LifeSmart Comfort review: E1 faults 70

E-1 is typically an error code that indicates a possible overheat warning. Picture it as a “check engine” light on your car. Although it is an indicator, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is overheating.

This could be due to a few things, and we suggest you review each of the following, and record your finding. If this still occurs after the steps have been reviewed, we can isolate and address the issue if any:

1. Do you have the heater at least 2-3 feet from the wall or any coverings (curtains, etc)? Typically, if the case is somehow obstructed from free airflow, the sensor may detect it is too hot and give the error code.
2. Have you attempted to disconnect for 15 mins and let it cool off, then re-connect? This sometimes resets the sensor.
3. Does the E-1 come on all the time (as soon as you plug in and power up), or intermittently only?
4. Do you have it on a dedicated outlet/15amp circuit? Should be by itself due to safety precautions.
5. Do you have it on a GFCI? This can sometimes cause power failures and give false positives.
6. Do you have it on an extension cord or surge protector? Same as above.
7. Please check your filter on the back of the unit to ensure it is clean of debris.
If none of the above are applicable, you need a new thermostat and, for some units, a new power board.

I hope this helps. I've had a LifeSmart heater for over 3 years and never had a problem.

Yes, I too have one good one, and one new one which is defective. They have a quality problem on a part that retails for less than one dollar, that permits the unit to randomly turn itself off. It is the overheating sensor, which is part KSD301, a ceramic disc that acts as the overheat sensor. With the sensor removed from the heater, using an ohm meter, it tests eratic open and closed. It should test closed until a temperature of 60 degrees C is reached. I have ordered a new sensor.

Same model...Same problem...twice.
I bought my unit 2 years ago. Within the first month the unit started shutting off after 3 minutes of use. I managed to reach customer service and they had me to try a couple of different things. Unplugging, rocking the unit (There's a unit "tilt" switch which they say may cause the problem.) After troubleshooting online for about 30 minutes the rep took down my info and sent me a new power supply board and a thermostat. When I received them I took the unit apart and changed both pieces and the unit ran fine for one winter. The second winter (now) 1 month into the winter, it began shutting off again. I work in an electronics field. We discuss the possibility that some manufacturers may build in an intentional fail feature so people will be placed in a position to buy another unit. From the sheer volumes of people online reporting the same exact fail I feel this may be what we are experiencing.
It isn't like there's different things going bad like bulbs burning out or fans smoking. It appears to be a timed shutoff. Anyone know how to point the better business bureau at this product?

The people posting on this site have a legitimate complaint. I have a unit ls69xxxxxx and it does the same thing, but it is about one year old. I do suspect that the over temp sensor is the problem as ours will run most of the night on high without shutting down. I did the shaking thing and it has not quit since. will re post if it shuts down again.
Jim

Totally have the same problem. It didn't start to happen consistently until relatively recently. Only difference is i've never seen an E1 error. I turn it on, starts to heat up. it seems once it gets to a certain temperature it shuts off. After a short time it turns itself back on with a beep. Once it's warmed up, it happens within a few minutes. If it has sat for awhile, like a few hours, it takes longer for it to happen but once it's warmed up, it goes back to shutting off after just a few minutes.

I've taken it apart and almost everything seems fine on the inside. I plucked out the little sensor thing at the front of the heater and ran the heater to see if it would stay on with that thing out of its hole, no joy. I noticed that little sensor thing gets hot while the heater is running, like too hot to touch after awhile. I don't mean it gets hot from the hot air it gets like, electrically hot like there is a lot of resistance there. i notice only the one wire gets hot, the bottom one. The heater shutting off corresponds with how hot that little sensor is, again, from resistance not from the heater itself. i checked the connection on there and it's loose on the bottom connection. pretty sure that's the problem. (Yes, i took a risk and was handling that thing while the heater was running. Yes, i received a bit of a shock from handling it too much trying to figure out why it was so hot. Don't be like me.)

The rocking thing unbelievably does work, sometimes. I didn't realize it until i came across this complaint thing. A few nights ago, i was trying to run the heater and it was shutting itself off and while it was off, i raged on it grabbed it and shook it cursing it. once the thing beeped and was ready to power on, it stayed on that whole night. Honestly, i think that was a fluke. I believe the problem is with that sensor thing toward the front, but who knows with these things.

