Electric Fireplace problem

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TequilaMB

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We have an electric fireplace (Allen & Roth, purchased at Lowe's), which sat in the box it came in for a couple of years before we set it up winter before last in our newly finished converted garage/family room.

The unit is a model F12-B-031-017A. It was highly rated as a great source of heat for a large room. The first year it worked pretty well. Although the blower didn't blow out a LOT of hot air, it kept the room fairly warm.

Last winter, the thing seemed to have gotten weak. It barely blew out any hot air at all. We took the box out of the piece of furniture and vacuumed it out. It didn't seem to make a lot of difference.

Not sure what we should do with it at this point. Any suggestions?
 

Jadnashua

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Does the unit have a multi-speed fan? If so, does it actually change speeds? If it is, and it does not change speeds, it could be the controller, the switch itself, or possibly the motor.

Is the unit a plug-in, or is it hard-wired? If it plugs in, and uses a 15A plug, you could pick up a Kill-O-Watt meter to see what it is actually using in power. Compare what that shows with the label of the unit to see if it is actually drawing the indicated watts. If it's hard-wired, or 220vac, it gets a bit more difficult to insert a meter, but there are ways.

It could be as simple as a loose connection. WHen it's running, are any lights in that room showing signs of dimming?
 

TequilaMB

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No multi-speed fan. It never did blow out very much, but this past winter it was pathetic. Plug-in, not hard wired. No sign of dimming in the lights in the room when it comes on. Will try the meter to see about what it's drawing. We'll have to find the label on the unit, as the manual doesn't even say.
 

WorthFlorida

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This is nothing more than a standard 1500 watt electric heater in a fancy cabinet with flame effect. The fan motor sits in the middle of the unit and from the manual it looks like a squirrel cage blower. These generally turn at a slow rate for near silent operation. Since it is only a 1500 watt unit if the fan blew air too fast it will feel cool air since there isn't enough time to heat the volume of the air.

I'm not saying that you don't have a problem but don't expect it to heat a good size room without another heart source. All electric heaters do have an over temperature switch somewhere inside of it should it get too hot, this thermo switch cuts power to the electric elements and maybe the blower to. This part maybe off calibration and it's switching off the heating elements.

There are 7 levels of heat and it could be the control board that would regulate the heat is bad or a built in thermostat. One way to regulate an electric element for heat output is constantly switching off the electric elements at a certain time cycles, similar to an electric stove. Page 12 of the manual gives a temperature range.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/963895/Allen-Plus-Roth-F12-B-031-071a.html?page=9#manual
 

TequilaMB

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Even the first year, we had to have another little heater in the room, in the opposite corner, to keep the room comfortable. But last yeear was the pits. I'd take it somewhere to have it looked at, but don't even know what kind of repairman would be able to help with this!
 

WorthFlorida

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I think you have the last set of numbers transposed. F12-B-031-017A should be F12-B-031-071A . I found this doing a search on the part number for the control board but it is not listed at the site below. This seems to be the manufacture of all Lowes branded electric fireplaces. You can call on companies that do fireplaces. Many are doing electric versions now especially in Florida. I've stopped at one shop in Orlando and they stopped doing real fireplaces and referred me to one of their contractors. Problem could be that a company in your area may not want to deal with a big box store version.

If your OK trying this yourself contact this company and may be they'll be able to find the controller for your unit. Could be the fan not working and the thermal protection open the electric elements but more likely a bad controller. Not much else. Lowes may have a support contact for this product

https://www.febolimited.com/Lowes-Products_c35.htm

A FEBO International Company
https://www.febolimited.com/aboutus.sc

https://febointernational.com/
 

Drick

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Looking at the operating instructions the unit appears to utilize quartz tubes to generate heat. That seems a little odd, however assuming the instructions are accurate its possible one of the tubes has failed and needs replacement.
 
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