How does a natural gas regulator work

I take apart a natural gas regulator used in gas furnaces. Adjusting is covered. What makes it work is covered.
This video is part of the heating and cooling series of training videos made to accompany my websites: www.graycoolingman.com and www.grayfurnaceman.com to pass on what I have learned in many years of service and repair. If you have suggestions or comments they are welcome.
If you are a homeowner looking to repair your own appliance, understand that the voltages can be lethal, the fuels are highly flammable and high pressures are used. Know your limits.

[@flyingpiggie979]

Excellent explanation. Had difficulty grasping how it worked and instantly understood it after seeing this video.

[@oussamac8744]

Me too. This was a great educational video. Thank you

[@whispergb]

I'd always understood the principle, but not the actual mechanics. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@BoffinGrusky]

Man, you post some great educational videos!! Thank you for taking the time to put this great material out there!!

[@ParikshitShastri]

Awesome man! This is so far the best explanation. Real parts..no animation. Real feeling. Thanks

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@dizzcorn1000]

Bravo! It was so awesome to see the actual cross section of the regulator.

[@swapnilp7892]

Thanks for taking time to make this video. Much appreciated.

[@grayfurnaceman]

+Swapnil P Welcome GFM

[@davidbrown4868]

Excellent explanation. Thank you very much . I especially liked the explanation of the situation where the diaphragm breaks. Thank you again.

[@cburgos005]

I like the presentation of this video, the way the Reguulator is cut in half for the visual, very good.

[@raindropsrising7662]

Thanks. Probably one of the best explanation without relying on engineering terminologies. I learned more in a few minutes than an hour of class. Thank you.

[@BBYERS27]

I wish I had a 10th of Grayfurnacemans knowledge. This guys videos always come through when I need to understand something technical.

[@erikwingard2684]

Thanks much. Seeing the internal working really helped make it super clear. Intuitive even. Much appreciated

[@markeldamgaard]

This video has been super helpful for my plumbing class. I needed a visual understanding just just verbal.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Thanks for the support

[@DaneDuPlessis]

Helpful video. I now know what's in these units. Using a gas stove without a regulator makes it clear what they are there for.

[@spencerwilliams3385]

New to trades/HVAC. Looking inside at the ‘guts’ of components is so very helpful and deeply satisfying. Having an education based on a series of truths informed by professionals with an aptitude for teaching is priceless. Thank you 🙏

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@ShannonWare]

Excellent cutaway and mechanical demonstration! Simple, yes, but the stuff that patents are made of.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Shannon Ware Yup. The simpler the better. GFM

[@hermburgler]

best explanation. once you said the valve "modulates" in between the closed and open position, it just clicked with me. thank you!

[@realdeal139]

Great video. Very thorough and professional!

[@mwwu7582]

this video is awesome ! I still can't believe you take apart this regulator haha

[@Abdulaziz0Ghamdi]

great job sir you explained the regulator as i want and also as other people want the way you speak, indicate, zooming in and out is helpful thank you buddy

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@benko1968]

Awesome!! Thank you for your time & dedication! Greatly appreciated!!

[@grayfurnaceman]

Thanks for the support. GFM

[@TheBirdandEagle]

Again, what great information. Learn something on your channel every day. Thank you.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@lam9998787]

The small hole on the top side of the diaphragm is to control the opening and closing speed of the regulator. Informative video none the less.

[@MrPaley-fq7eo]

Great video on explaining how this gas regulator works!!!!

[@intigomez2666]

I’m installing myself a pressure regulator .. I hope all works well . Thanks for all the explanation.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@123wedo321]

Thanks! These videos are amazing. I learn more when listening to you often times than when I do going to trade school. No offense to the trade school I attend, but you're just better.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Probably not better, just a different way to show it. Thanks GFM

[@realblackmilky]

Dude in a quick video, you taught me better than my teacher did in my entire G2 course

[@tboneproductions2453]

I believe the fuel regulator on autos works the same way. If the diaphragm malfunctions the vehicle will run rich. Thanks for the great video

[@matthewpadula1731]

Thank you for your detailed explanation!

