Inverter Error Codes

Inverter error codes aren’t a death knell. If you’ve gotten an Inverter Error Code, you shouldn’t unnecessarily panic before you know what’s going on. The chances are that your heater is fine providing you’ve not been using Kerosene in it. Error codes can appear for a load of reasons – even bumping into them can cause an error code to appear, so don’t stress out just yet. Let’s see if we can sort your issue below.

In some of the solutions below, we suggest bringing it in for repair. Please note that at Sheds Direct Ireland we will only work on machines that have been purchased here an invoice/sales number will be required before we will accept the machine for repairs. If you have used kerosene in your machine, or have been grossly negligent with it to the point that it would be unsafe to work on (e.g. left out in the rain, heavily dented etc.) our repair team will not work on the machine for their own safety or because the unit is beyond fixing.

Please also note, attempting to open and fix an Inverter yourself can be dangerous, even fatal.
Opening an Inverter Heater yourself will void your warranty and you will find it difficult (if not impossible) to find someone to service a unit that has been already opened. 

 

 

With all that out of the way, let’s look at the Error Codes now.

 

E0 Error Code : Contaminated/Old Fuel

Contaminated Fuel
If you’ve used a poor quality fuel like Kerosene, this can cause the error alarm to sound and pop up a big E0 on the LCD display. Kerosene (as we’ve discussed before), is not great for your health, let alone your heater. If you’re using Kerosene and you get an E0 warning, you could be snookered. If you’re lucky, the heater may not have gunked-up or it may only be partly corroded, but if you’ve been using it consistently, you will have destroyed the device. As we’ve said many, many times before: Do not use kerosene in your paraffin heater. We advise that you only use Tozane fuel or other C1 Grade paraffins with a high flashpoint.

How to prevent this: Obviously, use only C1 Grade Paraffin in this heater. Remember to throw out/use up old fuel at the end of heater season.
And again, for those in the back, don’t use Kerosene.

How to fix this: If you’ve used Kerosene and you’re getting error messages, call us straight away. We may be able to advise a solution, but if your heater is ‘scorched’ and has gunk build up in it, there’s no point in bringing it to a service agent for repair – it is beyond repair at this stage. Typically, repairing the unit for kerosene use costs about €300+, or about the same as a new machine.

 

 

E1 Error Code: Carbon Build Up in Heating Chamber

E1 is an uncommon error. It’s caused by carbon building up in the heating chamber and blocking the flame rod. The flame rod is important in maintaining safety in your heater, so when it’s blocked, it can’t take accurate readings. This causes your heater to turn off as a precaution. At Sheds Direct Ireland, we have yet to receive in a heater with the E1 error code for repair.

How to prevent this: There’s not much that can be done to prevent this, as it’s a very rare anomaly. It hasn’t been confirmed, but cleaning out your air filter may assist in reducing the likelihood of this error occurring.

How to fix this: We’d recommend bringing this to a service agent for repair. Unless you have completed the official training for Inverter Heater, you should not open or attempt to fix this heater yourself.

 

E2 Error Code: Water in the Heater / Poor Combustion

Water Formation 
Water in the heater will cause the E2 code to flash. If you’ve been keeping your fuel in a place that’s liable to be affected by condensation, you may have unknowingly introduced water into your fuel. Condensation causes water droplets to form at the top of the bottle and run into the fuel. It’ll sit on the top and be drawn into the tank when poured in.

How to prevent this: Store your fuel in a place that isn’t liable to condensation. Make sure the lid is firmly closed on any fuel bottles. Remember to throw out any old fuel at the end of the cold season too (e.g.. don’t ‘keep’ fuel from March to be used again in October – use it before then, or throw it out).

How to fix this: If you’re sure that it’s water that’s causing the issue, you can burn this excess off by force. This will only work if there are very small amounts of water in the tank, however – it will not work with later quantities of water. Turn on your heater at 30 degrees (make sure ECO mode is off) and let it startup. Once it goes through the warmup stage, It will turn off immediately and flash the E2 error code. Instantly, turn on the heater again. This may take 2 or more turns, but the water droplets will burn off during this initial phase and your heater should work again without issue.

If the issue persists, drain your fuel tank entirely, dispose of the fuel inside and clean out the tank, or bring it in for repair.
Please note that water formation in the tank is not covered under the heater warranty.

 

E3 Error Code: Non-Serviceable Fault

Like E1, this would be a very uncommon error. It comes up in the manual as a ‘return to agent’ problem. It’s a sort of catch-all error for a fault/damage in a part that can not be serviced directly. Parts includes the fan motor, electrical components and the motherboard. E3 errors can present in a variety of ways such as the fan coming on but no heat emitting, the pump making ‘chugging’ sounds but not heating, or the heater simply not responding to any inputs.

