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Options for increasing gas pressure without using local gas company

Smoothoperator68
Smoothoperator68 Member Posts: 1
in Domestic Hot Water

I installed a new tankless water heater, which is underpreforming . Everyone attributes my problem to not enough gas pressure. Is there an alternative to boosting gas pressure without upgrading my meter for $2,300 with DTE.

Comments

  • jesmed1
    jesmed1 Member Posts: 1,225
    edited February 28

    Has anyone actually measured the gas pressure? What were the results of their measurements?

    If no one has measured the pressure, they're all assuming. There could be several other reasons why the water heater is underperforming.

    Mad Dog_2GGross
  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,466
    edited February 28

    Ask everyone who is diagnosing gas pressure to to tell you the pressure values they measured at the unit. Check incoming at the units gas valve, static, at ignition, high fire, and lockup. 4 values needed. If the gas pressure is deemed insufficient generally it is a gas pipe sizing issue and not a maxed out meter but without a bunch more info I wouldn't know that, and either way you need to actually know those 4 values to diagnose a gas pressure issue. If you have someone else do it either write down or take a photo of the manometer for each value, do not just accept an answer of "the gas pressure is good" or "bad" you need to actually measure it and record the values

    LRCCBJAlan (California Radiant) Forbesmattmia2
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,483

    If it is a gas pressure there is no other way to increase it unless the utility says their changes can fix the issue.

    They do make gas booster pumps for large jobs but they are very expensive and cost prohibitive for a house.

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,781

    I'll add that with a tankless heaters, one of the most common problems is the gas line supplying it is undersized. Often the same 1/2" line that supplied the tank-type heater (which used to be there), is used for the tankless, and it just can't work. Do you have a 3/4" line all the way from the meter to the new heater?

    Yours, Larry

    mattmia2
  • mikedo
    mikedo Member Posts: 254

    did the person who installed it verify that the gas pressure and meter were big enough before the conversion. i would think they should be responsible for correcting it

    Mad Dog_2mattmia2
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,857

    What was there before? Has anyone verified that gas line is big enough from meter to appliance. It still may have undersized meter. Too often companies come in and replace a 40,000 or 50,000 btu water heater with 150,000 - 199,000 btu on demand without upsizing gas line that was never intended to feed the new much larger gas supply need. Just .02 worth.

    Mad Dog_2Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,359

    The on-demand manufacturers are partly to blame for undersized gas lines.

    Screenshot 2025-03-18 at 8.25.59 AM.png
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
    GGrossMiata
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 12,200

    What did your pressure drop calculations show?

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 12,200

    Also, in michigan most municipal water is around 35 f in winter so you need to size the unit for about a 90 f rise.

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