A freezing garage can be very unpleasant to use during winter. If you spend a lot of time working in your garage, you should consider using a garage heater. Ensure that you take your time picking your garage heater to ensure that you get the best one for the job. Several companies make garage electrical heaters, including Reznor. Reznor garage heaters keep your vehicles warm, are safe, affordable, and quiet.

Reznor was established in 1888 by George Reznor. The company was acquired by Thomas and Betts, which then merged with Nortek Global HVAC. Today, the company continues to create great products that make your home and office warmer and comfortable. If you have been looking for the right heater to purchase for your garage, consider buying a Reznor garage heater. Here is a comprehensive guide on the use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of a Reznor space heater.

How to install a Reznor Garage Heater

You can install a Reznor garage heater in your garage to ensure that it stays warm. First, make sure that you choose a heater that produces sufficient heat for your garage. Bear in mind that you will need a block and tackle rigging to set up this ceiling heater. Follow these easy steps to install your garage heater.

• To begin, you will need to attach two-by-sixes to the ceiling joists. Gas heaters are generally made to hang from your ceiling joists. It is advisable to aim the flow across the garage to improve airflow and warm the entire room.   
• Lift the heater carefully using a block and tackle up to the beams and position it correctly.
• Ensure that you clamp the heater and its mounting flanges to the joists. Next, bore clearance holes in the cutouts near the mounting flanges.
• Insert the carriage bolts into the holes you made to secure the heater to the joists. Tap the bolts with a hammer to ensure that it gets into the wood up to its collar. Next, twist on the nuts, use your fingers to tighten them and reinforce that with a socket wrench. You can now remove the clamps.
• Connect the flue to the back of your heater and mark the exact vertical position above the flue pipe.
• Make a hole through your mark and put a wire through it to ensure you can find it on the outside. Next, outline the diameter of the flue and ensure that the hole is at its center. Then, using the outline, cut the opening.     
• Next, you need to install a funnel-shaped flashing to keep water out of the flue. Finally, you will need to cut the shingles out and then replace them after putting them in the funnel.
• Put in the vent pipe, vent cap, and weather ring. Make sure after you nail the parts in place, you use sealant on the nail heads.
• Remove the panel on the side of your heater to access its electrical parts. Make sure that you match the wires using their colors and then secure them with wire nuts. Ensure all the components, such as those for the air circulation fan, are correctly connected. You can check the user manual of the specific model you have.
• Use a sealant to connect the gas pipe sections and ensure you use a wrench to ensure the fittings are snug. Finally, attach the flexible gas pipe and secure the nut.
• Turn your garage heater on, and enjoy your warm and comfortable workspace with your miter saws or orbital sanders working on that furniture project.

How do you turn on a Reznor heater?

After installing your garage heater, you need to turn it on so that you can enjoy the warmth. You can do that by following these easy steps.

• Switch on the electrical supply for your heater.
• Make sure that the manual disconnect is in the ON position.
• Set your thermostat to your preferred temperature.
• The heater should fire when the oil temperature is at the right level. At that point, the light on the burner junction box will turn green.
• Bear in mind that there may be some delay when you turn on your appliance for the first time. Also, some Reznor models take longer to fire than others, so be patient.

How to reset Your Reznor Garage heater

If your garage heater is in “lockout” mode, you will need to reset it. For example, if you have a power outage and your heater does not automatically switch on, you need to reset it. To do that, follow these steps.

• Press the red button on the controller and ensure that you hold it down for about three seconds.
• When air is pushed out of the and oil gets to its nozzle, the heater should fire.  

Why is my Reznor garage heater not working

After using your garage heater for a while, it may suddenly stop working. There are several reasons why that can happen and including the following.

Lack of proper maintenance

It is essential to provide maintenance to ensure that appliances work properly. Good maintenance and care ensure that your devices work correctly and serve for a very long time. Ensure you service and visually inspect your garage heater at least once every six months and dust it regularly. It is also advisable to call a heater technician to look it over once every year. That will ensure that they spot serious issues early and save you expensive repairs or replacements.

Wear and tear

With time, the components of your heater start to wear out, which means it may stop working. If you have been using your heater for a long time, check whether components like the fan motor and burners are working correctly. If they are not, you can replace them with similar parts that you can purchase at your local hardware store.

Ignition problems

If you are having problems with your heater’s ignition, it could be due to an issue in electrical ignition or the pilot if you have an older model heater. For example, the pilot light may not work if it is clogged, has a defective cutoff valve, or has a loose thermocouple. In heaters with an electrical ignition, the heater will keep turning on and off, signifying an ignition problem. To fix it, you will need to reset the ignition controls.

