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FAQ

Outdoor LP Gas Fireplaces and Fire Pits

Why do I need to hold for 5 seconds?

The outdoor fireplace uses a safety valve, call a thermocouple, that will shut off the flow of gas if there is a loss of flame.

When you turn the control knob to the “ON” position and push the control knob in, gas will flow to the burner and the thermocouple. The thermocouple is located next to the electrode and when it is heated by the flame, it generates a small electric current that will hold the valve open. You need to hold the valve in for 5 seconds once the burner is lit to allow the thermocouple time to heat up.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I burn wood in my outdoor fireplace?

NO. Your outdoor fireplace has been designed to burn only Liquid Propane. Burning real wood in your fire pit will void the warranty, and may cause serious bodily injury or death, or property damage.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I convert this outdoor fireplace to natural gas?

NO. This outdoor fireplace has been designed for use with liquid propane (LP) gas only. The conversion to or attempted use of natural gas in this outdoor fireplace is dangerous and will void your warranty and may cause serious bodily injury or death, or property damage.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Is placement of logs important?

For some of the models, log placement is important. See manual for details of log placement. If log placement is not specified in the manual, you can place the logs how you like.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

What type of LP gas tank should I use?

Our outdoor fireplaces can only be used with a standard gas grill tank equipped with a cylinder connection device compatible with the connection for outdoor cooking appliances.

The LP gas supply tank must be constructed and marked in accordance with the Specifications for LP gas Cylinders of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or the National Standard of Canada, CAN/CSA-B339, Cylinders, Spheres and Tubes for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods; and Commission.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

How long will my outdoor fireplace burn with a standard gas grill tank?

Using a standard grill gas tank, your outdoor fireplace will burn for approximately 10 hours when on the high flame setting. This is an average and you may find your tank will last longer.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Will the logs change color after use?

The logs will not change color, but you will notice a carbon build up from propane gas. This is normal. You can clean the logs using soap and water. Be sure to dry the logs thoroughly after cleaning.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why does my product rust?

Most of our products are made from non-stainless steel.

Products made from non-stainless steel will rust over time.  Rust is the result of the oxidation of iron in the presence of water and oxygen.  Your product has a pre-painted or powder coated finish applied to the steel, but over time and with usage, this finish may deteriorate.  For best results, please perform routine maintenance on your product – see manual for cleaning instructions, and use a high quality cover if storing the unit outside.

Stainless steel items do not “rust” as you think of regular steel rusting with a red oxide on the surface that flakes off. Stainless steel will turn a yellow color over time.  This is a natural occurrence due to the heat of the fire on the stainless steel.  This can be reduced by using a high quality stainless steel polish.

If you do see some red rust it is probably due to some iron particles that have contaminated the surface of the stainless steel and it is these iron particles that are rusting. Commercially available “pickling paste” can also be used. See “Care and Cleaning of Stainless Steel” for more information.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Is rust covered under warranty?

No, rust is not covered under your manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty is only for defective parts. Lack of routine maintenance is the most common cause of rust. This can include:

  • not removing all the dirt from your stainless steel
  • not thoroughly rinsing your stainless steel after washing, and leaving some soap behind
  • not thoroughly drying your stainless steel

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I return this to the store?

Please do not return the product to the store. Please call Customer Care at 1.800.762.1142 for assistance.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Outdoor Wood Burning Fireplaces and Fire Pits

Can I use manufactured logs?

Absolutely, our wood burning outdoor fireplaces are designed for normal wood logs, and manufactured wood logs (i.e. Duraflame® logs). Due to the chemical make-up of manufactured wood logs, it is possible that this may cause rusting and deterioration quicker than normal wood logs.

Duraflame® is a registered trademark of Duraflame, Inc.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

I have excessive smoke coming from my unit. What causes this and how can it be controlled?

There are a couple of reason why you have excess smoke:

  1. New products, especially firehouses, there needs to be an initial burn of about 30 minutes. This allows any excess materials from the manufacturing process to burn off.
  2. The type of fuel you use can also determine the amount of smoke produced. Generally, the drier the fuel you use, the less smoke there will be. Manufactured wood designed for outdoor use can also reduce the amount of smoke produced.
  3. The amount of wind around the unit can affect the quantity of smoke produced. The more wind there is generally means more smoke will be produced.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why won’t the smoke go up the chimney of my firehouse?

Your product is designed to pull air up through the chimney. Make sure that the chimney is clear of any obstructions that can cause poor ventilation. Excessive wind conditions may cause some smoke not to go up the chimney.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why does my product rust?

Most of our products are made from non-stainless steel.

