Do Propane Regulators Stop Working Well In Cold Weather

Updated 03/31/2025 | Published 03/17/2025

Question:

I installed an Ashley DVAG11L 11,000 btu/hr vented propane heater in my portable ice shack. The heater calls for 11-14inch water column supply pressure. I used a Mr Heater 5foot combination hose and single stage pressure regulator model F273071 to connect to a 20lb propane tank. The specs for this hose and regulator is 11inch water column output and 75,000 btu. Im having a hard time getting the pilot light to start. It takes a long time, and many tries to get the pilot light lit. Once it is lit the heater seems to work fine. There is no power supply to this heater as it uses a manual piezoelectric push button to provide spark to ignite the pilot. Do you think my problem may be in the regulator from the tank to the heater? Would I benefit from trying a 2-stage regulator? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Keep in mind that as I am using this for ice fishing and leaving the 20 lb tank in the shack and shutting it down when I leave the propane in the tank can be as low as 10 degrees F at times.

asked by: Steve B

Expert Reply:

Hey Steve, I would suspect the issue is the temperature of the propane tanks. When the temperature drops so does the tank pressure which might be why it's hard to start. If the tank is really full that will help offset that a bit but if you can make sure the tank is moderately warm I would be willing to bet that will make a big difference.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Steve B.

3/31/2025

Thanks for the reply, Jameson. Maybe I'll have to try keeping the tanks in the warmth of my house and bringing them out every time instead of leaving them in the ice shack where they can get as cold as the external temperatures at the time.