Test Propane Water Heater

[Wooden Head]

I have a used propane water heater and would like to see if it functions. Can you use a tank that is used for a grill for the propane source? If so, what is needed to connect it to the water heater?

Thanks

 

[greg13]

For test purposes you should be able to to use a grill tank & regulator. you will need to do the plumbing as needed, and may find the tank freezes if you try to run it too long.

 

[coaly]

And keep the LP cylinder and water heater outside.
Do not fire the main burner without water in it.

 

[blades]

The regulator might be a different psi than a grill reg., Just a thought as I have never compared the 2.

 

[coaly]

Same pressure. A BBQ regulator is a single stage regulator for outdoor use and manual controlled appliances only. When a appliance is installed inside and has thermostatic controlled burner it must use a two stage regulator for more precise pressure regulation and is code. The first stage is tank pressure down to 10 psi , the second stage down to 1/2 psi. That way the second stage only has to control from 10 psi down instead of hundreds of pounds of tank pressure to 1/2 psi. The more stages of regulation, the more precise the control.
They are both approx.1/2 psi outlet pressure or 11 inches water column.

The reason I stated to test outdoors is due to being illegal to take a DOT cylinder into any building.
The wetted surface area of a 20# cylinder is plenty to absorb enough heat from the atmosphere to run a residential water heater. When it is 1/4 full or less or extremely cold outside it looses the capacity to heat the LP to maintain the proper pressure.

 

[Wooden Head]

Thanks for the direction.