Extend/divert An Existing Gas Line For Outdoor Grill
I am looking to build a natural gas line in the back of the house for an outdoor grill. There is a line already running to the rear of the house for a gas fireplace, as depicted in the picture.
The plan is to direct gas to a grill with 61000 BTU and a burner with 30000 BTU – there may be times when both are used simultaneously – unlikely that I’ll be running the fireplace at the same as these 2 cooking appliances.The existing run is about 50 ft. from the main line – and the outdoor grill will likely extend/divert/add another 10 ft.
My questions are:
- Can I use a CSST pipe to tap into one of the 2 available capped ports with a provision for a shutoff valve?
- Can I run the pipe under a deck, or will it have to be buried?
Of course, a licensed professional will handle the installation and pressure test, but before seeking quotes, I wanted to understand the scope of work. CSST pipes appear to be moldable and easier to run compared to metal pipes – at least to me 🙂
What Not To Do While Converting To Natural Gas Line/gas Grill
If you re new to using a natural gas grill, there are some things you need to focus one, some things you should never do:
- You should never go over budget with buying the gas grill. Keep in mind the installation will cost you a good amount of money too. You might need additional parts to set up the grill in place. So whatever your budget is, buy something under that limit.
- If you are not very skilled or familiar with gas lines, do not try to install the grill by yourself. Natural gas grills are not the same as propane grills. They need proper tools and skills to set up. Instead, hire someone to do the job.
- Contact your house contractor to know your gas line pressure level. You need it to set up the regulator.
- Dont ignore the permit requirements while setting up your natural gas line. It might cost you a lot in the long run.
What To Know Before You Go For It
If you decide to go with a natural gas grill connected to your home gas system, there are some things you should know before you make your grill purchase.
First, natural gas grills and propane grills are not the same thing, so be sure to shop for the right type.
Some areas require a permit. If you live in a community that has a homeowners association, certain types of grills may be subject to restrictions. So youll want to check on these things. Hopefully your locale only requires that you install a quick connect shut-off valve at the house.
Speaking of the installation, there are a couple of different methods of hooking up your grill to the gas line. The safest is with a gas plug safety quick disconnect. Your best bet is to hire a natural gas plumber to do this for you.
Also Check: How To Grill Bbq Pork Chops
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.
Read Also: Macaroni Grill Grand Rapids
Connect Flexible Gas Line To Grill
I went to my local propane supplier and had them make me a 12 foot long rubber gas line. They supplied me with the fittings I needed to attach the gas line to the grill and the shut-off valve below the deck. Im not experienced with gas lines so I decided to have them make the gas line. As you can see in the next photo Ive attached the new gas line to the same location that the old one was connected to on the grill.
Read Also: Who Has Blackstone Grills On Sale
What Size Of Gas Line For Natural Gas Grill
A whole world of grilled food awaits when installing a natural gas grill in your backyard. The only question is, what size gas line do you need?
Installing a natural gas grill is the perfect way to upgrade your backyard barbecue experience.
They come in all shapes and sizes, but they also offer tons of features that propane grills cant touch.
The only question is, what size gas line do you need for your new grill? Keep reading to find out.
Cost To Run Natural Gas Line From Street To House
Installing a natural gas line from the street to your house costs between $0 and $2,000, with most homeowners spending $980 for an average of 49 linear feet of connected pipe. The average cost is $12 to $25 per linear foot, while some gas companies offer free installation depending on the distance.
The houses location, obstructions, the distance from your home to the main line, and local building codes can significantly increase costs, though they typically dont exceed $2,000. In many cases, the gas company installs, owns, and maintains the gas line and gas meter up to your home.
Ask your gas company about these potential fees:
- New account fee
- Final inspection
Don’t Miss: Are All Traeger Grills Electric
Can I Hook In My Own Natural Gas Grill
You definitely can hook up your own natural gas grill if you have all the right tools for it. If you dont have prior knowledge of plumbing or you are not familiar with the tools, we recommend hiring a professional to do the job.
As its natural gas, a small accident can be very detrimental and no one should take a risk.
A plumbing or heating contractor can easily install your gas grill. Its always better to go natural as it saves a lot of money and energy in the long run.
You wont have to refill those bulky propane tanks. As you wont have to move around the tank at all, its safer too.
Things You Need To Know About Your Natural Gas Grill
After youve taken the grill out of the box, assembled it and are ready to start impressing people with your grilling skills there are a couple of things to keep in mind. These tips will get your natural gas grill ready to go from day one!
1) Water column pressure – Natural gas grills are designed to run off certain water column pressures . The WCP for your grill is listed in your owners guide. This should to be tested at the supply line by a gas professional.
2) Natural gas fittings – If fittings are needed on your gas line it is important to use straight pipe nipples as opposed to flare fittings. Flare fittings can damage the end of your natural gas hose and reduce the gas flow going to your grill. For example, if your grill connection is 1/2″ and your gas line is 3/8″ you would need a 1/2″ straight pipe nipple, a bell reducer and a 3/8″ straight pipe nipple to complete the setup.
3) Shut off valves For safety reasons we recommend you have both an inside and outside shut off valve. When using the grill you need to be sure these are both in the full open position and when not using the grill we recommend they be closed stopping the flow of gas.
For more information about your natural gas grill, please check out the “gas” section of your owner’s guide.
You May Like: What Is The Best Smokeless Indoor Grill To Buy
Youll Have To Choose Between Natural Gas And Propane
Before having a line set up, its important to think about whether you want natural gas or propane for your grill. Both are feasible options, and both fuel types work well for cooking. Most people consider what type of fuel is already available to them in their home and go with what is most convenient. However, if you dont have either fuel type at your home currently, its important to think about which you would rather go with.
