The Benefits Of Using A Propane
Can I convert natural gas grill to propane? Propane gas is numerous. In fact, the benefits of a propane grill over a natural gas/propane grill are so great that if I knew what I know now about cooking on a propane grill vs a natural gas/propane grill when I bought my first one, I probably would have bought a propane-powered one instead. You might want to read this article before you decide which type of grill best fits your needs.
At present, there is only one company in North America that manufactures and sells both types of grills for residential use: Napoleon. Napoleon also makes the two most popular brands of natural gas grills sold by American retailers today: Broil King and Lynx . Most other companies that sell natural gas grills only sell them and never manufacture them.
Both types of grills have their advantages and disadvantages, but after 13 years of cooking on both types I strongly prefer propane-powered models since they can do everything natural gas models can do and more, with less hassle and better results to boot. And the best part is: you dont need a special regulator to use a propane grill it is as simple as screwing in a tank . Meanwhile, not all natural gas grills are compatible with 100% propane those that do not require you to buy an additional regulator at an extra cost and some retailers wont even tell you about the additional cost until after youve bought the grill.
Converting A Natural Gas Grill Topropane
A common reason that someone might want toconvert their natural gas grill to a propane grill may be that theyve moved toan area where there is no natural gas.
Propane is a higher pressured gas than naturalgas. Therefore, the orifice drill size will be substantially smaller thana natural gas orifice.
You definitely do NOT want to hook up aNatural Gas Grill to a LP tank. You will have way too much gas flowing throughthe orifice and can be potentially dangerous.
Using manufacturers conversion kits is a saferand more convenient method than piecing together the parts. Making sure you have thecorrect sized fittings, hoses, and orifices can be a pain, but the premade kitswill take care of all that work for you.
If a conversion kit is available for yourgrill, be sure to ask your installer to give you the natural gas orifices backin the event you want to convert it back.
If a conversion kit is not available for yourgrill model, there may be blank orifices that will have a starter hole. Theseorifices must be drilled by a licensed professional. This is because it is aspecial gauging drill that is used to drill the hole. They are not meant to bedrilled with an electric tool as brass is soft and you do not want tocompromise the orifice.
Are You Sure You Want To Convert To Natural Gas A Recap Of The Benefits
Aside from never running out of fuel mid-grill, natural gas grills come with many other benefits over propane:
- Lower energy costs NG is more economical.
- Better for the environment NG is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel.
- Convenience no need to schedule deliveries or pick up new and return empty canisters.
- Natural gas piped straight to the grill is safer and easier with no more canisters.
- Some would say the taste is better too.
Need more details and persuasion? Be sure to check out our Propane Vs. Natural Gas Grill comparison guide.Are you already decided?
Well, read on to find out the main things to consider before you start the conversion work, and more importantly, exactly how to do it!
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What Are Disadvantages Of Propane
Various Disadvantages of Propane
- It can cause health problems. Propane comes with a downside especially the risk of propane poisoning, a condition similar to frostbite.
- Logistical problems. Most propane requires delivery to homes so that it is then piped to the home.
- Safety concerns. The other issue with propane is safety.
Check If Your Grill Supports Conversion
The first thing to be sure of before attempting to convert your grill from natural gas to propane is if the model you have actually supports conversion because not all do.
If your grill was originally designed to be fueled by natural gas then you may not be able to hook it up to a different fuel source, so its important to do research on your grill and even consult with a professional to be sure.
You dont want to risk a fuel leak or damage to the grill if you attempt the conversion and the grill wont support it.
To check if your grill supports conversion, read your owners manual before doing any further research online because it will give you a solid answer. Then, you can read up more about the grill and consult a professional to see how best to go about converting that particular grill.
All your research should be specific to the model that you have.
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How To Convert Natural Gas To Propane
Quite a several people do not know that propane is a raw part of natural gas. Natural gas contains different gasses, which include propane, methane, ethane, and butane. Therefore, propane is separated from the rest of the gasses in processing facilities.
So, how can you convert natural gas to propane? Doing this can be simple, but in other cases, you might require professional help. Here are some simple steps that will help you convert an appliance from natural gas to propane.
Step 1
Switch off the gas supply and then disconnect electrical power. Take out the screws holding the door so that you can remove the door tool. After that, it disconnects the electrical wires.
