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.
How To Convert A Propane Bbq To A Natural Gas Bbq
- Written by Kelsey Marland on Feb 27, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
What You’ll Need
Some say that they do it because its good for the environment. Others say that they do it just because it requires clean up. The honest truth is, converting your propane grill into a natural gas grill will just take away a lot of the hassle that goes along with one of the great All-American activities: grilling.
While it may seem dangerous and complicated to change over a system from propane to natural gas but if you follow these steps closely, you can give yourself a 21st-century grill in no time.
Step 1 Prepare
Before you begin the process, make sure that it is possible to even make this switch. Most grills have a sticker indicating whether it is available for this type of conversion. If possible, find a conversion kit by the same manufacturer for the best results. If the manufacturer doesnt sell a conversion kit but the barbecue is compatible with a conversion, youll have to gather the components separately.
Keep in mind that some grills have liquid propane conversion kits. This is not the same as a natural gas conversion kit. They look similar but will not work correctly, so do not this by mistake.
Also, make sure to turn the natural gas to your house off before you start your conversion.
How Do You Convert Your Weber From Natural Gas To Propane
In order to convert a Weber grill from natural gas to propane, you will need to get a gas-to-propane conversion kit. A conversion kit will allow you to switch out the orifices that the gas pours out from. These can be hard to find in the wild since they tend to be in high demand from Weber.
Once you find the kits, you will have to follow these instructions below:
Also Check: How To Grill Boneless Chicken Breast On Gas Grill
Can You Hire A Gas Grill Dealer To Convert Your Grill
It used to be easy to hire a gas grill seller to do this work for you. In fact, most grill dealerships would have someone on staff who knew how to do it for a nominal fee. That is no longer the case. To avoid major lawsuits, Weber actually had all of their dealers sign agreements to refuse to convert new gas grills.
As a result of the new paperwork, there is nowhere in the country that offers this service. If you want to do it, you will have to do it at home on your own. Some handymen also tend to offer this service, but its rarely ever officially advertised due to the legal implications that it can have.
Check Your Grill Thoroughly For Leaks
As previously stated, gas leaks can be dangerous, so it is important to check for them before and after you convert the grill. There are two ways to check for a leak: by smell or by the soapy bubble test.
If you can still smell gas after youve shut it off and let out the residual gas then you most likely have a leak.
For the soapy bubble test, wet the gas valve, the regulator and the hose with liquid detergent solution. If your grill has a gas leak then soapy bubbles will form, and if it doesnt then the grill is safe to use.
You can do this test both before and after conversion. Although many a times professionals ignore this step its highly advisable to check your valves and connections for leaks post and prior conversion.
Recommended Reading: Macaroni Grill Out Of Business
How Do I Convert My Weber Grill From Natural Gas To Propane
Some still utilize charcoal, while others run on propane or natural gas. Additionally, propane is readily available for purchase at gas stations and home improvement stores. Converting a natural gas BBQ to use propane can be done at home however, caution should be taken.
Secondly, why are natural gas grills more expensive? Natural gas is also cheaper than propane and is considered to be a greener gas because it burns cleaner. Youâll also need a professional to install the line and to hook up your grill, so your up-front costs could be high, particularly if you live some distance from a natural gas main.
Consequently, can a Weber Spirit grill be converted to natural gas?
In order to convert a Weber barbecue grill to use Natural Gas or to use Propane we will need to change all the orifices in the barbecue. This 88832 orifice was used in Weber Spirit and Genesis models with side-mounted control valves Only when the original orifice is three-eighths hex-head diameter.
Can you convert a Napoleon BBQ from propane to natural gas?
Napoleon N370-0956 Propane to Natural Gas Conversion Kit for Prestige P500RB. This kit is to convert your Prestige 500 from Propane to Natural Gas.
Read Also: Does Traeger Use Propane
Can You Convert A Weber Gas Grill To Propane
Weber Barbecue Grills CanGasPropaneWeber doesgasdoes
Propane offers some advantages over natural gas to certain users because propane canisters make the grill portable. Additionally, propane is readily available for purchase at gas stations and home improvement stores. Converting a natural gas BBQ to use propane can be done at home however, caution should be taken.
Subsequently, question is, how do you tell if a grill is propane or natural gas? The serial tag and rating plate contain the gas type information, either natural gas or liquid propane . If a gas product is converted to the other type of gas, a sticker is placed near the original serial tag and rating plate to indicate the gas type change.
Likewise, people ask, can you convert a Weber natural gas grill to propane?
Like converting the type of fuel used in any barbecue grill, converting Weber barbecue grills is not difficult. Fuel conversion means changing the in-coming gas connection, changing the regulator for liquid propane or natural gas and then changing each orifice for the type of fuel being regulated.
Can I use natural gas orifice for propane?
Natural gas is fed at a smaller pressure than propane, so to get the same heating value , a natural gas orifice has to be smaller than a propane one. This suggests that you can convert a natural gas appliance to a propane one and vice versa by changing the orifice on the gas valve.
Also Check: Why Did Mcdonaldâs Get Rid Of Grilled Chicken
Recommended Reading: Pork Steak Temp On Grill
Why Would You Want To Convert Propane Grill To Natural Gas Grill
Other than the ever-increasing price of fuel and the cost you will have to incur if you keep using propane for cooking, using natural gas is a more convenient option. Your grill will have constant supply if you use natural gas otherwise, with the propane, you must keep restocking the tank, which is a headache.
If you plan to use the grill only at your home, then there is no better option than natural gas, because of the cost advantage as well as convenience. However, for the outdoor, this might not be the best choice, because it will be harder to move the grill around.
