When my gas heater is running, there is a high pitched whistling sound coming from the gas meter regulator. Other than being an annoyance, is there a safety issue? Is the solution just to call up the gas company and tell them of the problem and let them fix it?
Whistling Gas Meter Regulator
- Thread starter Homebrewale
- Start date
Most likely, the flow rating on the regulator or meter are being exceeded.
This will cause excessive pressure drop.
Most likely the orifice is too small.
This will cause excessive pressure drop.
Most likely the orifice is too small.
Thanks. Interesting the gas company didn't catch this last year when they ran a new gas line for a natural gas grill.
This is the best photo I can get of the regulator. It's the only writing on it. It's hard to read in person too.
And to possibly answer the next question, I have a gas tankless water heater, gas stove, two gas furnances and the gas grill.
The meter is probably big enough.
I cannot read the regulator.
It might be fine.
See what the gas company says.
I cannot read the regulator.
It might be fine.
See what the gas company says.
I would not know. Likely the only thing to be running at the same time is the water heater. The meter whistles when just the pool heater and none of the other gas appliances are running.
I'll be calling the gas company. I just wanted to know if this an urgent matter or more of an inconvenience that can be fixed as time permits. Pool heater is working fine. It heated the pool from 67F to 85F the other day.
I don't think that it is urgent, but I do not know for sure.
Anytime a gas moves through a small hole, it can produce a whistling noise.
It might be an undersized orifice.
Anytime a gas moves through a small hole, it can produce a whistling noise.
It might be an undersized orifice.
Your meter is large enough for the heater and not much else running at the same time. What is the size of the line running to the heater? The last 10' can be 3/4," but the rest should probably be at least 1.25." Meters will "whistle" a little when running near capacity. Even my 630 does a bit when my pool heater is on.
Followup: The problem is solved. I had the gas company out to look at the meter. The guy knew right away what the issue was. It was a harmonic vibration in the corregated gas line running from the meter to the heater. To be sure, he swapped out the meter for a new one. Same noise when the heater is running. He gave me a contact to a former gas company employee that started his own business.
The gas technician came out today to replace the gas line. He replaced the corregated pipe with steel pipe. It was about a 40' run. He also replaced the regulator on the line to the heater. He said the old regulator was only rated for 325,000 BTU. He said he was surprised the heater was running at all with the undersized piping and regulator. Everything is back together. The noise is gone.
The gas technician came out today to replace the gas line. He replaced the corregated pipe with steel pipe. It was about a 40' run. He also replaced the regulator on the line to the heater. He said the old regulator was only rated for 325,000 BTU. He said he was surprised the heater was running at all with the undersized piping and regulator. Everything is back together. The noise is gone.