Do LP Gas Regulators Go Bad?
 

I have this big patio heater and I can't get it to light the pilot. It has spark from the ignitor but I can't get gas up to the top. When you hook up the regulator to the tank, there is flow through the regulator but its really really gentle flow. Putting your thumb at the end of the line can totally stop the pressure. Do those little regulators go bad or is that flow sufficient and my issue is higher up?

Yes they do. Buy the red ones ($70.00) they will last you for years. The cheap ones last two seasons at best.

check the pilot burner for carbon build up blocking the burner holes

the regulator is to reduce the pressure and should not be a strong flow
esp at the pilot

can you lite the main burner ?

A trick is to unscrew both ends of the regulator and hose and let them sit for a few minutes and put back together. Don't know why, but it seems to work.

When I turn the gas valve to "light" and push it in to flow out to the pilot I do not get any hissing.

When I turn the knob to the running position I don't get hissing again.

If the regulator should be pushing out gentle flow then I am thinking it is something upstream of the regulator.

Since I don't hear or smell gas at either the pilot or the main burners should I be replacing the valve or is that something that can be cleaned?

Most likely the check valve in the tank needs to be reset. The symptoms are the same as on a BBQ grille - low gas flow. This is how you do it on a BBQ grille.

To reset the check valve: Turn off everything. Turn off the grill, the side burner and the LP gas tank. Once everything is turned off disconnect the propane tank from the gas grill by unscrewing it or pulling the quick-release on older tanks.
Now turn the grill control valves back on to bleed out the propane in the manifold
and gas line. leave the grill, side burner etc on high for a few minutes with the lid open. (basically what Hugh said) Then turn all the valves back to the off position.
With the grill turned off reconnect the propane tank, then very slowly turn the
hand wheel to the open position. Then light the grille.

Same problem on my bar-b-que. bad regulator

Look carefully at the regulator. If it says Made in China, throw it in the trash and find one made in the USA. My gas grill came with a China-crap regulator that died after a couple of years. I replaced it with a USA made quality regulator and the company I got it from said it will outlast me.

Why can't I remember the name of pelican that got his leg burned badly by a failing regulator on his grill. It was like a blow torch x 10 that happened to be aiming right where he stood.
Wouldn't mess with an old failing regulator.

They do go bad, but only if hanging out with a bad crowd.

Some of them just have bad genetics and come from a bad place.

Hey, they are under a lot of pressure to convert.

That was Art:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/680500-bad-day-today-how-i-spent-memorial-day-hospital.html

I do get flow out of the regulator but its like as soft as the air I exhale when breathing. I'll dry to reset the tank itself. I guess a regulator from homedepot cant hurt.

It's a bad regulator. If you have natural gas nearby, you could plumb in a line for the heater, change the orifice, and forget about failed regulators forever.

Thanks for the reassurance. I don't have natural gas but I'll grab a regulator today.

BTW: love ramchargers...have a first gen diesel ram myself.

Popped on a new regulator and the pressure I feel coming out of the regulator is much higher. But not matter what I cannot get propane up to the pilot or the burner. I don't hear or smell and gas coming out and of course there is nothing to light. This makes me think the valve is bad? Something I can open and clean up with PB blaster or no?

It's probably the flow limiter needing to be reset and no, you can't fix it with PB Blaster. I know you aren't fueling a BB-Q grille, but the concept is the same for anything that uses a modern portable propane tank and regulator. If for any reason too much gas flows out of the tank when you open the valve, the flow limiter stops the flow to a trickle. You have to resent the limiter before it will allow the full volume of gas to flow. If you can't reset it after a few tries, you need to get another tank because the overflow protection valve in the tank is not opening..

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f8wwmtg7K_c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Troubleshooting Flow Limiting Device on 20# LP Tanks

Like I stated on post #4