[@sankhapp]

Very clear explanation in simple manner.thanks

[@janehop]

Very nice explanation! Getting ready to convert from propane to natural gas, so I need to understand. thanks

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@Cndfirr]

Great video, easy to understand with great visuals....Thank you

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@1985boxer]

So simple love your explanation No need to get to technical straight forward the way I like it 👏

[@Crookside]

thanks! defiantly helping me get my B ticket in school, great videos

[@grayfurnaceman]

That's the great thing about youtube. You can watch until it works. Thanks for the support. GFM

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@jesusroque256]

Yes i was watching watching until i poke the litle hole on top of regulator and nobody mentioned on 20 videos

[@sneakinup1]

Good video very understandable and cutaway valve is great.Thanks

[@heisreal2933]

Beautiful cut away! Thank you.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@Wojtkunski2012]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@fortnite_brothers-pb4dt]

Thank you for your time, that was helpful.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@davewilson1969]

Interesting and well made video. Very informative. Helps me know that my plumber isn't ripping me off, when he says I need a new one. ; )

[@michaeldanon8343]

Good video I would've loved to have seen this before I went to gas school

[@trubluaggie83]

Great video! Saved me a bunch if time and money. Thank you!

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@Zahidalizahidi]

Nicely explained

[@MSKChess]

Thank you kind sir, its most helpful.

[@grayfurnaceman]

You are right! The pressure downstream will be enough to keep the diaphragm closed until the pressure drops. Thanks. I will do a correction video.

[@endurofan9854]

sir ive experience about the smal hole above the diaphram, the hole smell like the gas flowing out, wasnt that hole suposed to be just the breather of the diaphram and no gas should pass thru there?

[@Joe-ws5el]

@@endurofan9854 There is a small amount of gas that bleeds out the hole for normal operation of the regulator. GFM

[@robprebil]

Excellent video! I believe the bleeder hole is also there to relieve the pressure on the top side of the diaphragm. When the diaphragm moves up there needs to be a bleed-off of the air above it. If this gets plugged up you can get valve chattering. Great job!

[@grayfurnaceman]

Rob Prebil You are correct. That reference to outside air pressure is necessary for proper operation. GFM

[@donwill4103]

+grayfurnaceman Great video. We've got a project in Canada, many of regulators indoor installations, so we custom the bleeder part to threaded connection for through pipe, in case of the natural gas get indoor.

[@josecerv4452]

Thanks, very well explaned and easy to understand.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@manuelchinchilladasilva5867]

Thanks for sharing!

[@edilbertoduarte9221]

Thanks for taking time to explain it to the dummies like me

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@russbirzescu2579]

Excelent video , educational .

[@tommychan3871]

Very clear! Thousand thanks!

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@grayfurnaceman]

thanks for the support GFM

[@rawyin]

Awesome video. Although I don't think I understood until the 5th time that the spring puts pressure down on that valve... got it now! ;)

[@MsNajamuddin]

great works thanks.

[@B1663R]

Thanks for the great video :)

[@multiversetube]

really helpful, thanks!

[@paulcilluffo]

Great job love this video

[@CognitiveDisonance]

Ah, found it! Thank you!!

[@johnjacobsen1915]

good one. thanks!

[@tunnnnnnnnnnn]

Thank you for making this video

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@thegreatnormad3424]

You did a great 👍 job

[@justincanterbury2561]

Good work!

[@joniszard2340]

Helped me solve a problem. Thanks.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@JacobTJ1]

Great presentation thank you good Sir

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@gamelover420]

Thank you for such nice video.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@grayfurnaceman]

Your best repair is the combination gas valve. Cost will probably be the same. The valve usually comes with reasonably good instructions. Most important is the gas pressure setting. The reason I say it is probably 3/4" is the pipe is sized by interior size not outside.

[@Guy-wl8jk]

Thank you!

[@uzomaonyejekwe9266]

Thanks. I got exactly what I wanted. Thanks.

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@pixelrabbit261]

Brilliant, thanks buddy :)

[@bacwoodsgospel6879]

You are great

[@MrMac5150]

Very good.

[@grayfurnaceman]

If the regulator is separate from the rest of the gas chain, it can be replaced but the only source I use is an HVAC supply. There are some internet sources but I have not checked them out. It may be best to change the entire gas chain with a combination gas valve. Check out the Gas furnace playlist on grayfurnaceman on youtube. The may explain better than I can here. My guess is its 3/4 " pipe if it is residential. Parts are not availiable for regulators. Too many leak problems.

[@jojiran]

Well explained!

[@grayfurnaceman]

Thanks for the support GFM

[@quangnguyen-hq1bc]

Thanks .

