Your Gas Cooker’s Flame Is Too Low Or Goes Out

As an appliance you use on a daily basis to prepare, heat and cook your meals, your gas hob is one cookery item you simply cannot do without. But have you recently been finding that the flames produced by your hob aren't burning properly, or are perhaps even going out completely? If you have, it's now time to found out what might be causing these symptoms.

THE POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS ISSUE:

• The pressure regulator is defective or of an unsuitable kind

• The wrong type of gas bottle is being used

• The bottle has been placed in the wrong type of environment

WARNING
Before doing any work on your appliance, make absolutely sure you disconnect it from the power supply and switch the gas supply off at the valve.
There is a risk of receiving an electric shock.
Wear suitable protective gloves if you need to dismantle anything.
There is a risk of getting cut or injured.

The pressure regulator is defective or of an unsuitable kind

The pressure regulator serves to maintain the gas at the correct pressure. It reduces the pressure of the gas as it leaves the bottle and enters the connection hose, which in turn supplies the valve that leads to the jet nozzle. This enables you to use the gas more safely. If you're not getting a good flame, or the flame is going out during cooking, your pressure regulator may well be the cause.
It's important to be aware that there are different regulators for different types of gas bottles: butane bottles have 28 mbar pressure regulators, whereas propane bottles have 37 mbar ones. Check the label on your regulator to find out if it's suitable for use with your gas bottle. If it isn't, you will need to get one that is.
If the pressure regulator is the right kind, then it could be that it's become defective with age. If this turns out to be the case, it will need to be replaced.

The wrong type of gas bottle is being used

Butane and propane gas bottles are designed for different kinds of use. Though both types of bottles have the same storage requirements and tend to sell for similar prices, propane is known for being very resistant to cold, and is therefore recommended for outdoor use (i.e. for barbecues and outdoor grills, etc.). Butane gas, by contrast, is recommended for indoor use (e.g. for gas hobs and portable heaters, etc.). Therefore, if the flames on your gas hob are unstable and struggle to stay lit, this could be due to you using the wrong type of gas bottle.

The bottle has been placed in the wrong type of environment

As we saw above, butane and propane have different uses. This can be explained by their properties. Both types of gas are actually in the form of a liquid when sold in bottles. What makes them different is the way they change state in response to temperature changes. Butane returns to its gaseous state at around 0°C, whereas propane becomes a gas at around -40°C, which means it's very resistant to cold.
Do you have your butane gas bottle placed in an environment that's too cold (approaching 0°C) and are finding that the flame on your gas hob is weak and/or unstable? Then you will need to place the bottle in a more suitable location.