Burner not igniting on Reznor FT60

• If your Reznor FT60 burner does not ignite, it could be due to a blocked exhaust pipe, sags, and water collecting in them.
• If the exhaust pipe has no problem, check the vacuum tubing for blockage, kinks, or breaks.
• If those are working, turn off the power supply to your garage heater and remove the pressure switch leads. Wait a few minutes and turn the heater back on. When the fan starts, join the pressure switch leads together. If the burner fires, then you have a weak fan or a defective pressure switch.

Reznor UDAP heater LED light codes and their meaning

There are several light codes that you need to learn about if you are using the UDAP heater. The LED lights come in two colors: green for control and yellow for the flame. Here are the light codes and their meanings.

Green light codes

• If the green light is steady ON, then the heater is operating normally, and there is no call for heat.
• A fast flash means that the heater is still operating normally with a call for heat.
• One flash means system lockout and is a sign that the DSI control module cannot detect a flame or sustain one.
• Two flashes mean that after the venter motor energized, the pressure switch did not close in 30 seconds.
• Three flashes signify that there is a flame rollout switch that is open.
• Four flashes mean that your pressure switch closed before your venter motor energized.
• Steady OFF is a sign that the circuit board is defective, there is no power, or that the fuse is blown.  

Yellow light codes

• If the yellow light is steady ON, that means that the DSI control module has sensed the flame.
• A slow, weak flash signifies that the current reaching your heater is less than 1.0 (±50%) microamp.
• A fast flash shows that you have an undesired flame, with the valve open and no call for heat.

Why won’t the venter motor start on my Reznor garage heater

The venter motor on your Reznor garage heater moves gasses and air through the vents and helps ensure safe and clean combustion. If your venter motor is not working, here are the reasons and how you can fix the problem.

Power not reaching the heater

If there is no power reaching the heater, check the power supply breakers and fuses. With the breakers and the fuses working correctly, the heater should work normally.

No power to the circuit board

When you do not get 24-volt power to the circuit board, the venter motor will not work correctly.

That problem could be due to the thermostat being set too low so make sure you turn it up.

If the thermostat is at the right setting, check the control board transformer, and if it is faulty, make the necessary repairs.

Blown integrated Circuit board Fuse

If the circuit board fuse is blown, replace the fuse with a new one.

No power to the venter motor

If your venter motor is not getting enough power, although power is on and the unit is on, check for loose connections on the motor terminals and the circuit board. Tighten them, and your heater should work normally.

Defective integrated circuit

A defective circuit board could be another reason why your venter motor is not working. Replace the circuit board with a new one, and your heater will work correctly.

Defective venter Motor 

If your venter motor is damaged or faulty, it will not work. Make sure that you replace it to ensure your heater works properly by following these easy steps.

• Turn off the power supply and disconnect the gas.
• Remove the control access panel, then remove the burner.
• Disconnect the ground screw on the control panel, along with the capacitor wires and DSI control wires.
• Detach the gas train by disconnecting the gas outside the heater cabinet, disconnecting then marking the wires at the gas valve, and removing the burner orifice adapter locking nut and the burner orifice. After that, slide the orifice adapter out and push the gas train to the right. That will ensure successful detachment of the gas train.
• Hold the venter motor and remove the screws that secure the motor mounting plate to the center housing. Make sure that you remove the motor and wheel assembly.
• Reassemble using the new motor and wheel and carefully position them on the shaft.
• Reconnect all the wires, then hook up the gas and install the access panel.
• Switch power back on and test your heater.

Why won’t the eburner light on my Reznor heater stay lit?

If you own an older model Reznor heater with a pilot light, the eburner light may stop working. It may come on and then blow out immediately. That is likely to happen when the pilot tube is blocked.

You can unclog it using compressed air and then light the pilot again. Your eburner light should work correctly. If it does not, you will need to replace the thermocouple. Follow these easy steps to install a new thermocouple.

• Lift the control panel cover and turn off the gas. Ensure that the eburner light goes off and turn the valve on the gas supply line perpendicular to the gas line. Remove the old thermocouple.
• Take your new thermocouple from the box, then unwind it. Make sure you use the manufacturer-recommended thermocouple for your device.
• Hold the bulb on the end of the wire, reach into the burner and locate the clip adjacent to the pilot tube.
• Snap it into place, ensuring that the tip extends past the tube opening.
• There is a container on the gas valve at the end of the thermocouple tube. You will find it near the red control knob. Screw the connector into the receptacle using a small wrench.

Why is the burner on my Reznor heater cycling on and off?

There are several reasons that your heater is cycling on and off. Here are some of the reasons why and what you can do to rectify the problem.

