A dump switch is a safety device on propane heaters that shuts off the gas if the heater gets knocked over. When the heater is standing upright, a small weight inside the dump switch presses down, completing the circuit and allowing gas through to the heater.

What does a dump switch do on a patio heater?

A dump switch is a safety device on propane heaters that shuts off the gas if the heater gets knocked over. When the heater is standing upright, a small weight inside the dump switch presses down, completing the circuit and allowing gas through to the heater.

Why is my patio heater not lighting?

It may be as simple as the gas valve on the propane tank being turned off. … Yet another reason your patio will not stay lit is that the gas valve orifice is blocked. You should clean the orifice or have it replaced. Sometimes there is air in the gas line which is blocking propane from getting to the heater head unit.