Q&A on gas pressure regulators for heaters & appliances, set #3.

This article series explains LP or Natural Gas Pressure Regulators used on building appliances such as gas fired furnaces, boilers, water heaters, and stoves:

Gas Appliance or Heater Regulator or Control Q&A #3

These questions & answers about LP or natural gas pressure regulators used on appliances like heaters, furnaces, boilers, & water heaters were posted originally at GAS REGULATORS & APPLIANCE / HEATER CONTROLS - be sure to review the help given there.

On 2019-06-19 by (mod) - Can up to 20psi propane gas pressure be ran through a dwelling residential or commercial and reduced down to 1/2 psi at the appliance

If the proper piping materials pressure regulators are installed.

On 2019-06-14 by Will

Can up to 20psi propane gas pressure be ran through a dwelling residential or commercial and reduced down to 1/2 psi at the appliance

On 2019-04-15 by m.allenhopperlawoffices

Hi again, 2 quick follow-up questions: I purchased a Maxitrol RV48L and am ready to install it. Please forgive these really basic questions, just want to be super careful.

1) I assume I should leave the dust cap in place covering the vent orifice --correct?

2) The outlet pressure on this model is adjustable, and in the Maxitrol literature, the range is shown as 3" to 6" W.C. I'd rather not muck around with removing the seal cap and turning the adjustment screw unless I need to do so.

My question is this: is the 3" to 6" an output range that will vary based upon the demand from the cookstove unit burners, or is there a setting (with the adjustment screw) that allows/requires me to adjust it to 3", 4" 5" or 6" depending upon the rating of the cooktop?

As I mentioned in my previous post, this cooktop requires 5" W.C.

Thanks again for your help!

-Allen

On 2019-04-11 by (mod) -

Michael

Please see your question re-posted and answered in detail now at GAS REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE

https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Regulator_Adjustment.php

On 2019-04-10 by (mod) -

Thank you M.A.

Working together makes us smarter - or at least ... feel smarter.

<g> DF

On 2019-04-10 by m.allenhopperlawoffices

Thanks so much, this is super helpful. I owe you one, if you're ever in need of legal services I am competent to provide in the SF Bay Area, look me up!

M. Allen Hopper

On 2019-04-10 by (mod) -

You did post and I did answer but I'll be darned if I can find the previous Q&A -

You said that you asked the manufacturer about buying a regulator for a used, now obsolete gas cooktop and you explained that they were not helpful: you said that you were told to buy a new gas cooktop.

I suggested that you might find a third party gas appliance regulator that provides the required 5" WC and adequate flow that the older cooktop needs.

I said (somewhere in InspectApedia.com's abyss) that PROVIDED you have no gas leaks and proper installation of all parts etc. the remaining risk is less a BOOM as you put it and more that the flame size is too low when the burner is fully open or that the flame is unstable (the latter would be unsafe).

Gas appliance regulators are sold online by many vendors at prices from about $15. U.S. to $50. U.S. - often for the very same device.

Some of them have adjustable flow rates or pressures that can step up from 4" to 5" WC. Take a look at the adjustment range of this Maxitrol gas regulator. It can be set brom 3 to 6" WC.

Watch out: also be sure you've got the regulator set for the right fuel - LPG or Natural Gas. Most are convertible.

4" WC = 0.144365 psi

5" WC = 0.180456 psi

These regulators are made in the millions, and are used widely across many appliances - you can meet the spec without having to get the regulator ONLY from the manufacturer who, as you can guess, are often in fact buying their regulators from a third party anyway.

Yes a gas leak or gas explosion can kill you and everybody nearby, burn down the house, and hurt a lot. You can understand the manufacturer's person answering the phone has been told that only ZERO LIABILITY is acceptable.

It's like those signs on dump trucks that no longer say "keep back 600 feet" - now they say "DO NOT FOLLOW" = in other words turn around and go home.

As someone who works in a law office you can understand this.

Read OTHER PEOPLE's MONEY https://inspectapedia.com/home_inspection/Other_Peoples_Money.php for an eloquent exposition on why some consultants, attorneys, and others give such cautious advice - they're looking out not just for you.

I worry first not about getting sued (as I don't have anything) but rather about a reader who kills themselves or someone else by not recognizing what they don't know or what is unsafe.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-04-10 18:04:43.394547 by m.allenhopperlawoffices

Hi, apologies if this is a double post, I tried posting yesterday but not sure that post made it through to you. I am installing a used Jennair natural gas cooktop unit in my kitchen, replacing an existing unknown brand unit. I realized too late that the Jennair unit does not include the pressure regulator. I am trying to determine whether it is safe to use the regulator from the unit I am replacing.

