 or call us on **(07) 3869 2969** to book a service. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **Why won't my caravan heater start after being stored over summer?** The most common causes are a flat or weak 12V battery, a low or empty gas bottle, or — for diesel heaters — fuel that's degraded slightly in the lines after months of non-use. Checking battery voltage and gas levels first will rule out the simplest causes before a technician inspection is needed. **Is it normal for a caravan heater to smell when first used?** A faint burning smell when first turned on after storage is normal, as dust on the heating element burns off. However, a persistent fuel smell or a "rotten egg" gas smell is not normal and should be treated as a safety issue requiring immediate attention. **My diesel heater runs but cuts out after a few minutes — what's wrong?** This is often a safety shutdown triggered by restricted airflow, a blocked exhaust, or inconsistent fuel pressure. Check that ducting and vents aren't blocked or covered, but if the shutdowns continue, the fuel system and exhaust need inspection by a technician. **How often should I get my caravan heater serviced?** Gas heaters should be serviced regularly to maintain safety and compliance, while diesel heaters typically need servicing every 12 to 24 months depending on usage. A pre-winter check-up is a good habit for any heater type, particularly after extended storage. **Can I fix a caravan heater fault myself to save money?** Some checks — like gas bottle levels, battery charge, and clearing visible blockages around vents — are safe to do yourself. However, anything involving gas supply, fuel lines, combustion components, or electrical control boards should be handled by a licensed technician, both for safety and to avoid voiding warranties. Conversations 1 Thread in marketing-tasks-bruce Yesterday Kristina Mills A. Blogs. Can we please post two a week of these blogs this week. Please unpublish or hold off on the previous heater blog that is sitting in drafts in Wordpress as its inaccurate. We want to focus on Caravan Heating vai blogs, via emails and also special offers. Also, post it on socials too using… Show more](https://www.allbrandcs.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-16-2026-12_04_24-PM.png)
There’s nothing worse than reaching for your caravan heater on a cold night and discovering it won’t fire up — or worse, it’s running but doing nothing useful. Whether you’ve got a gas heater, a diesel combustion heater, or a ducted system, heater problems are one of the most common issues caravan owners run into, especially after a van has been sitting unused over the warmer months.
The good news is that most caravan heater faults fall into a handful of predictable categories, and many of them have simple causes – some you can check yourself, others that point clearly to a job for a qualified technician. In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common caravan heater issues, what’s usually behind them, and when it’s a quick fix versus a sign you need professional servicing.
Caravan heating systems – whether gas or diesel – sit unused for long stretches between trips, often through Queensland’s hot, humid summers. That combination of inactivity and moisture is exactly the environment where corrosion, dust build-up, blocked vents, and degraded seals start to cause problems. Add vibration from towing, and it’s easy to see why a heater that worked perfectly last winter might play up the moment you need it again.
Most issues fall into one of these categories: ignition problems, airflow and ducting issues, fuel supply faults, electrical or control board faults, and exhaust or ventilation blockages. Let’s go through each.
This is the most common complaint, and it can apply to both gas and diesel heaters.
Empty or near-empty gas bottle. It sounds obvious, but a partially empty LPG bottle is one of the most frequent reasons a gas heater won’t ignite or struggles to maintain a flame. Cold weather also reduces gas pressure in a bottle that’s low, which can prevent ignition even if there’s technically still gas inside.
Flat or weak battery. Both gas and diesel heaters rely on your caravan’s 12V battery system to power ignition, fans, and control boards. If your battery has been sitting over summer without maintenance charging, it may not have enough charge to start the heater – even if everything else is fine.
Diesel fuel line issues. For diesel heaters, fuel that’s been sitting in the lines for months can degrade slightly, or the fuel pump may need to prime after a long period of inactivity. This is especially common at the start of the cooler season after months of non-use.
Faulty ignition or glow plug. Diesel heaters use a glow plug to ignite the fuel-air mixture. Over time, glow plugs wear out and need replacement – a straightforward job for a technician, but not something that resolves itself.
Check your gas bottle level and swap or refill if low. Check your battery voltage with a multimeter, and put it on a maintenance charger if it’s reading low. If the heater still won’t start after these basic checks, it’s time to book a technician – particularly for diesel heaters, where fuel system and glow plug issues require diagnostic equipment.
A heater that fires up and runs briefly before cutting out is often a sign the unit’s safety features are doing their job – shutting down the system before something more serious happens.
Overheating due to restricted airflow. If ducting has come loose, collapsed, or is blocked by stored items, the heater can overheat and trigger an automatic shutdown.
Dirty or blocked air filters. Dust and debris that’s built up over a season of travel can restrict airflow into the heater, causing the same overheating response.
Exhaust blockage. For diesel heaters, a partially blocked exhaust – sometimes from nesting insects or built-up soot – can cause the unit to shut down as a safety precaution.
