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View Full Version : Pilot light on LPG boosted HWS doesn't like the cold...



SilentButDeadly
9th Jun 2012, 10:40 PM
On some cool or cold nights the pilot light on the HWS booster goes out...even on the stillest of nights. HWS is supplied by LPG bottles just a few metres away on a straight run of copper pipe. Bottles and regulator sit in the open - no cover. Pipe runs under the wall edge to the HWS. HWS (Rheem LoLine Solar) sits in the open too. The complete setup has only been in place for about 3 and a bit years.

My suspicion is that its either the regulator that is getting too cold and choking off the gas flow or that condensation is doing the evil....somehow. It could even have been the garden gnome for all I know about LPG plumbing...

The problem is mostly a frustrating inconvenience rather than a matter of survival since the system is on the large side for our house and the solar works a treat.....so it can take a couple of days to notice.

Any plumbers with a suggestion or average punters with a tale to tell along the same lines would be most appreciated...as would a solution!! It's not the garden gnome - that situation has been...addressed.

Bedford
9th Jun 2012, 11:00 PM
Bottles and regulator sit in the open - no cover. Pipe runs under the wall edge to the HWS. HWS (Rheem LoLine Solar) sits in the open too.

When we had gas bottles like these there was a hinged galvanized lid/cover over the tops of the bottles and regulator, this was to help stop things freezing.

I think the flow of the gas within the pipes helps causing them to freeze, we ended up lagging the pipe as well and that seemed to cure it.

plum
9th Jun 2012, 11:08 PM
As a city plumber, have never had to deal with lpg issues, but it could still have a dirty pilot light, which requires the pilot assembly removed and the pilot injector cleaned.

SilentButDeadly
10th Jun 2012, 12:02 PM
There's two options. I've seen the flip down covers. And there's no reason to think that the pilot jet couldn't need a seeing to...