How to tell if your heater works?

[Wind_Danzer]

So I have a TRONIC electric heater and it seems that it doesn't work. I have never seen the pilot light come on since I've had it and now that the temps are cooler out and the door is open more, I'm right around 77 degrees and the temp on the heater was set to around 79 degrees.

I just cranked it up to 81 to see if it will work but I need to know if there is another way to find out if it works before I call "foul" and take it back for a new one.

I have touched the glass but it feels about water temp.

Let me know cause I'm getting frustrated. *ALL*

 

[Mahamotorworks]

Remove the heater form the tank fill your sink submerse the heart (if it is submersable) and trung the know. You should be able to feel the heat form the heater. I accidently touched mind while movings some plants, it was on. I felt it. I didnt get burned but I could tell it was hot.

MAHA

 

[MissFishy]

Don't take it out of the water...you bust heaters that way. The dials on heaters are notoriously inaccurate, so don't rely on the temp settings on those. Simply turn it up until the pilot light comes on, then put your hand around it and see if it's warm. If the light doesn't come on or it isn't warm, take it back and get a new one. You may have burnt it out or it may have come defective. You MUST unplug the heater everytime you do a water change. They're really sensitive to different temperature water going over them when they're on, I literally blew one of mine up once, glass all over the tank, not fun...

 

[Wind_Danzer]

Ok, cranked it up just past 81 and the light came on so I guess it works. The temp in the tank is 77 though so I am just slightly disappointed here.

Guess 81 = 77 as the pilot light just went out.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

My Heater says it 71 in my tank that is about 76. The numbers are way off.

MAHA