Low fuel pressure. Diesel heaters that run briefly then cut out can also indicate a fuel pump that’s struggling to deliver consistent pressure.
Check that nothing is stored against or blocking heater vents and ducting, and clear any obvious dust build-up from accessible filters. If the issue persists, the exhaust and fuel system need inspection by a technician – this isn’t something to keep restarting and hoping it resolves itself, as repeated shutdowns can be a sign of a developing fault.
If your heater is running – fan working, unit making noise – but the air coming out isn’t warm, the fault usually sits with the heating element or combustion process rather than the fan and electronics.
Incomplete combustion (diesel heaters). If the fuel-to-air ratio is off, a diesel heater may run but burn inefficiently, producing minimal heat output. This is often accompanied by unusual smells or sooty exhaust residue.
Gas valve or regulator issues. For gas heaters, a faulty regulator or partially blocked gas valve can restrict gas flow enough that the burner lights but can’t reach full output.
Ducting leaks. Sometimes the heater itself is working fine, but warm air is escaping through gaps or disconnected ducting before it reaches the cabin – meaning all that heat is being wasted inside wall cavities or under the floor.
Visually check accessible ducting connections for obvious gaps or disconnections. Beyond that, combustion and gas regulation issues require a technician with proper testing equipment – these aren’t faults you want to keep running, as incomplete combustion in particular can be a safety concern.
A heater that’s noticeably louder than usual, rattling, or making a new sound is telling you something has changed.
Worn fan bearings. As fans age, bearings wear down and start producing a whining or grinding noise during operation.
Loose ducting or mounting brackets. Vibration from towing can work mounting hardware loose over time, causing rattles that weren’t there before.
Combustion irregularities (diesel heaters). A change in the normal hum or pulse of a diesel heater can indicate the burner isn’t operating as smoothly as it should.
A quick visual and physical check of accessible mounting points and ducting connections can sometimes resolve rattling noises. Fan bearing wear and combustion irregularities, however, are best assessed during a service – catching these early is far cheaper than waiting for a full failure.
Smells are one of the clearest warning signs your caravan heater needs attention – and not one to ignore.
A faint “burning dust” smell when first used after storage is normal and usually clears within a few minutes as dust on the heating element burns off.
A persistent fuel smell (diesel heaters) can indicate a fuel line leak or incomplete combustion, and should be checked promptly.
A “rotten egg” smell (gas heaters) is the additive in LPG designed to alert you to a gas leak. If you notice this smell, turn off the gas supply immediately and have the system inspected before using it again.
The initial dust smell on first use needs no action. Any ongoing fuel or gas smell is not a DIY situation – switch the heater and fuel supply off and contact a technician straight away. This falls firmly into the “don’t risk it” category of caravan maintenance.
As a general rule, checking gas bottle levels, battery charge, and obvious physical blockages or loose connections is safe and sensible for any caravan owner to do themselves. Anything involving the gas supply system, fuel lines, combustion components, exhaust systems, or electrical control boards should be left to a qualified technician – both for your safety and to avoid voiding warranties on the unit.
If your heater has been sitting unused for an extended period, or if you’re noticing any of the issues above, getting it checked before your next trip is far better than discovering a fault halfway through a cold night away from home.
At AllBrand Caravan Services in Sandgate, Brisbane, our technicians diagnose and repair gas and diesel heating systems for caravans and motorhomes of all makes and brands. Whether your heater won’t start, is running poorly, or just needs a pre-season check-up, we can get it sorted so you’re not caught out on the road.
[Request a quote] or call us on (07) 3869 2969 to book a service.—
Why won’t my caravan heater start after being stored over summer?
The most common causes are a flat or weak 12V battery, a low or empty gas bottle, or – for diesel heaters – fuel that’s degraded slightly in the lines after months of non-use. Checking battery voltage and gas levels first will rule out the simplest causes before a technician inspection is needed.
Is it normal for a caravan heater to smell when first used?
A faint burning smell when first turned on after storage is normal, as dust on the heating element burns off. However, a persistent fuel smell or a “rotten egg” gas smell is not normal and should be treated as a safety issue requiring immediate attention.
My diesel heater runs but cuts out after a few minutes – what’s wrong?
This is often a safety shutdown triggered by restricted airflow, a blocked exhaust, or inconsistent fuel pressure. Check that ducting and vents aren’t blocked or covered, but if the shutdowns continue, the fuel system and exhaust need inspection by a technician.
How often should I get my caravan heater serviced?
Gas heaters should be serviced regularly to maintain safety and compliance, while diesel heaters typically need servicing every 12 to 24 months depending on usage. A pre-winter check-up is a good habit for any heater type, particularly after extended storage.
Can I fix a caravan heater fault myself to save money?
Some checks – like gas bottle levels, battery charge, and clearing visible blockages around vents – are safe to do yourself. However, anything involving gas supply, fuel lines, combustion components, or electrical control boards should be handled by a licensed technician, both for safety and to avoid voiding warranties.
