Propane questions

[SalmonSlayer]

I need some help with my heater system. Last year I picked up a remington ventless heater for the perm. 15-30k BTU. Connected it to a quick release in the house, out the wall to the regulator to the 20 lb tank. I have propane getting to the heater, but I there is no propane being sent through. It seems like there is an internal regulator in the heater as well. The heater says it needs at least 11 W.C. to operate. I'm guessing that's where my problem is. Can you get 11 W.C out of a 20 lb tank? Is it a regulator issue, or do I need to get a 30 or 40 lb tank to get enough pressure? Any help would be appreciated, as you can imagine, this is very frustrating. One of the big pitches to the wife was that she'd be very warm this year...

[BehindtheHead]

i dont think the size of the tank has anything to do with pressure. a 20 lb and a 100 have the same amount of pressure because they are filled by the same pump.

could be something like a bad thermocoupler or a plugged orphus.

[lipripper]

Just call the manufacturer, it may be something simple. If not they can send you a replacement.

[dangnear]

You need to start with a 11 W.C. regulator at the tank to feed lp to the heater valve. If this does not work there is sumthing wrong with the furnice valve

Dave

[SalmonSlayer]

Is there an easy way to test how many W.C.'s my current regulator is putting out? I'd hate to go buy another regulator and have that not be the problem. I can't find anything on the regulator that says what it is.

[Eelpout08]

unless your regulator is adjustable im 99% sure it is an 11" regulator. W.C. stands for water column, it is a measurement of pressure. The tank size has nothing to do with the pressure. You can try a new one if you suspect it is bad, the only way to test it is with a manometer or pressure gauge that reads WC.

What kind of quick release are you talking about? I would double-check everything and re-read the instuctions for the heater. also i would not use anything but threaded or flared connections.

I know that with our ventless heater i have to hold the button down for at least a minite or two after hooking the gas up to purge the air out of the line before the pilot will light.

[Gordie]

also i would not use anything but threaded or flared connections.

I know that a lot of guys do this but I would not recomend it to anyone

Sometimes if you open the tank valve open to fast it will shut off the the valve itself as to much pressure will trip a saftey device.

also check the hose for kinks.

Check the orafice to see if has dirt in it a small piece off dirt will really casue a lot of problems.

Check the valve of the tank for dirt or other foriegn matter.

Before you try a new regulator try it with out the quick disconnect

Hope you get it figured out

[magnum mike]

Quick connectors may seem handy but are the cause of more problems than any other type of connection for any media. They leak, clog, jam and are not worth the effort in my experience. I would start looking there.

[SalmonSlayer]

Interesting. I bought the quick connect because I'll be taking the tank home with me each time and was worried about damaging the threads from repeated use of hooking it up and disconnecting it 3-5 times a week. I'll try taking that out of the mix and see what happens.

Also, I would read the instructions/manual for the heater, except that I bought it off the list and it did not come with that. I can't find the manual for it anywhere online either. I did try holding the pilot light down for 5 minutes to bleed any air out... and nothing.

[SalmonSlayer]

What kind of quick release are you talking about?

It's the quick release from Mr. Heater. All BTU Capacities. High and Low Pressure Systems, or so it claims.

This is the regulator:

And this is the set up into the furnace. The regulator hose would attach to the quick release at the bottom there. And before you ask, yes I did have the red lever in the "on" position when I tried to light it. All the extra piping at the bottom was on it when I bought it and I didn't want to mess with anything as it was working when I picked it up and as you may have surmised, I know next to nothing about this stuff.

[Gordie]

I would install a new end on your regulator the type that hand screws on to the tank kinda like the ones on a BBQ grill.

The brass part on the second pic one the left sideI belive is your orafice

take tahe off and see if it is blocked You may have got a piece of thread tape or pipe sealer in it by mistake,.

Thats where I would start and not to be a smart arse make sure that that valve is open when testing for gas.

[SalmonSlayer]

I got it figured out. I had the control knob turned just past pilot, so it wasn't putting any gas out. Apparently there is a tiny sweet spot. Thanks for all the advice. My quick release is still leaking, so I'll go try and exchange that for a new one that doesn't. Hopefully that's the last of my problems...

[MNfan]

A little advice I would connect the threaded end of hose in the the house and put the quick connect outside by the tank in case it started to leak just a thought!!