Is Your Dimplex Heater Not Working? Try This

While electric heaters can add a touch of comfort to your home, they have their fair share of problems. If your Dimplex heater is not working, it can become frustrating. Add in troubleshooting, and you may be tempted to give up. Don't despair, though - we're here to help!

If your Dimplex heater is not working, there are a few things to check yourself before calling an electrician. Their most common issues are caused by a faulty thermostat or heating element.

Now let's get into how to fix the problem, shall we? We'll also detail how to troubleshoot a Dimplex electric fireplace, for the fancier readers among us - check the second half of this for those tips.

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How To Troubleshoot A Dimplex Heater Not Working

First things first - how comfortable are you with electronics? This is important because to do these fixes, you'll need to open up the machine and get inside. While there's no shame in being uncomfortable with doing so, it's good to know your limitations. So if you don't think you can comfortably do what's laid out below - please call an electrician.

Now, some background information. Most heaters can last a surprisingly long time (some manufacturers claim their machines' lifespans can be measured in decades ). But the parts inside of them are a bit less sturdy than others, meaning the delicate electronics inside, such as the thermostat, are subject to failure. This will be made worse if you're not gentle with the heater or tend to leave it on for extended periods of time.

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Thermostat Issues

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The most common issue with Dimplex heaters by far is their thermostat. Whether it's just in need of a manual reset or it's actually fried, there's only one way to find out - dig in and look. So let's do that, shall we?

Follow these steps to check your Dimplex heater's thermostat and perform a manual reset:

The Walkthrough

1. Turn off your power supply (at the breaker) and isolate the power supply if possible. This is important with all electronics - nobody wants their headstone to read "This noble warrior was felled by their heater."
2. Using a phillip's head screwdriver, remove the two screws at the bottom of the heater that secure the front panel in place.
3. Remove the front panel so you can look inside.
4. At the top right (potentially in another place, depending on the model, though this is the most common setup) locate the three round, black bits near your heater's thermostat with a small red button.
5. Push down the little red button until you hear a distinct "click."
   • You should do this with an insulated screwdriver to prevent electrocution. Even though it's off, the capacitor can still hold a charge.
6. Replace the panel and turn on the power. Test the heater the next day after it's had time to recharge.
7. If this doesn't work, move down the list.

If you work visually, here's a video guide to help.

Heater Element Troubleshooting

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This is another situation in which it may be best to call an electrician. If, however, you're dead-set on doing it yourself, here's how to fix the element.

You'll need to order a replacement heating element from the manufacturer first, and you'll need an electric circuit tester.

1. Remove the heater casing after turning off power (steps 1-3 above).
2. Remove the screws holding the inner casing in place without damageing the insulation.
   • Hold it in place or have a friend do so to prevent damage to the heater.
3. Remove the top layer of bricks first, then the rest - carefully. They could be unstable or fragile.
4. Release the elements from the ceramic fixtures they're attached to with a flathead screwdriver.
5. Test the elements - the bad one will test as an open circuit when checked.
6. Replace everything in reverse order - elements, bricks, cover, screws, cover.
7. Test like you did above in step 6. If this doesn't work, call an electrician.

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Dimplex Heater Not Working - Electric Fireplace Edition

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Okay - if your electric fireplace isn't working, there is an entirely different set of things to look for. These work a bit differently than storage or space heaters, but it's actually rather easy to check these. And if you are curious about how to maintain these guys, check out our article on electric fireplace care .

The most common issues with electric fireplaces are power problems, remote issues, thermostat issues, faulty switches, loose or faulty wiring, and a dirty heater.

Let's get into these (surprisingly easy) fixes.

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Power Problems

If your heater consistently blows a circuit or trips breakers, check where your heater is plugged in and just... plug it in somewhere else. Test it, and if it works, et voila! Problem solved.

Power On, Flame Off

This is generally due to the device needing to power cycle. If your heater is on but producing no heat, simply disconnect it from all power. Let it power cycle (roughly five minutes without power) and then plug it in and power it up again.

No Heat, Flame On

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Check your thermostat, simple as that. Sometimes they get bumped to a low setting by accident. If it's on, however, call an electrician - you don't want to try to replace this one by hand.

No Flame, Embers Glowing

Open the back panel with a screwdriver (power off, please) and see if the spinner is connected to the motor. If not, call your manufacturer and get it replaced by a pro.

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Remote Issues

If the heater turns off by itself, check your remote and replace it. If that doesn't solve the problem - you guessed it, call a pro.

Noisy Heater

If your electric fireplace is making too much noise, open it up. Double-check that it's clean. If not, clean it - if it is, call for help. Your device may be defective.

Dim Glow

IF everything is glowing very dimly, there may be wiring issues. If you're comfortable with DIY electric repairs, check for loose or damaged wiring and replace it as needed. Otherwise, call an electrician.

Final Thoughts

Electric heaters and fireplaces are often a pain to troubleshoot, but if you follow the above steps, you should be set. But please - never, ever try to do a repair that you're uncomfortable with. Not only could you hurt yourself in the process, but you could make the device worse off than it was before.

Call an electrician or customer support if your Dimplex heater is not working and you're uncomfortable making the repairs yourself.