How To Convert Natural Gas Grill To Propane
If you want to convert the natural gas grill to propane at home, we recommend you to start the procedure with precautions. It is essential since not adopting safety measurements can be detrimental for the conversion and your health as well.
Things you will need:
- Soapy solution
Step 1:
Even before you start the conversion, is it essential to identify if you can convert natural gas BBQ to propane. You can know about it from the user manual that will come along with the natural gas BBQ grills.
Read through the guideline and see if the model is convertible or not. If you cant find the right information in the user manual, you may search the manufacturer website with the particular model number and see through the information.
Alternatively, you can contact the local provider of the unit.
Step 2:
Then you will need to purchase the necessary conversion kit from natural gas to propane. You can get it at the nearest hardware shop or get it from the grill supplier.
Step 3:
Before you start the conversion, turn off the natural gas supply line. Then find the connector of the gas line with the BBQ grill. Disconnect the supply line using a screwdriver or wrench.
Then, you need to curve your pathway through the interior of the BBQ grill. For this, use a quality screwdriver to remove the nuts and bolts from the grill outside. Then access the internal parts of the device.
Step 4:
A natural gas run BBQ grill comes with a natural gas use gear. These are:
- Gas valves
- Regulators
- Orifices
How Do I Convert A Propane Grill To Natural Gas
You can convert your propane grill to natural gas with a simple procedure and some help from your grill dealer and natural gas company. Whether converting a barbecue grill, mobile home grill or propane stove to natural gas, you only need to change the size of the orifice that allows gas to meet the flame and burn. With mobile home grills and stoves, you buy kits that include simple instructions you can do yourself. With barbecue grills, you will need some help to convert your propane grill the natural gas.
The reason different sized orifices are needed to convert a propane stove or grill to natural gas has to do with the composition of these two different gases. Natural gas requires 40% more air to burn than propane does and it is delivered at a lower pressure than propane. This means the orifice must be 2.5 times bigger to allow for the additional air and lower gas pressure.
Kits can be difficult to find for converting a propane grill to natural gas. Homeowners must either drill out the present orifice to make it larger, or purchase a new orifice of the proper size if they want a natural gas grill. Drilling an orifice can be difficult and is best done with a drill press. Check with your dealer to find out the correct orifice size to drill.
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Are You Sure Your Propane Grill Can Be Converted
Not every propane grill can use natural gas, so be sure to consult your owners manual.
Many LP grills have manufacturer dual-fuel labels showing they can be converted to NG. If so, then the manufacturer will offer conversion kits via their website or other retail outlets. This is great news!However, some grills are built for one fuel type only and therefore cannot be converted. Not so great news!
So, if your propane grill cannot be converted, do not MacGyver it, its not worth the risk. Youll need to buy a natural gas grill. You can check out some models and associated costs in our natural gas grill reviews.
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Things You Will Need To Converts Natural Gas Grill To Propane
In order to change a natural gas connection to a propane tank, you will need three basic things air shutter/mixer change, smaller burner orifices, and a hose with LP regulator. When connecting your grill to a propane tank, you must ensure that the pressure and volume are adequate enough to manage the load. Here are the steps to follow.
#. Step 1
First, check whether or not your gas grill supports the conversion and you will usually find this information in the owners manual that came with the grill. When not sure or if you have loosed the manual, we suggest that you contact the owners manual and ask if he can provide or recommend a conversion kit for complete transformation.
Sometimes, even though the gas grill model does not come with a conversion kit, the manufacturer may still have one that can send you for an additional fee.
#. Step 2
When you have the kit ready, shut off the natural gas supply to the grill, and then remove the gas line completely. Next, you must remove any side or front panels to access the barbeque parts within the grill.
#. Step 3
Now, take out the gas valves, regulators, and orifices that are meant for use with the natural gas supply and replace them with new grill parts that are propane compatible. Next, you must ensure that all the BBQ fittings are perfectly secured. Dont close the panels so quickly.
#. Step 4
# Step 5
How To Convert Your Weber Grill To Natural Gas
August 31, 2017 By David
If your Weber grill is designed to run on propane and you want to convert it over to natural gas then this article will show you what you need to do. Please keep in mind that although Weber used to routinely supply conversion kits they now state that performing the conversion is dangerous and will void your warranty.