Jennair customer support refused to provide any information re: the regulator requirements for their now-discontinued unit (model CCG556), nor any suggested replacement for their now-discontinued OEM regulator (part #Y04100307). I located a Jennair service manual for this model online, it indicates 5" WC output from the OEM regulator. The regulator I have from the unit I am replacing indicates 4" WC output to the appliance. Can you tell me whether this is safe to use, and if not, can you suggest a replacement regulator?

I hooked up the Jennair using the 4" WC output regulator I have for a trial run and everything appears to be working fine, with no leaks. But I realize the "gas goes BOOM" caution that is required here so just want to be as safe as possible. Thanks. --Allen (see attached pic of the regulator I have that was serving the cooktop unit I am replacing).

IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-03-28 by (mod) -

John

A larger capacity gas meter addresses total gas flow;

Normally each appliance has its own gas pressure regulator.

But from just your text I can't know what pressures and piping distances, diameters, and flow rates are found in your system. Your question is a reasonable one and one to ask your plumbers.

Let me know what added details you are given about the design of your gas pipe system and what the plumber says.

On 2019-03-28 by John Williams

We are installing a larger gas meter on my house to cover a 250k BTU pool heater. The plumbers are adding regulators to the outdoor appliances (gas grill and heater) but do the indoor appliances (furnace, gas water heater, stove) need additional regulators?

On 2019-02-21 by (mod) - slow or intermittent small LP or natural gas leaks

LIsa

Indeed slow or intermittent small LP or natural gas leaks can be a devil to track down. A service tech will perhaps use a combustible gas detector as those are very sensitive instruments, such as the TIF8800; sometimes the soap solution we usually use can miss a leak at a hard-to-see spot.

It can also be "normal" to have a brief puff of odor right after lighting a gas appliance.

Ventilate with fresh air; IF you walk into a room and smell gas do NOTHING that makes a spark: no light switch, no cell phone, etc. as you could set off a gas explosion. Go outside to a safe location and call for help.

On 2019-02-21 by Lisa

@Lisa,
BTW, it is a GE self-cleaning range, model #RGB745WEH3WW, purchased late 2004, new, for a 1-person household.

Hi. The flexible gas line to my stove was checked twice for leaks. None were found. Very infrequently when walking past the stove (not when cooking anything) I can smell a faint whiff of gas. If I turn around and walk past stove again, the smell is gone.

This became a little more frequent after my stove was moved to have new floors installed but now I've gone a few weeks not smelling anything again. Since the flexible gas line & everything external to stove was tested as negative, I sniffed in the oven many random times and caught a light gas whiff twice.

Any thoughts if I should do anything? If it could be a faulty regulator or other skilled-person repair needed, how do you go about finding a qualified person for the job? I do some DIY but will call in professionals when needed. Thanks.

On 2019-02-17 by (mod) - Kohler generator gas piping vs won't start up

Thomas, given the model no. of your Kohler generator we can check the manual for regulator specifications OR you can simply call Kohler directly.

Call Kohler generator service and tech support at 800.544.2444.

On 2018-11-12 by thomasdonohue711@yahoo.com

I put a new regulator on my home generator at our cabin. had some small leaks but the generator but did run. turned it off at tank then tightened all joints maybe over tightened but now i have no leaks. I went back and put plumere putty on it BUT THE GENERATOR ONLY CRANKS SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO START UP AT FIRST BUT WILL NOT START.

PROPANE KOHLER GENERATOR PLEASE HELP HUNTING SEASON IS GOING TO START AND WE NEED POWER TOM it is a brown regulator 12 W

On 2018-09-26 by (mod) - Regulator for Kohler gas fueled generator

Thomas, given the model no. of your Kohler generator we can check the manual for regulator specifications OR you can simply call Kohler directly.

Call Kohler generator service and tech support at 800.544.2444.

On 2018-11-12 by thomasdonohue711@yahoo.com

I put a new regulator on my home generator at our cabin. Had some small leaks but the generator but did run. Turned it off at tank then tightened all joints maybe over tightened but now I have no leaks.

I went back and put plumere putty on it but the generator only cranks sounds like it wants to start up at first but will not start.

Propane Kohler generator please help hunting season is going to start and we need power tom it is a brown regulator 12 W

On 2018-09-27 by TPS Technology said:

Tps Technology said:

Thank you so much for such a helpful post... you are the first whom i found to be explaining the blog writing method with ease... god bless u.

...

Continue reading  at GAS REGULATORS & APPLIANCE / HEATER CONTROLS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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