Products made from non-stainless steel will rust over time.  Rust is the result of the oxidation of iron in the presence of water and oxygen.  Your product has a pre-painted or powder coated finish applied to the steel, but over time and with usage, this finish may deteriorate.  For best results, please perform routine maintenance on your product – see manual for cleaning instructions, and use a high quality cover if storing the unit outside.>

Stainless steel items do not “rust” as you think of regular steel rusting with a red oxide on the surface that flakes off. Stainless steel will turn a yellow color over time.  This is a natural occurrence due to the heat of the fire on the stainless steel.  This can be reduced by using a high quality stainless steel polish.

If you do see some red rust it is probably due to some iron particles that have contaminated the surface of the stainless steel and it is these iron particles that are rusting. Commercially available “pickling paste” can also be used. See “Care and Cleaning of Stainless Steel” for more information.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Is rust covered under warranty?

No, rust is not covered under your manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty is only for defective parts. Lack of routine maintenance is the most common cause of rust. This can include:

  • not removing all the dirt from your stainless steel
  • not thoroughly rinsing your stainless steel after washing, and leaving some soap behind
  • not thoroughly drying your stainless steel

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I return this to the store?

Please do not return the product to the store. Please call Customer Care at 1.800.762.1142 for assistance.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Outdoor Gas Patio Heaters

Why won’t my pilot light?

It may be that your cylinder is malfunctioning, the cylinder has a leak, or the pilot is clogged. Please see the steps below to troubleshoot.

Note: Regular maintenance is critical to the successful operation of your patio heater.

  1. Is the cylinder valve closed? If so, open the cylinder valve, but not fully.
  2. Check to see if you can light it manually. If the unit lights manually, but not with igniter, service or replace igniter switch.
  3. Ensure that there is no air in the gas line. Open the gas line and bleed it (pressing control knob in) for not more than 1 – 2 minutes or until you smell gas.
  4. There may be a blockage in the orifice or pilot tube. Bugs and spiders get into the pilot assembly, venturi tube and burner ports causing the unit to either not light or perform poorly.
  5. Is the regulator hose pinched or kinked?
  6. Cleaning the pilot assembly: Download and follow the correct cleaning instructions

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why does my pilot light, but goes out when turned on high or low?

It may be that your cylinder is malfunctioning, cylinder has a leak, or the pilot, venturi tube or burner ports are clogged. Please see steps below to troubleshoot.

Note: Regular maintenance is critical to the successful operation of your patio heater.

  1. Is the cylinder functioning properly and at least 2/3 full?
  2. If the pilot lights, but in turning knob to the “ON” position the unit goes out, then this is caused by a blockage in the pilot. Bugs and spiders get into the pilot assembly, venturi tube and burner ports causing the unit to either not light or poor performance.
  3. Connection between gas valve and pilot assembly may be loose. Tighten connection and perform leak check.
  4. Cleaning the pilot assembly: Download and follow the correct cleaning instructions
  5. Make sure that the tip switch connection is good.
  6. Thermocouple is not operating correctly and needs to be replaced.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142

Why does my pilot light, but the burner won’t light?

Option 1

  1. You want to make sure that the flame from the pilot is in the correct position; it may not be going through the hole in the pilot shield.
  2. Since there are two flames on the pilot (one to heat the thermal-couple and one to light the burner) the port that lights the main burner, may be clogged.  This means that you will have to clean your patio heater.

Option 2
It may be that the venturi tube or burner ports are clogged. Please see steps below to troubleshoot.

  1. Gas pressure may be low. Turn cylinder valve OFF and replace cylinder.
  2. There may be a blockage in the orifice or pilot tube. Bugs and spiders get into the pilot assembly, venturi tube and burner ports causing the unit to either not light or poor performance.
  3. Clean the burner supply tube orifice by removing the burner supply tube nut. You will then be able to remove the orifice.
  4. Check for leaks by using soapy water.

Note: Regular maintenance is critical to the successful operation of your patio heater.


For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why is my burner flame low?

  1. Gas pressure may be low. Turn cylinder valve “OFF” and replace cylinder
  2. Outdoor temperature is less than 40ºF and tank is less than 1/4 full. Use a full cylinder.
  3. Supply hose may be bent or kinked. Straighten hose.
  4. There may be a blockage in the orifice or pilot tube. Bugs and spiders get into the pilot assembly, venturi tube and burner ports causing the unit to either not light or poor performance.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

My unit burns low or won’t burn long when it is below 40ºF outside?

Propane needs to be at a boiling point to give the best output. At or below 40ºF propane starts to try to liquefy which will not give a good performance.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why does my regulator freeze up when using the 16oz cylinders?

  1. Smaller tanks freeze because there is not as much propane to liquefy.
  2. The propane tank is connected directly to the regulator instead of hose, which will allow the cold propane to heat up a little

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I purchase an adapter that will allow me to use a larger cylinder than the 16oz?

Yes. You can purchase a 20 lb regulator adapter hose at your local mass merchant.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why do I get a yellow flame and black smoke?