How to prevent this: Other than not being careless with your heater, there’s no way to prevent this, really. It’s just luck or mislandling that would see you get an E3 error. This would be a very uncommon error also.

How to fix this: Do not attempt to do anything to a heater that’s displaying an E3 error code. Bring it into your service agent for repair.

 

 

E4 Error Code: Dirt / Water in Fuel

Water / Dirt Formation 

The E4 error code is very similar to the E0 & E2 error codes. There’s something in the fuel that shouldn’t be there. It may be water, it may be dirt or grit. Occasionally, using poor quality paraffin or kerosene can also trigger the E4 code to flash.

How to prevent this: Use only C1-Grade paraffin fuel in your heater. We recommend Tozane. Remember to keep your air filter cleaned at the back of the machine (the circular filter – you can pop it out and give it a hoover, etc.) and don’t fill your fuel tank in a place that is dusty, wet etc. Also, remember to throw out any fuel at the end of the season. Leaving fuel in the tank over the summer can cause condensation formation. The water formed will sit on the top of the fuel and when it’s next used, water will be introduced into the heater. So always use your fuel before the end of the season, or throw it out!

How to fix this: If you’ve used Kerosene, there is no fix. If it’s not kerosene, you can:

• Remove the fuel filter from inside the inverter heater. You can find this in the bottom of the base, inside where the fuel storage tank sits. It should be a mesh filter while will pop out. Clean the mesh with a new bottle of Paraffin and scrub with an old toothbrush (GENTLY) until its clean. DO NOT use water or any detergent when cleaning.
• Remove the air filter at the back of the heater (the circular mesh) and blow this clean. 
• Use fresh fuel for the next filling of the tank.

If these do not work, try the solution for E2 codes (above) and if the system persists, bring it in for servicing.

 

E5 / 56 / E7 Error Codes: Electric Faults

The E5, E6 and E7 codes refer to electric faults. It may be unsafe to attempt to fix these heaters yourself or even to attempt to use the dials while they’re plugged in.

How to prevent this: Make sure your output is capable of supporting the power required to use this heater. It requires 720w at the 10-second start-up phase. This may be too much for some generators, and it may trip the switch. Once it’s up and running, it is operational at 22w, but you still need the initial power to get it going.

How to fix this: Bring it in and get it serviced. Do not attempt to fix this yourself.

 

 

E9 Error Code

Well hello there, Clumsy! You’ve bumped into your heater and the Inverter has jumped into shut off mode as a safety precaution. This is a very common issue and the E9 code should be one to not cause you any distress.

How to prevent this: Don’t bump into your heater when it’s on, or put a guard around it to stop pets or toddlers getting at it.

How to fix this: Make sure the heater is on a level base, turn off the heater, count to ten and turn it back on again. Simple as that!

 

Other possible errors for these inverter error codes

Error codes can trigger for various reasons. The internal diagnostics can be fooled into thinking something is amiss in certain circumstances. So

• Before you do anything – make sure your heater is on a level surface. Slanted ground or moving surfaces like in a boat etc., can cause the heater to malfunctions.
• Similarly, check to see if there are any chemicals in the air. We had a case where someone used an inverter heater in a salon and the high chemical content of the perfumes and sprays they were using were setting off the alarms in the Inverter!
• Make sure there is good ventilation in the area the heater is being used and that it’s not too close to a wall/in an alcove. Boxed in areas can cause issues. Bring it to somewhere more ventilated and retry it there.

If you’re still having no joy, you should do a thorough clean of the machine.

1. Take the filter out of the reservoir. This is the circular, plastic bit underneath the fuel tank. It should have a thing layer of mesh on it.
2. Pour some Tozane or other C1 Grade paraffin into a clean receptacle. Dip the filter into the Tozane and clean it with a toothbrush. (Obviously, don’t use this toothbrush in your mouth ever again!)
3. Do not use any water or any other products when you’re cleaning the filter. You don’t want to introduce any other chemicals into it at this stage. Leave the filter to steep for a short period of time and then replace it back into the unit.
4. You should then also remove the air filter at the back of the heater and blow this clean. You can use a hoover to make sure there is no dust/grit blocking up the filter.
5. Retest the machine after these have been done.
6. If the issue persists, we recommend dumping the fuel out of the tank at this stage. Old fuel, contaminated fuel or fuel which has water in it, maybe the culprit. Allow the tank to drain completely. This may take some time.
7. If at this stage the issue is still persisting, bring it to us for a service. Services are covered under warranty providing you’ve used the correct fuel and that the issue is not a result of negligence/personal damage.

Should you still have Inverter code errors that you can’t understand or fix, you can contact the company that you purchased the heater from – if this was us, call us at 01 864 4247 or message us on Facebook.