Propane Woes - Is it the Regulaor... Or something else?

**Mr_funnypuns** · 04-04-2016, 10:25 AM

OK, we got back from our first long trek with the Trailmanor, and most of the systems worked well. We did have some propane issues, so coming back here to seek some advice.

DW was cold, and we ran the furnace the first couple of nights without problems. However, on the third day we fired the water heater, and the furnace stopped turning on.

My first thought was that the flame sensor and/or burner must be dirty. So, pulled it and cleaned off the carbon, and the flame improved (no yellow in the flame! That's a very good thing!) However, the furnace still wouldn't light with the water heater on. Also noted that when the water heater was on, the stove would get yellow tips on the flame burner flame.

OK... So now thinking the regulator. Turned the furnace on, and it got started. Turned the stove burner on high, furnace quits. Turned on the stove to low, and the furnace lights ok.

So... Thinking might need an adjustment... Or just replace the regulator.

So, any thoughts on this issue are welcome, as well as a recommendation for a replacement regulator p/n.

**Bill** · 04-04-2016, 10:33 AM

Sounds like a low pressure problem, or maybe low flow (kinda the same thing). By any chance did you try flipping the lever that changes the feed from one tank to the other? (I'm assuming you keep both tanks turned on.) If this cures the problem, then the problem is in the tank valve. If not, it is most likely in the regulator.

A propane technician, at either a propane dealer or an RV service place, can check the pressure with a manometer. Assuming the regulator is simply out of adjustment, he can tweak it at the same time. I don't know how much he would charge for the check and tweak, but a new automatic switchover regulator is not too expensive. I see $35 at pplmotorhomes.com.

Bill

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-04-2016, 03:04 PM

Just a thought.....low pressure could also be indicative of a leak, and you may not smell it if outside due to the low pressure and wind.

Swapping out the regulator is a cheap first try to fix it....

Dave

eddugo · 04-04-2016, 07:56 PM

Do you have Green Acme nuts on the propane bottles as they also control the flow?

scrubjaysnest · 04-05-2016, 04:37 AM

As others have said this is systematic [symptomatic] of low pressure, many times a bottle just about to run out.

**Mr_funnypuns** · 04-05-2016, 04:14 PM

Yes, I have the green nuts. Changed over from the nearly empty bottle to the nearly full bottle, and all seems well. I need to check pressure adjustment I think.

**Mr_funnypuns** · 04-06-2016, 07:40 PM

Ok, built a simple manometer and checked system pressure ( see this very cool video for instructions on how to do it http://youtu.be/RyTx8VIE_kQ ) I have low pressure ( < 8 in water) when the furnace tries to run. Now switching over to the other tank, the pressure went down. I shut off the empty tank, and the pressure went to zero. Conclusion: bad changeover valve/ regulator. Ordering new regulator.