• If your burner is cycling on and off, check the gas pressure for the unit. It should be 37 mbar for propane gas and 15mbar for natural gas. If the pressure is higher or lower than that, your burner will cycle on and off.
• Check the burner relay to ensure that it is grounded; if it is not, ground it, and your burner will stop cycling on and off.
• Check that the flame sensor is not grounded and ensure that the ceramic and insulation are not damaged or cracked. If they are, make the necessary repairs and replacements. If the ceramic at the sensor is broken, replace the sensor immediately, and the burner will stop cycling.
• Check the polarity switch and, where necessary, reverse line voltage wires on the terminal block connections.
• A faulty burner relay can also cause this problem. If there are no other problems and the relay gets 220-240 volts, make sure that you replace it.

Converting your garage heater from Natural gas to propane: What does it entail? Should you do it?

Why won’t the fan or venter motor run?

There are several reasons why your venter motor or fan may not work. Use these steps to troubleshoot your venter motor and fan.

• Check that your unit is getting power to run; if it is not, the fan and the venter motor will not work. Check the circuit breaker and the fuses for damage and make the necessary repairs or replacements. If power is off, turn it, and your garage heater will work.
• If the system is getting power and the fan and venter motor are still not working, inspect the venter motor terminals and the burner relay connections. If any of these is broken or damaged, make the repairs, and the unit will run normally.
• Check the integrated burner relay and ensure that it is not damaged. If it is faulty, replace it with a new one and check whether your garage heater works.
• When your venter motor or fan fails to run, it could be due to a blown fuse in the burner relay. Check the burner relay and if the fuse is blown, replace it.
• Check LC1 on your garage heater and if it is open, set your garage heater on ventilation until LC1 closes. In case LC1 is damaged, replace it with a new one. Bear in mind that the limit controls (LCs) on your Reznor garage heater are meant to ensure your safety. It is, therefore, crucial that you use manufacturer-approved limit controls when making replacements and repairs. If the problem persists, check for obstruction on the fan side. Obstructions can affect the running of the venter motor and the fan.
• A problem with LC3 can also affect the running of your garage heater so check whether it is open. If it is open, reset it or replace it if it is defective.
• Check whether the unit is in lockout; if it is reset, your fan and venter motor will work.

If the room thermostat is open, the venter motor and fan may not work. Set your thermostat temperature above room temperature, and the venter motor will start working.

Why is the venter motor or fan turning on and off when the Reznor garage heater burner is working?

If your venter motor or fan keeps turning on and off when the burner is on, it signifies that the device’s internal thermal protection device is cycling on and off. Compare your motor load and the motor rating plate. Replace it if necessary.

Why will the burner not light?

If the burner does not light, then you will not be able to heat your garage. When a burner does not come on automatically after a power outage or when you turn it on, here are some of the reasons why and how you can make repairs.

• Burner not lighting could be a sign that the main valve is not working. During ignition, check the voltage on the valve. Make sure that you also check the main gas valve and the burner relay. Replace the main valve if necessary, and the burner will start working.
• Check the gas line; if there is air in it, the burner will not light. To fix that, you need to purge air from the line.  
• If the gas pressure is too high or too low, the burner will not work. Check it and make the necessary corrections.
• If there is no spark, the burner will not light. The lack of a spark could be due to loose wire connections, wrong spark gap, short-circuited spark cable, or spark electrode. Incorrect grounding of the burner relay or unit will result in the lack of a spark. To find the problem in your spark, follow these steps.

1. Start by checking all wire connections.
2. Tighten loose ones and replace those that are damaged.
3. Check the spark gap and ensure that it is at 3mm.
4. Replace the spark cable and the ceramic spark electrode if they are damaged or grounded.
5. Inspect the burner relay wire and ensure it is in good condition. Make the necessary repairs.
6. Confirm that the unit is correctly earthed and phased, as that will affect the operation of your garage heater.
7. If all the above are working correctly and your burner does not work, you need to replace the burner relay.

• When the combustion air pressure switch does not close when power reaches the venter, the burner will not light. Check the vent, the tubing to the pressure switch, and the pressure switch for blockage. Remove all the obstructions and replace the pressure switch and tubing if they are damaged.

Check this too: Natural Gas Garage Heater Troubleshooting

Tips for Reznor garage heater maintenance

It is essential to provide maintenance for your Reznor garage heater. Correct maintenance will enhance your heater’s longevity and performance. Here are maintenance tips that you can use.

• Clean all lint, dust, and grease off the fan blade, motor, and fan guard. Dirt can affect the performance of your heater and lower the durability of its components.
• Regularly check the heat exchange for evidence of damage internally or externally.
• Check your burner for lint, dust, and scale, and clean if necessary.
• Regularly check the vents for defects and replace any damaged parts.
• Make sure that you also check the wiring for damage and replace it.
• Ensure that you use manufacturer-approved parts when replacing damaged components.