here in case I'm missing something obvious, otherwise I will have to call someone ($$$).

This is the heater: http://www.mrheater.com/upload/newsl...pecSheetLR.pdf

[No1Ford]

mine did this olso! just keep restarting it, it took like ten or more trys before firing off.

[OrangeCrush 86]

mine did this olso! just keep restarting it, it took like ten or more trys before firing off.

Each time I go from off to on at the thermostat it tries to light the burners 3 times (10 seconds each try) then turns back off. I have ran this sequence probably 20 or 30 times and still nothing. I will keep trying but I really don't think it is going to start.

[sininja]

do you have a regulater before the furnace? if so is it pointed in the correct direction? make sure you bleed the gas really well too, it takes more than you think. make sure the valve on the furnace is turned on too!

[sininja]

on/off button on the furnace gas valve is usually small, easy service call when i did hvac

[OrangeCrush 86]

do you have a regulater before the furnace? if so is it pointed in the correct direction? make sure you bleed the gas really well too, it takes more than you think. make sure the valve on the furnace is turned on too!

No regulator before the heater. It is a direct line from the meter to the heating unit which has a valve/regulator built into it (or so I thought).

What is the safest way to bleed the line? I originally just pulled the drip leg cap off and turned on the shut off valve until I could smell the natural gas odor a bit (all electrical power turned off in the garage) then shut the valve and reinstalled the cap. Waited about 15 min for the area to air out then tried it. Still didn't work. The valve on the heater is turned on.

Is checking how much natural gas pressure you have common?

[sininja]

if your coming straight off the gas meter you need a regulater before your furnace. when bleeding the air out tighten your drip leg before turning off the valve. its been a while since i wrked in hvac, there's a few on here that should chime in/or correct me.

[OrangeCrush 86]

if your coming straight off the gas meter you need a regulater before your furnace. when bleeding the air out tighten your drip leg before turning off the valve. its been a while since i wrked in hvac, there's a few on here that should chime in/or correct me.

What kind of regulator do I need? Where can I get one?

[XJHEAD]

Is there a exhaust fan on it?? I am sure there is. I cannot remember on the starting order but there is a switch on it(exhaust vent), if it is not working it will not open the gas valve but may still try to spark. Also look on the board, they usually have a troubleshooting light that flashes too telling you a fault code.

[Gipper]

X2 for the regulator.

They're about 25-30 bucks and can be bought at any heating wholesaler. I don't think you can buy them at Menards/Home Depot/Lowes/Etc.

[XJHEAD]

http://www.mrheater.com/upload/newsletter/60016_MHU_HSU_45_75_rev_b.pdf

[Gipper]

First item on this page..... http://www.heatingandcoolingstore.co...ice_parts.html

[SDK]

In your house you have low pressure gas and the heater should run on it. If it's a long run bleed it out some more like you have been. Natural gas is not that spooky just dont have an open flame. Let it roar out of there with the cap of anf then tighten the cap. When you get it running Id soap down the connections to check for leaks.

[SDK]

Some houses do have 2psi into the house but that would be clearly labeld and there would be regulators on everything

[OrangeCrush 86]

Ok, something weird happened now. I had the manual shut off in the off position overnight. This afternoon I restarted the heater. When it started sparking I opened the shut off and the heater started up. I let it run until the garage was about 65 F. The thermostat turned off the unit. I waited a bit and tried to run it again and now it won't light. Same as before.

The exhaust blower runs. I have the side off of the unit and I can feel/hear the solenoid that turns on the gas valve click. So unless the gas valve is stuck or something, it should be getting gas. Confirmed the gas valve solenoid coil has voltage while sparkers are running.

I am confused how a regulator will help. If the NG is at too high of pressure shouldn't the flame just be too big instead of it not lighting at all?

Thanks for all the tips so far. I am going to try to call the manufacturer tomorrow.