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Difference Between Propane Andnatural Gas
Lets first discuss the difference betweenPropane and Natural Gas.
The biggest difference is Natural Gas is pipedgas where Propane is Bottled Gas. That bottle can be portable like the typicalBBQ 20lb Tank or can be in a bulk tank that is above ground or buried.
Propane, also known as LP, LPG, is an approvedclean green burning fuel. It is pretty much odorless, nontoxic and colorless.An odor is added so it can be detected by smell. It is a compressed gas that isstored as a liquid. Propane is a popular gas choice because it is clean burning, reliable, abundant in resource and provides ourcountry with tens of thousands of jobs.
Natural gas is also a clean burning fuel. The lines are taken from the groundand have offer continuous supply of gas .
Despite what some people think, there is not agrill performance difference between these gas types.
Can You Convert Natural Gas Grill To Propane
Natural gas orifices are larger on a BBQ than the propane counterparts. If propane is supplied through an orifice manufactured for natural gas, too much propane will be released and a large flame will result. Converting a natural gas BBQ to use propane can be done at home however, caution should be taken.
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Why Should You Convert A Grill From Natural Gas To Propane
As we talk about natural gas and propane gas grill, both come with unique advantages. However, using a natural gas grill will limit portability.
It happens because these grills are connected with the natural gas supply line at home, and you cant move it after installation without professional help. On the contrary, propane run barbecue grills come with a portable propane tank.
These tanks are around 20 lbs weight and can be easily moved from one place to another. Also, propane is readily available in the nearest CNG or LPG stations. So, you can take the grill anywhere for a lovely weekend party or even a beach party.
However, getting a brand new propane grill can be a bit expensive. Thus, converting your existing natural gas grill to a propane base is an easy and cost-cutting alternative.
Also, the converting natural gas grill to propane is pretty straightforward. So, why not opt for convenience?
Remove The Control Panel
This step will depend on your grills design. If your grills burners run into the control panel as per the image below then you will need to control panel to give you full access to your grills valve tubes in order to remove them for conversion.
If your grills valve tube and burner connection sits directly under the cooking grates then you will not need to remove the control panel, and can skip this step.
Remove the control panel on your grill. In the case of most propane grills, like the Weber Spirit, this can be lifted and removed quite easily. Removing this should expose the control valves. With the valves exposed, find the gas line that connects the manifold to the valves.
The tip of the control valve is inserted into the burner. The front of the burner is where the air adjustment acts like a carburetor mixing gas with oxygen as the valve sprays gas mixed with air into the Weber pipe burner.
We are going to need to slide the burner off the valve so we can access the orifice. In order to slide the burner off the control valve we have two options. However, the condition of the barbecue will usually choose one of these options for us. If not you are lucky but the build up of grease and the breakdown of materials usually decides this for us.
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Is Napoleon Better Than Weber
There are not that many significant differences between the two. One the one hand, Napoleon is slightly less expensive and does give you a larger primary cooking area, but the Weber is also great and has some cool features. While they are both easy to use, the Weber will probably suit the beginner better than Napoleon.
How Long Does A Liquid Propane Tank Last
Most of the mid-size barbecues use a regular 20-pound propane tank that can give you about 18-20 hours of grilling time. The larger grills can use a tank in as less as 10 hours. As you get more experienced with how your grill performs when the tank is full, you will be able to sense it when the fuel runs low.
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How Do You Convert A Propane Grill To A Natural Gas Grill
To convert a propane grill to natural gas, find out whether or not you can do it by using the ways listed above and see if the conversion is even possible. If not, theres no reason to take any further steps.
If you can convert the grill, the next step is to run a new gas line. Without a new gas line thats dedicated to the grill, theres no reason to go through all the hassle of converting the grill because a natural gas grill is utterly useless without a gas line.
Youll want to purchase a conversion kit thats specific to the grill being converted. Not just any conversion kit will do!
For example, if someone is converting a Char-Broil model 8216842R04 grill bought in 2020 or later, the Char-Broil 8216842R04 Natural Gas Conversion Kit is the one he would need.
Youll need to gather any tools youll need to perform the conversion, which could include pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches, socket, drills, and more.
Once you have all that stuff together, youre ready to make the conversion.
