can my gas meter supply enough gas?

Joseph_4

I have a friend who is looking  into the possibility of  an oil to gas conversion. running off his meter so far is a stove 35k btu and a dryer  at 40k btu. he needs a boiler sized at 240k btu.

The meter he has is from American meter company and is an AC-250 which says 250 C.F.H. Would his meter handle the load of all these running at the same time? What is the calculation to figure max that a meter can supply?

Thanks,

Josh2

Tim McElwain

The number on the meter

pretty much gives you the answer. If it is a 250 it can handle 250 Cubic feet per hour. You can use a BTU content of 1050 BTU's per cubic foot to give you a maximum with that meter of 262,500 BTU's.



250 x 1050=262,500



You say he has a stove, is that a gas range if so most gas ranges are about 65,000 BTU,s 4 top burners 10,000 each and the oven around 25,000. The next meter size is either a 415 or a 425 from the gas company that is what you will need.



They may also have to increase the pipe size into the house depending on whats there now.

Joseph_4

thanks for reply

thanks for the reply Tim,

Josh

Dan467

gas meter

A 250 meter supplies 250 cubic ft. at a half inch drop in pressure. It says so on your meter. You can afford that drop if you install the proper size gas pipe. So the answer is your meter will be fine. That is a good size boiler hope you have a large house. 

Charlie from wmass

I vote for the next size up in meter

I have yet to see a meter that size if it is a few years old supply that size of load. Some areas the gas is only 1000 per cubic foot some it is even less. remember the big cooking and gathering holidays are in the winter for most folks. That means laundry, Christmas dinner, a cold snap, and a line in the bathroom for the shower. It is a bad time to find out your meter is too small.

Tim McElwain

DO NOT i REPEAT

DO NOT LEAVE THE 250 METER IN ON THIS JOB!



Sorry did not mean to shout but based on information given the 250 meter is borderline to say the least. Another size (large capacity)meter is no more money so upsize the meter. Believe me I know what I am talking about after working for a gas comapny for 28 years and having over 50 years in the gas business take my advice.