This is because you have a blockage in the burner venturi tube or your heater is in a windy condition.  In any case this can be fixed by cleaning the venturi tube and placing your heater in a less windy area.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Should I remove the white ring inside the emitter screen when I assemble my heater?

NO.   The white ring is not packing, but a fiberglass insulator that will help increase the heater’s efficiency.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

While assembling my patio heater, I am having difficulty connecting the quick connect fitting. What is the problem?

The Control Valve fitting must be held perfectly verticle when attaching the quick connect fitting. If the alignment is not correct you could have a problem securing the fitting. Should you have difficulty, loosen the three screws that hold the engine assembly to the top of the pole. Wiggle the engine assembly while pushing up on the gas pipe assembly from inside the cylinder compartment. If that still does not work, loosen the brass nut that secures the control valve in place, and try again. Be sure to retighten the nut and screws once you successfully make this connection.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

I turn, and turn, the screws to mount the pole to the engine, but they never get tight. What is wrong?

Be sure not to over-tighten any screws when assembling your patio heater. Doing so can cause damage to the screws or pipe threads. It is possible that the threads of the screw have stripped. These screws are a 1/4-20 thread, and can be replaced with another 1/4-20 screw. It is also possible that the threads on the pole have stripped. Inspect the threads carefully, and if this is the case, we can replace your pole by calling 1-800-762-1142.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I convert my LP gas patio heater into a natural gas patio heater?

NO.  Our propane patio heaters are designed, tested and approved for Propane use only. Propane patio heater regulators supply 11” in a column of water while natural gas supplies 7” to 10 “. Also, propane gas line tubing is made of copper and must be stainless steel for natural gas.

To convert these units would void all warranty and release Uniflame® of all responsibility. For further information about converting to natural gas, contact a certified gas technician.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142

ODS: What does ODS stand for?

Oxygen Depletion System

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

ODS: What is the requirement?

The new requirement is Consumer Safety Administration (CSA) International Requirement 5.90 U.S. For Gas-Fired Infrared Patio Heaters, 5th Edition, January 27, 2003. This edition is essentially the same as the previous edition with a change in the combustion requirements for table top patio heaters to include those of ANSI Z21.63-2000/CSA 11.3-2000 Standard for Portable Type Gas Camp Heaters. The requirement states that:

  • When operated in an enclosed room of 100 cubic feet volume at air exchange rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 air changes per hour, a table top heater shall not deplete the oxygen level to below 16% by volume, and
  • Under the same conditions the maximum carbon monoxide (CO) level shall at no time exceed 100 ppm (parts per million).

To meet the combustion requirement, an oxygen depletion sensing (ODS) pilot is employed. This is a special pilot assembly that causes the heater to shut down in the case of low-oxygen atmosphere. Generally, an ODS pilot is designed to extinguish and shut off the fuel valve before the oxygen level drops to 18% in a closed room condition.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

ODS: What/who is affected and when?

Note that the combustion requirement is specific to table top patio heaters manufactured on or after the effective date of the requirement. This requirement has an effective date of February 1, 2004 . The effective date is a cut-off date for manufacturing of non-ODS table top patio heaters. Non-ODS table top patio heaters that have been produced already as of that date may be offered for sale.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Outdoor Electric Patio Heaters

How does my Heater keep me warm?

Your Uniflame®  Electric Heater uses infrared rays to warm objects directly. It does not heat the surrounding air. This method of heating, called radiant heating, is more effective than ambient, or convection heating.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I use my UniFlame® Electric Heater indoors?

The UniFlame® Electric Heaters are designed for outdoor use only.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Can I use an extension cord?

Yes, If you have to use an extension cord make sure the extension cord is a 3-prong cord, it is no. 14 AWG minimum size, rated not less than 2,000 watts, and is the shortest cord you can use. Do NOT use a 16 gauge extension cord. Never Connect two (2) or more extension cords together.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Why does my circuit breaker trip when I use the heater and another appliance?

When running at full capacity, your UniFlame® Electric Heater will product draw between 12 and 14 amps.

The standard circuit has a capacity of 15 amps. This does not allow a lot of electricity to be used by other appliances.

To see if your circuit has enough space available or to create another circuit for your UniFlame® Electric Heater, please call an certified technician.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

How much does it cost to run my heater?

The Uniflame® Electric Heater runs for approximately 10 cents an hour, based on a cost of $0.08 per kilowatt hour.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

My unit just stopped working, what should I do?

Most likely you just need to press the reset button just below the main power switch. The most likely cause of stopping is the safety tip switch was activated.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

How can I clean my heater?

Our heaters should not be disassembled for cleaning. Be sure your heater is in the OFF position. Unplug the heater before cleaning, and wait for it to cool. Use a soft, dry cloth to clean only the external surfaces.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

Are replacement parts available for my heater?

Yes, call our customer care department for fast, friendly service for all of your part needs.

For further assistance, please call our Customer Care Center at 1.800.762.1142.

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