There is a lot of reasons for room heating issues, and your furnace  working hard to keep your home comfortable. Whether you have an electric fireplace, an infrared or blue flame space heater or a wall mounted unit, room heater problems are easier (and usually less expensive!) to resolve compared to central heat systems. However, it oftentimes better to simply buy a new room heater rather than trying to fix it, as a seemingly simple repair can potentially cost you more in the long run.

Fan doesn’t work:

If your heater’s fan isn’t working properly, try unplugging the unit and cleaning the fan of any dust or dirt. Which can inhibit its ability to run.  This doesn’t seem to fix the issue, make sure all internal wires are connected correctly.

When your wiring appears to be correct, check your home’s electric box for a tripped circuit or a blown fuse. Everything looks good, your fan’s motor may be broken, in which case you’ll need a replacement part. Consult your owner’s manual for advice and information, including any information about a parts warranty.

Heater is blowing cold air:

If your heater turns on but it blowing cold air, turn it off and check to make sure there nothing obstructing the blower.

You clear any debris or blockage and the problem persists, you could have a faulty heating element. If this is the case, you’ll have to replace it with a part that has the same voltage and wattage. Depending on the type of heater you have, this repair may or may not make sense for you.  Compare the cost of replacing the part to replacing the heater entirely and see which is the best option financially for you.

Controls not working correctly:

If your heater’s controls seem to be faulty, first unplug the unit and plug it back in to see if that resolves the issue.

Next, check the heater’s thermostat (if it has one) and make sure it  set to the correct setting. Try resetting it to see if that fixes the problem. If not, there could be an internal wiring issue — unplug your heater, carefully pry open the thermostat and make sure all wires connected correctly. Consult your owner’s manual for guidance if necessary.

When this doesn’t fix the issue, or if you have a room radiator instead of an electric or gas heater with a thermostat. Contact your local HVAC professional for advice. Replacing your heater may end up costing you less than hiring someone to fix your heater. So it  best to ask your trusted heating specialist for an estimate before making any decision.