Heater help needed - gas pressure

[Geeper]

Have a Teledyne Laars LT400 heater on my pool setup. Have had problems since the beginning 6 years ago with the gas inlet pressure reaching the control circuitry being borderline (i.e. above minimum when static, drops just Slightly below minimum in operation causing the heater to stop operting) due to (I believe) the line size run by the pool installer being on the small size of "recommended". Too much water under the bridge there in terms of fighting with them over the issue. At the point where the rig needs maintenance, so thinking about just replacing the thing so my question is two fold:

1) Can anyone recommend a heater (brand and model number) that is less sensitive to a borderline gas inlet pressure (i.e. that will continue to run if the inlet pressure is just slightly lower than min spec or one that runs on a min spec <5" WC)

2) Offer suggestions on raising the pressure to the heater to avoid the issue

Thanks
Geep

[mas985]

First, check the gas inlet screen, sometime they get clogged with debris and that can increase the pressure drop.

Also, I know gas lines are expensive to have installed but isn't still cheaper to replace the line than buy a new heater? In the end, it may extend the life of the heater as well.

But if you decide to replace the heater, the size of the gas line required is dependent on the size of the heater so if you go with a smaller heater, your might be able to get away with the line you have. It might even be possible to have the heater modified so that it uses one less burner (reduced BTU) but that will increase your heat time.

I still think your best option would be to consider an new gas line.

[Poconos]

Hi Geep,
You don't say if the gas if natural gas or propane. If it's propane then things are more under your control. There is a pressure regulator at the tank that can possibly be replaced with an adjustable one if they exist. They must, somewhere. If it's city gas then you're more limited. Try contacting the gas company and verifying the pressure after 'their' regulator is high enough. If theirs is adjustable somehow maybe they could tweak up the pressure a little. I've also seen some home furnaces with a local regulator in the line that drops the pressure to exactly what the furnace wants. Maybe there is one in your pool heater so look for one.
Hope this helps and Happy Thanksgiving.
Al