Here is a video that shows you the complete propane to natural gas grill conversion using a conversion kit for people who are looking for pointers:
Is Natural Gas More Dangerous Than Propane
Natural gas vs propane: conclusion
Both are odourless, colourless, and clean-burning fossil fuels. Propane is more energy-efficient and considered to be a green fuel, while natural gas is not. Lastly, propane is heavier than air, but natural gas is lighter. This makes propane leaks more dangerous.
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Directions To Convert Weber Bbq Grills To Ng Or Lp Fuel
Weber Barbecue Grills Can Be Converted To Natural Gas or to Liquid Propane Fuel For Cooking.
Although Weber does not permit gas conversions any longer the policy does not make the process any less simple than it has always been.
American Made Weber Models manufactured before 2007 have the ability to stay in use for multiple decades with minimal replacements.
We rescued this old Weber barbecue grill. A client purchased a new Weber barbecue and asked us to dispose of this old model.
Our work ethics are very strict so please note we tried vehemently to dissuade the client from buying a new model instead of repairing this old model. A 20 year old Weber is worth 10 of the new barbecues being sold with the Weber name on them today.
Neither here not there.
We go get requests for assistance with Weber barbecue grill gas conversions. We get these requests because we know gas barbecue repair technology very well with many, many years of experience and because Weber made all their dealers sign a legal contract agreeing not to convert fuel type in any Weber models.
Which is nuts! Even as a Weber warranty service provider we and they are not permitted to perform a process as ridiculously simple as converting to natural gas or converting to propane.
NG or LP connection feeds gas to the manifold but the amount fed into the burner is determined by the size of the hole in the orifice.
Slide off the burner to access the gas orifice.
Obviously right?
Last thing to consider:
Are Natural Gas And Propane Grills The Same
Bottom line: there is NO performance difference between propane and natural gas unless youre grilling in the arctic. The only major difference is the convenience of natural gas and never running out of fuel. Your choice ultimately boils down to which fuel sources you have access to and the costs in your area.
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Can Liquid Propane Go Bad
Unlike the other fuel sources that can degrade over time, liquid propane has no such expiration date. The potency also does not decrease when stored for a long time. You must however, ensure that the tank is clean and well-maintained when stored.
For Your Grill
Hi, I am James, a grill enthusiast who thinks life is incomplete without barbecue night, fun, and friends. I have endlessly researched on BBQ and grilling techniques to hone my skills and now I wish to share all that I have learned with you. So, lets get grilling!
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Conversion From Propane To Natural Gas
Thank you for the chart link. That is the same chart which I used. #53 drill bit at pressure of 7 should yield ~12000 btu per burner. There are 3 burners, so 36000 btu is just under the rated 37,500 btu of the grill.
E-330 LP to NG conversion
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Are Natural Gas And Propane Interchangeable
Many furnaces and appliances use either natural gas or propane as a fuel source. The two are not interchangeable each fuel source requires special gas utilization fittings. If you want to switch between the two, youll need a conversion kit for the appliances manufacturer for the installation process.
Turn Off Your Gas At The Main And At The Canister
Were changing two gas sources here, so before we do anything we need to turn off both before we proceed. Its important to take strict safety precautions, and halting all gas flow is the best way to do this.
Firstly, switch off your natural gas at the main. Next, disconnect your propane bottle or canister, and store it away. As an added measure, open a valve to allow any residual gas from the manifold to escape, before then setting every valve to off. This should ensure that all gas has left the grill.
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Is Weber Spirit Ii Being Discontinued
The biggest change for 2021 is that Weber is discontinuing the Spirit II Series grills and reverting back to the previous generational Spirit design. This creates some serious value disconnects that are worth exploring. There are 15 different grill models that sport either a Spirit or Genesis badge.
What Is Involved In Converting The Grill
To switch fuel sources you are going to need to change the regulator and install new orifices for each burner tube.
Something to keep in mind is that you will need to change the orifice for EVERY burner on the grill including any side burners and, if you have a Summit, rotisserie burners.
Actually changing out the orifice for each burner is pretty easy. Here is how you perform the swap in older grills which have side mounted burner controls:
Here is how you perform the swap in newer grills with front mounted burner controls.
The conversion is inexpensive with each orifice costing around $6 and regulators costing about $40.
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