mcghee said:
that aside, i don't believe that impurities in the gas can cause failure that quickly. the gas bottles in my 'van were transfered from my last 'van which never suffered regulator failure. and i believe the injectors in the gas appliances would block before the regulator would being as they're as small as 0.4mm.
To be honest, I think my first reply answered or at least suggested a possible reason for what you have queried in your reply, particularly that is, it's a UK problem and not a problem on the Continent, being that's where it's designed, then it's reasonable for them not to design a fix for a problem that does not actually exist?!
However perhaps if I explain something of how the GOK reg works it will make clear why the reg can block almost straight away, never mind after a few weeks use.
And that is, the GOK is two stage reg, one half reduces bottle pressure to 150mb, the second down to 30mb, between the stages is a rubber diaphragm and this is where the problem lies.
Simple the oil swells the rubber and that prevents it working and the regulator ceases to allow gas through.
The other point you make is blocking tiny jets, well if you fit a Cleese reg and the oil gets through in to the pipework and beyond, then it most certainly will block jets, has it has been doing for years.
A point to make here is, if your main gas feed pipe goes to a vertical Manifold and appliances connected from there at relatively high level, then it's probable you will never have a problem, however ,if appliances are individually 'tee'ed' off the main feed pipe at low level, then it's highly probably you will
For this reason and also being low down, the old Cascade2 water heater was/still is favourite to suffer jet blockage, and I've seen literally hundreds, apart from seeing wet oil, if it was dry to look at, the swelling of the rubber 'o' ring gas seal is a dead give away. Today it's the turn of the Truma water heater, these are blocked and for the same reason, the fix I might add is far more money than replacing a reg!
As I see it, the problem is one of gas supply, perhaps then it's these people the anger should be directed at? as it is, it's being aimed at the poor old messenger, so to speak