[@MAMotinSobujsobuj23]

Thanks

[@franciscobanda6790]

Excelente.

[@dusterdude238]

the diaphragm and shaft part of the regulator reminds me of the old mechanical fuel pumps on cars from the 1950s. some had two lobes one to pump the fuel and one to create a vacuum to run the windshield wipers.

[@grayfurnaceman]

You are showing your age. GFM

[@dusterdude238]

grayfurnaceman LOL. not really, a friend and I were collecting and restoring 1940's / 1950's cars as a hobby. that is before his health started failing.. he taught me all I know about the old cars. for him it was from experience. so he passed this knowledge to me :) I have rebuilt a few.fuel pumps and carbsin th past. as you most likely know the old cars had plenty of elbow room under the hood for repair work. not like today's cars where you practically have to remove the engine and turn it upside down to change a damn spark plug Ha Ha Ha

[@grayfurnaceman]

Some regs have adjustments and some don't. If there is a screw slot under the cap it is. As for the weed burner and orifices, orifice sizes, pressures and BTU output are available on the web. Careful here, you are designing a burner and leaks or KABOOMS are possible. Propane is heavier than air and will build up in low spots. Not trying to tell you not to do it, but know your limits. The pressure washer vid will be done when and if I get a mule to do the vids on. GFM

[@loganm9784]

these are great for flamethrowers when you need to keep a constant pressure while the volumes change and it wont overfill to the point that the tanks rupture

[@camilo8cheryl]

Had to watch this as I’m installing a generator in our home. Need to add 3-4 in WC

[@rolandoavega1765]

Good video

[@turaleminov632]

Thanks you,

[@user-zl7di5dz7p]

It’s interesting 👍

[@vimabete1]

YOU THE BEST

[@grayfurnaceman]

Regulator vents must be piped outside or the regulator must be outside. The only exception I know of is regulators on gas valves. Hope this helps. GFM

[@user-qj6xd8jn5w]

Awesome

[@avivlewis1]

thanks very much for the great video! it helped me a lot! i think u have a little mistake at time 4:11. you say that when the machine is closed there is zero pressure under the diaphragm but if it were true, the diaphragm would come down...

[@whith5184]

Here from Carson Dunlop!

[@grayfurnaceman]

Sounds like the regulator all right. GFM

[@jrod3260]

Nice video thanks for posting. From the pinhole, is it sometimes piped to an airvvent where incase there is a leak vents out to the atmosphere?

[@josieyoung4194]

wow thank you

[@grayfurnaceman]

Welcome GFM

[@rayc1503]

How often do the diaphragms wear out. They're pretty much a moving part right. Here in the UK medium pressure regulators are set to work at at max of 75 M/bar. They're designed to govern domestic dwellings at 22 Mb constant. They can only be replaced or adjusted by the energy service providers. What tests can you carry out on multifunction valves ( warm air units ). They're very common in Canada and America right? Is it thermocouple test, solenoid test & working pressure test? What other safety features do warm air and open flue boilers have? I really enjoy your videos. You explain very clearly. How do atmospheric sensing devices operate?🤔 Thanks

[@garyv2498]

Big light bulb moment. Thank you.

[@asanasan4255]

Awsome

[@AmitKumar-dh6iq]

Awesome knowledge given by you, but it can be more accurate if you can add the law on which pressure regulator work. And you are also request to upload the video of diaphragm and turbine gas meter working principle. Thanks Amit Kumar

[@grayfurnaceman]

Good explanation. GFM

[@shahyar05]

Hi, wonderfully explained, could you make a video about the difference(s) of propane and natural gas regulator?

[@grayfurnaceman]

Other than the pressure, there really is no difference. GFM

[@henrytovar4863]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, I do appreciate that. Full clear your video, and easy to understand. Do you have any info about how the gas convertion kits works? those used in gas engines of electric power plants?

[@grayfurnaceman]

I don't have anything specific. These are pretty much manufacturer's instructions. GFM

[@henrytovar4863]

@@grayfurnaceman Thank you, I guess this devices work similar yo the gas regulators you've described, feeding gas on demand.

[@henrytovar4863]

Hey GFM I found this kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZewZ3dsarJ2ldk

[@jsimon7040]

Is there a fla me sensor on each burner?? And if they all acting alike - we can say that it is definitely the stove regulator-- what makes them go out - will I know when I change the regulator by UT's looks if it I' out! - thanks again!!