So, for the outdoor or camping trips, propane would be a better alternative to natural gas. In the end, the choice will come down to your requirements, lifestyle, and preference. Thus, you might consider all of these before making any decision about your grill.
Convert Weber Bbq To Natural Gas
- NSB, Florida, USA, earth
- Posts:
jdm61Residential low pressure NG is a bit of a PITA. for a grill. You will curse it at times.
- NSB, Florida, USA, earth
- Posts:
jdm61Residential low pressure NG is a bit of a PITA. for a grill. You will curse it at times.
- NSB, Florida, USA, earth
- Posts:
jbooker9It all depends on how the gas line is ran to the bbq. I love having a NG grill and never having to worry about wether i have enough propanejdm61Residential low pressure NG is a bit of a PITA. for a grill. You will curse it at times.
Don’t Miss: Best Pellet And Gas Grill Combo
How To Use A Propane Grill With Natural Gas Ideas
How To Use A Propane Grill With Natural Gas. A natural gas grill will have wider ports allowing the flow of gas to be faster as more needs to be burned per minute to create the same heat as propane. Also to know is, can any propane bbq be converted to natural gas?
Also, it is cheaper to use the natural gas grill. As an added measure, open a valve to allow any residual gas from the manifold to escape, before then setting every valve to off.
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.
Also Check: Boneless Chicken Breast On Charcoal Grill
Switch Off Your Bezels
At first, you should displace the front knobs of your grill. The bezels are easily pullable directly close to you, and now you have to observe them again. Usually, bezels function as a regulator for the stream of LP gas.
It is the thing that enables you to slow cook your vegetables or achieve a sear on your burger. You should unscrew the older bezels of the LP gas grill and replace them with the natural gas line elements. Dont forget to align the queues on point before closing the nuts.
Switch Off Your Gas Line
Before sending the plumber on the primary working pathway, ask him about obtaining your gas shut-off pipe inside your home. You may have to switch off the gas pipe ere connecting with the grill. Not to mention, set it behind the track when you are all to go for cooking. If your natural gas line valve is nearby a roadside, tell the professional to put it in a suitable place for your usage.
Also Check: How To Start A Pit Boss Pellet Grill For The First Time
Converting A Gas Grill Tocharcoal
Converting a gas grill to charcoal isnt ascommon as switching between the two types of gases, but its not unheard of.Some people claim that theres a taste difference between each cooking fuel,and they like the taste made from charcoal the best. We have even heard somecustomers say they hate cooking with gas but love their grill and want to gutit and make it a charcoal grill. If the grill firebox and body is in good shape,it may be a great cost-effective choice.
Be sure to check the manufacturersrecommendations before starting.
Charcoal grills are relatively simple youhave a metal body , a bottomgrate to hold the briquettes, and a top grate to hold the food being cooked.You never want to just put charcoal in the bottom of the grills fireboxwithout a grate as the heat can severely damage the firebox.
The challenge will be finding grates that fityour grill. So, if this is something youre interested in, go ahead and checkout the rockgrates we have. If you do not see a size you are looking for, you may wantto check out your local hardware store to see if they offer a diamond gratethat can be custom cut.
Convert A Propane Grill To Natural Gas In 3 Easy Steps
There is a question we see frequently: can you hook a propane grill to natural gas? Although propane is still the most popular gas grill choice, natural gas has become increasingly more popular in recent years. Once a natural gas line is installed, you will no longer have to worry about running out of gas mid-cook or frequently replacing propane tanks.
While you should never hook a propane gas grill to a natural gas line without first converting it for natural gas, it is a relatively easy process. Follow these simple steps below.
Also Check: How Long To Grill Pork Tenderloins
Things You Will Require To Convert Natural Gas Grill To Propane
To convert a natural gas connection to a propane tank, youll need three things: a new air shutter/mixer, smaller burner orifices, and an LP regulator hose. When connecting your natural grill to a propane tank, make sure the pressure and volume are sufficient to handle the load. Here are the measures to take.
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.
Also Check: Traeger Charge The Auger
Why Should You Convert To Natural Gas
Converting to natural gas ensures that you always have a constant supply of gas without the need to constantly be restocking on propane tanks and propane tank gauges.
This does present challenges in manoeuvrability however, as your grill be essentially fixed to the area immediately around your natural gas supply. So if you like to take your grill camping or tailgating then converting to natural gas wont be a practical course of action.
However if you only only tend to grill at home and are keen to save money on propane costs, then converting to natural gas is certainly something to consider.
The most important tool youll need for converting your propane grill to natural gas is a conversion kit. This is essentially a hose with brass fittings on either ends which can connect your propane grill to your natural gas pipe. The fitting for your grills manifold will however be specific to your brand, so be sure to buy one that is compatible with your gas grill.
Install your chosen conversion kit in line with the kits owners manual.
Here are some examples of brand or model-specific conversion kits that should work with your grill:
- Tap directly into your natural gas supply and convert a propane gas grill…
- Perfect for hooking up the grill, fire pit, pizza oven, patio heater, and…
- Made of 100% solid brass fittings and sturdy rubber hose, provides a secure…
Why Do People Convert Grills
People have different reasons for wanting to convert their gas grills. The most common conversion is propane grills to natural gas grills because its the simplest conversion, as the natural gas hookup is larger than that of the propane hookup, so users can enlarge the hole to make it work.
Because the propane hookup is smaller than the natural gas hookup, its harder to convert in the other direction .
Recommended Reading: Weber Grills Warranty Registration