Next, please take out the flame sensor wires and the rollout switch and then manifold the pipe to make it easy to reach the gas control valve. Remove the screw on the regulator adjustment cap to remove the spring and the pressure regulator.
Step 2
Put a new spring inside the control valve and then screw the pressure regulator adjustment screw. After installing it, rotate the regulator screw clockwise and put o-ring in the replaced adjustment. Remove the old orifices and install new ones from the kit. Also, remove the screws that hold the burner.
Step 3
Next, attach the propane gas connection and adjust the input rate. You have successfully converted your natural gas to propane.
Converting A Natural Gas Grill
A lot of grills are already ready for a propane conversion. They either come with the hose assembly required or you are able to order it through the manufacturer.
Step 1 – Remove Old Hose
Using the wrench remove the hose from your natural gas source and make sure that it is capped or shut off. Remove the hose from the grill as well.
Step 2 – Add New Hose
Attach the new hose assembly to the grill. Use yellow gas tape to make the seal tighter and use the wrench to tighten the two pieces together. Attach the other end to the propane tank. Because of the type of connections used here the yellow gas tape is not needed. Just make sure that it is attached correctly and tight. Your grill is now successfully changed from natural gas to propane. This is one of the more simple applications of propane conversions.
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Need Advice On Converting Yourgrill
While many people choose to do this on yourown, we absolutely recommend hiring a licensed professional in your area toperform this as there is a potential for injury. If you choose to do it yourself, be sure you have a pipe stick, yellow tape or gas pipe sealant and use it on ALL pipe fittings and leak test all valves.
Our technicians are more than qualified toconvert your grill from propane to natural gas, or vice versa, etc. This is a service we offerlocally in fact, our local customers often take advantage of our repairservices.
Remember that upkeep and regular maintenancecan make your grill last as long as possible. Regardless of yourpreferred fuel, grills need to be cleaned and checked for damage and leaks on a frequentbasis.
Given that grills live outside, they areexposed to more drastic weather changes and temperature swings than anyappliance that stays inside. Its entirely possible that theyll sustain damageyou dont notice at first glance. Because youre literally dealing with fire, apoorly maintained grill can be quite dangerous.
If you live near our showroom, wed love tomeet you in person. Were open six days a week for your convenience.Additionally, youre always welcome to call us at -983-0451 or emailus. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Check If You Have Mains Supply
If you live in an area where the whole residence is covered by mains gas supply, expanding the existing collection into your grill is comparatively simple. Notwithstanding, you must arrange a professional company if you do not have a municipal gas supply. The company will critique whether they can implement a link pipe into your premises.
Hiring a pro surveying company might seem pricey, and the servicing may not last long. Completing a surveying process may appear nearly impossible if you live in a remote area far away from the municipality. At this stage, your costing may increase depending on your area distance from the supply centerline.
An outway to match out is that you can go online to find out which area nearby gas suppliers cover. Alternatively, you can easily manage a gas supply at a cheaper cost if you know that your nearby neighbor has a supply line already.
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How To Convert A Natural Gas Grill To Propane
On a recent family camping trip, we were fortunate to have two grills at our disposal: One was the standard 2-burner natural gas grill weve had for over three years . The other was a newer 4-burner propane grill that we picked up for about $150. And while it is nice to have both on hand, when considering our current situation and budget, I knew that in order for us to get the most use out of the new grill it would need to be hooked up to a small propane tank instead of the large natural gas hookup.
I know there are several of you out there who also own a natural gas grill-but with only one regulator and hose on hand, you also have a second grill going to waste. So I thought Id let you know that converting your natural gas grill to propane is not only easy, but its relatively stress free as well.
Can I convert natural gas grill to propane? All you need is a small wrench and about 15 minutes of time! Below are simple step-by-step detailed instructions on how to make this conversion in three easy steps. And the best part? Youll be ready for those summer cookouts and family camp trips-with both a large and small portable tank!
Step 4: Light your grill and adjust the temperature controls once the grill has warmed up: Turn on your propane tank with a match or lighter slowly turn up the temperature control to ignite the grill . Then set your temperature controls as usual. Once the grill has warmed up , youre all set to grill-and save!
