Pete the Shoemaker 0 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Is it just my bad luck, or am I doing something wrong, or are the toyu oil heaters that people use pretty flimsy and unreliable. I must have got through at least 4 in as many years - they don't break down completely just conk out on me with E4 or E9 messages. Usually when I'm the coldest. I've tried cleaning the things... doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 You are not alone. They are notoriously easy to upset. My kicking mine might have something to do with it playing up on me from time to time. Link to post Share on other sites
Curt 1 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 They are not the most sturdy of things but clean it often and don't overuse it at full blast, give it some air and it should last. Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 The ones I have had all used to randomly stop and start spitting out dust or black smoke. I hate them, why not use an oil heater or gas heater? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Mines works fine Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 9 years, never had a problem. I think ya doing something wrong... Link to post Share on other sites
midnightcharger2 0 Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 E9 is the earthquake/tip over error, AKA the gaijin kick-OFF method. I actually had a adult lesson student ask me if all foreigners kick the heater to turn it off instead of properly turning it off. Got a laugh on that one. If the sensor gets jammed it wont work properly. They work off the same principle of pinball machines. I have not taken the liberty to tear one apart to see how they tick, but I would say its nearly impossible to jam it. E4 is the general one if I remember correctly. Could be a couple of problems, The air intake filter dirty and not getting enough fresh air or moisture in the fuel, or electrical error in the circuit board. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 We bought a Sharp one in about 2002 that is well temperamental. That moisture error all the time, even after a full clean out. With a Sharp one, you can fill it without turning the tank upside down though, which is a plus. We don't use toyu any more, but I think I prefer old school heaters with the glass cylinder and no fan. They smell a bit more when you light them, but I don't think they dry the air out anything like as much as the fan ones. Especially not if you stick a kettle on top. They are 100% reliable, even in a power cut, because they light off batteries or a match. A lot of shops in Niigata sold out of them after the quake. Link to post Share on other sites
telehugh 0 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 The old style ones (glass chimney) are bomb-proof - mine are 8 years old and they just get dusted when I drag them out of the shed each autumn. The electric fan ones aren't - you get what you pay for and they don't last forever. Received wisdom around here is go for glass chimney heaters and electric oil filled radiators if you really need to keep one room warm - ohh and a kotatsu if you can actually relax sitting under a coffee table (which I can't) Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 weird your're still in the stone age. Link to post Share on other sites
charlotte 0 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 I have 2 of them - one I've never had any problems with and it is now 3 or 4 years old. The other one was wonky in the first year last season. Every so often it just seems to want to stop working and, yes, usually when I'm the coldest. Can't believe that in such a cold place people rely on these things. It just seems... wrong. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Ah Mr W, thats the kind I have. I don't have the electric fan assisted ones. Mines works fine, really warms the room and it is a bit smelly when you light it and if its coming to the end of the can without you noticing but warm all the same. Actually my comapny has just sent out a letter to each employee saying this kind is dangerous and not to use them, but screw that!! Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 The gas heaters are the best, i remember when i was in nagano noone used them though. may be a regional thing as down in kansai most people i know use them. i wonder which type (kero/gas/oil radiator) is most efficient...? Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Never had problems with mine, run all the time. We have corona toyu heaters. Ours are the fully automatic electronically controlled types with a fan and blower as well. Just push the button and they go. I know the older models sometimes would play up. Anyway I am not sure which are the best make, but we were recommended corona when we bought ours. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Mine works fine, but it's not as easy and idiot-proof as the gas one in the previous apartment. They're definitley a regional thing. Usually you see them outside of metropolitan areas, but here I am smack dab in the middle of Sapporo... Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I've had a few that were tempremental - and Corona too. Have kicked one quite a few times. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Just looked - it's an old Sanyo. Link to post Share on other sites
Amos in Utsunomia 0 Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 I had problems with one once. A colleague at work asked me if it was plugged in directly to the plug at the wall or on an multi extension lead. It was on the latter. I changed it to be plugged in at the wall and it worked then. Don't know why that would make much of a difference but might be worth a go. Link to post Share on other sites
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