You May Like: What Temp Do You Cook Shrimp On The Grill
Mistake #: Going Over Budget
When planning for your gas grill, stick to your budget. Compared to a charcoal grill, a gas line adds additional expenses for installation, parts, and equipment. This is in addition to the cost of the actual grill. Once you start using your gas line grill, you may notice a slight increase in your gas bill if you use it frequently. However, you wont need to buy charcoal or propane. Making a note of all of these expenses can help you stay within your budget.
You May Like: Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill 22
How To Connect Natural Gas Line To Grill
If you have a natural gas line in your home, getting a natural gas grill will help you save costs and never run of out fuel mid-cook.
Before you start using your natural gas, however, youll need to first hook it up to your grill. This hookup process is relatively simple and you can do it on your own.
But youll need to follow the correct procedure and take maximum precaution for safety purposes.
S For Installing A Gas Grill
Recommended Reading: Spirit Ii E-310 3-burner Propane Gas Grill In Black
What Is The Difference Between Propane And Natural Gas Grills
Both propane and natural gas grills are super popular and accessible to everyone. As charcoal grills are slowly exiting the market, propane and natural grills are dominating the industry.
Both of these grill types are excellent but each comes with its advantages and disadvantages.
Propane grills are more affordable and powerful. So you can use them at super high temperatures. They have more than twice the BTU of natural grills.
Natural gas grills on the other hand are safer and more convenient for a busy household. If you have kids, you want something that is childproof.
Propane tanks are known to cause fire hazards if not being very careful. They are also quite a pain to fill up. These bulky tanks are not easy to move around.
Natural grills save a lot of energy and power. As it gets connected to your main gas line, you dont have to worry about refilling every month. Its cost-effective in the long run.
New Gas Meter Install Cost
The average cost for a new residential gas meter ranges between $200 and $300, while installation labor adds $100 to $300. Many time you wont have to pay anything because gas companies own, maintain, and install the lines and meters up to your home.
Gas Meter Installation Cost
| Install Labor | $100 $300 |
Installation and replacement costs are often comparable, though replacement typically will not require additional charges, such as application fees. New meters must meet regulations and code requirements for their placement, and gas providers may require a unique meter for their services, limiting your choices.
You May Like: What To Use To Clean Grill Grates
What Is The Approximate Cost For Hooking Up The Natural Gas Grill
Installation of the natural gas line grill will require an approximate cost of around $200-$300. This cost will also require running the gas line to the grill and then smoothly hooking it up. The low-end gas grill installation process will cost around $200, whereas, for the high-end gas grill installations, the grill cost will be around $800.A lot of people use flat top grill but they do not clean it.Flat top grill should be cleaned after each session of using it.There are many guides are available on internet
Dont Miss: Deep Clean Weber Gas Grill
Can You Join Gas Hoses Together
Basically, you can extend an extension hose for a high-pressure stove, while you can extend an extension hose for a low-pressure stove. Neither gas hoses can be put together in either case. In a low-pressure appliance, there will be a 2 mm inlet. The regulator located on top of the wine bottle has 8kPa of force and reduces the flow of the gas through the hose.
Also Check: How To Grill Burgers From Frozen
What Size Of Pipe Do I Need For Natural Gas Grill
If youre considering using natural gas in your home, one of the first questions youll need to answer is what size pipe you need for natural gas?
Please enable JavaScript
The answer will depend on several factors, including the appliances youre using and the amount of gas you expect to use.
Generally speaking, most homes will require a 1/2-inch pipe for natural gas. This is adequate for most appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, and stoves.
If youre using multiple appliances or expect to use a lot of gas, you may need a larger pipe.
For example, a home with a furnace and a stove may require a 3/4-inch pipe.
Its also important to note that pipes come in different types. The most common type of pipe for natural gas is black steel pipe.
However, there are also options like copper pipe and flexible tubing.
Your choices will depend on your budget and the installation requirements.
Does A Natural Gas Grill Need A Regulator
For safety reasons, invest in a regulator for your natural gas grill. Natural gas grills require a pressure rating of 4 WC .
When you run the gas to different appliances like your water heater, furnace, or gas grill, pressure regulators decrease the PSI so that your gas lines remain intact. This is why its important to regulate the pressure running to your gas grill. Natural gas is supplied by your city or county at a specific pressure. Consult your contractor to determine this pressure.
Check out .
Also Check: How Hot Should Grill Be For Steak
Hooking Up Your Gas Barbeque To Your New Gas Line
First, turn off the gas valve at the coupling to ensure no gas leaks while youre hooking up your new grill. If gas gets into the air, it could combust.
Then simply connect one end of your quick-connect hose to your grill. If you didnt opt for one of these hoses, you could purchase and install one yourself now. Just make sure you use an adjustable wrench to get the new hose airtight.
Finally, test the hose and lines outside for any gas leaks. You can spray soapy water to the ends or anywhere on the hose you suspect a leak. Then turn on the gas. If you see bubbles appear at a joint or somewhere along the hose, you have leaks. If thats the case, turn off the gas and replace the hose. You should also ensure both ends are screwed on tight. Do not use your grill until all leaks are fixed!
What do you do if you suspect a gas leak?
Did you know that natural gas is actually odourless? Utility companies add the odour for the purpose of helping people detect gas leaks. Other signs you might have a gas leak include:
Hissing, whistling, or roaring sound. Obviously damaged connections to a gas appliance. Plants and grass that is dead or dying for no apparent reason, around your meter or gas appliance.
While youre waiting for someone to respond to the call, dont use phones or electronics near the leak. Do not turn appliances or lights on or off. Do not smoke or use a lighter, start a vehicle, or do anything that might ignite the gas. If the gas is already burning, call 911.