Barbecue Grills Designed For Natural Gas
If you want to burn natural gas in your barbecue grill, the best strategy is simply to buy a grill that is designed to use this fuel. Such appliances will simply be labeled “natural gas grill” rather than “liquid propane grill.” Virtually all major grill manufacturers offer grills with special valves and burners designed to use natural gas, although you may need to special-order them. Because natural gas burns slightly cooler than propane, natural gas grills have valves and burner orifices that are slightly larger to allow for a larger volume of gas to flow. A grill with propane valves should never be used to burn natural gas unless an approved conversion has been performed.
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So Can You Convert Your Barbecue
The way a barbecue is converted can depend on which brand of barbecue you own. Some have pre-made kits, others have individual parts that need to be purchased, while some brands don’t allow conversions all together.
The easiest way for to determine if your barbecue can be converted is to contact us with a quick email including your unit’s model number and serial number.
With this information, we can determine if your unit has the ability to be converted as well as what potential parts would be needed.
Propane Grill Or Natural Gas: What To Choose
There are two types of fuel sources used in homes. Natural gas is commonly used in stoves or heating purposes in homes. On the other hand, propane fuel is filled in the tanks, most widely used outdoors and for traveling purposes.
While propane gas can be used for home purposes, they need special valves to fuel the appliances. Moreover, it can get expensive if used for regular use, as it comes in small tanks. And after they are finished, they are either replaced or refilled.
The difference in chemical composition between them is natural gas is majorly composed of methane, while propane is a hydrocarbon, the byproduct of natural gas. Furthermore, even natural gas is slightly refined, it is considered environment-friendly fuel because it doesnt require much oxygen to burn, and the fumes rise.
On the other hand, propane is highly refined but requires more oxygen to burn, and its fumes sink on the floor rather than rising. Also read, best budget-friendly gas grills.
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Converting A Propane Grill To Natural Gas
In order to convert your grill to natural gas,you must have natural gas piped in your neighborhood. You will have to haveyour utility company or contractor run a line to your patio .
Natural Gas is a lower pressured Gas so if youwere to hook up your propane grill to your natural gas line, you will have alot less gas flow. The orifice hole size is visually larger on natural gas than propane.
One of the benefits of switching from propane often referred to as liquid propane, or LP to natural gas is that you donthave to worry about running out of fuel in the middle of grilling your meal.Most propane grill owners will keep a spare tank around, but sometimes youdont realize how low your tank is, or you just havent had the opportunity topick a new one up.
Before you commit to converting your propanegas grill into a natural gas grill, be sure to double check your manufacturersrecommendations and owners manual.
As more extreme weather becomes more common,natural gas generators that can power an entire house are in greater demand. Ifyouve invested in a whole-house generator, it may make sense for you to hookyour gas grill up to it, as well.
Regular Or Universal Regulator
Sometimes, a conversion kit will contain all the parts required except the hose and regulator. For propane to function properly, it must have a regulator.
Moreover, prior to starting the conversion process, ensure that the tank is disconnected. You can always buy the regulator with the hose already connected.
It is important to ensure that the proper fittings are available for the perfect fit between the control assembly and the hose.
If your regulator is universal, you need to set it to propane usage by taking out the center screw body and setting the center protrusion to propane.
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Fitting The Kit And Connecting The Grill
Mark Jenner
Converting A Natural Gas Stove
Most of the stovetops on the market today come set up ready for natural gas. This is because it is more widely used in the marketplace. All of the orifices are installed in the factory to handle the correct BTU rating for natural gas. The good news is that these stove tops also are coming with the proper supplies to change the burners to be propane driven. The are usually either attached to the housing of the stove or in the box that the stove comes in. It is best to try and find a place to keep them on the stove to prevent them from getting seperated should you need them again. You might want to convert back one day.
Step 1 – Remove The Original Fittings
Using the metric screwdriver remove all of the old burners from the stove. It is also a good time to change the supply hose if needed.
Step 2 – Attach The New Burners
The new burners will have a smaller hole in the orifice allowing for less gas to enter the burner. This is needed because the propane has a higher pressure rating then natural gas. Attach the new burners to the stovetop. Make sure that you use the correct burner on each as they all have a different BTU rating and each use a different size orifice.
Step 3 – Adjust Settings
There will be a screw on each burner that allows you to adjust the simmer setting on each burner. You will need to adjust this or your simmer might end up at a rolling boil.
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