Well I'm back, my unit is now shutting down without displaying the error code. I will check the sensor and tighten the connections if possible and then re post if it works. I will also see if I can get some pictures and post them here.
Jim

Jim,
I believe your problem is the snap thermostat switch, mine is part number KSD301, which turns the unit off at 120C, or 248F temp.
If you have an ohm meter, it will test open when the unit fails. There are a bunch of them out there with this problem. Most people throw it away, and buy another, but the part is $6.50 for 5 shipped off eb@y. There is a good video on y0utube showing how to disassemble and remove the KDS301

Mine does the same thing. The E1 error. I found that if I run the heater on the low setting it works fine. So that's what I've been doing to avoid the issue. Of course that means I'm only getting half the amount of heat that the unit should provide. But for now at least thats something.

Our Heater kept shutting off as well. It is still under warranty. We called and they sent us a part that truly would and should have a QUALIFIED electrician take care of. You have to almost gut the unit. There is no electrician at my house. First thing after opening the unit my husband notices that the wire leading to the power switch is melted! I call them back with my concerns and my concerns of even having to try and fix this and I was told I can have them fix it but I have to pay shipping BOTH ways. I told her that would be just like buying a new one. So then she offered to split the shipping with us. I thought about it and we are concerned about this unit with the melted wires and I would never feel comfortable leaving it on! Then if something happens again we have to pay shipping again! I have decided to send them the picture of the melted wires and just buy a new one from another manufacturer. This whole warranty thing is not right! My sister works at the local news station here and I am sending her this story and all the pics of what this heater looks like with all the melted wires. I am also going to send her a copy of all these problems that people have listed on here. Then I am looking into whatever else I can possibly do to get someones awareness and attention! I will never purchase another lifesmart product in my life!

Purchased one of these 3 months ago. Turned the unit off this morning to leave for work when my smoke detectors in the house goes off. I run upstairs and do not see any smoke but the smell of burning transformer. I check heater and front unit says off but heating element is on but fan is not. Have not see anyone else with this problem but if smoke detector had not went off before leaving for work my house would have surly caught fire.

well my Life Smart plug in and it does nothing! Can't seem to fine anything to do about it, it like it not even plug up!

i tried the "rocking the heater unplugged"...and HAHAHAHAHA...it worked!...it has been on for over a day now, no ER flashing...works great, knock on wood.

I bought one of the lifesource heaters about a month ago and just started using it as the temperatures are dropping. Worked fine for about a week and then started the E1 error code. cleaned the filter which wasn't dirty, unplugged and plugged back into different outlets throughout the house, still doesn't work. I will stick to the Edenpure heaters from now on.

I have two heaters I bought the "New" 6 element heater after a few months the control panel stopped working. It seems to get hot and needs to be unplugged and allowed to cool down before it starts working again. I removed the front control panel and let it hang in front of the unit, this solved the shutdown problem and the overheating of the board. However if the unit is set to max temp the unit keeps running but the control panel will not function.
The older unit stopped working altogether, I took the unit apart and found the main power switch on the back of the unit had melted and was burned brown on all of the connections a better switch would have solved the problem. I replaced the switch with a much heavier one then replaced a heavier gauge wire to the board. The unit works great.
I found the all to common E2 message is a loose thermostat wire it simply has to be reconnected (a very cheap clip was used to secure it to the board.

It's sad how they want so much for a product that won't work for the price they want to sell it for. Just get a real one

I had same issue, had this for a year, keep getting e1 code, after 20 min. Cleaned filter, no go, pulled unit out of cabinet and checked all connections for heat, checked fan for dirt. Put unit on top of cabinets and ran it, still e1, took compressed air to fan, power board, front control panel, and everywhere else, problem solved. Cross your fingers.

Used the heater for 1 winter. This year when turned on got E1 code. It heats up, but won't shut off. Runs all the time.
does anyone know what could be wrong? I am afraid it will burn the house down

let the photos speak for themselves,

Purchased a heater from you had it plugged in all of a sudden we look over and it's on fire could have killed us. Would like to talk to somebody from the company immediately we will be telling everybody about this if not [protected]

My unit smells like something is burning awful smell, your [protected] Not taking any calls, the [protected] is always busy- what the hell is going on here. You sure took our money for your products & oh boy you sure made money on us. Your products are terrible. I think you should reimburse us for the bad products you are selling.

The main power lights up. The front of it does not AMD wont turn on

I too had E1 code but once I fully unwrapped the cord from the back storage pegs so it wasn’t blocking that thermistor thingy it worked fine.

Hot tub has no power when plugged in it started tripping the dedicated electric box first. Now nothing spa is only 13 months old.

02/13/22 Smoke alarm went off in my shop, opened the door and it was dark and full of smoke inside. The internal parts of the fan control knob burned up on my Lifesmart portable heater serial # HR272000401 and kicked off the breaker. Really? What the flip!. PffffffffffT. Could of lost my house.