First Things First: Do You Have A Natural Gas Outlet Available
If so, you barely need to read any further. Natural gas is cheaper, and more convenient once its been set up. You may want to get a dual-powered grill, but you definitely should get one that works with natural gas.
I imagine anyone reading this probably doesnt have an outlet, though. So lets get into the real deciders:
Propane Vs Natural Gas: Is There A Difference
The short answer is yes. Although many use the two terms interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the two. They might be very similar, but they are certainly not the same.
Without getting too much into the nitty-gritty of their chemical makeup , propane belongs to a class of gases known as hydrocarbons. Its the same class that butane and ethane belong to as well.
They are all by-products that result from refining natural gas and petroleum. This is why propane is also referred to as liquefied petroleum gas.
Natural gas, on the other hand, is essentially methane that is pressurized to form a liquid. It is natural since it is derived from nature as fossil fuel and contains several other gases, one of which is propane. It is collected as-is before being subjected to a very basic refining process to clean it up and make it more efficient.
Faq: What Is The Difference Between Low Pressure And High Pressure Propane
Low-pressure propane burners adjust the gas supply to approximately 6 ounces per square inch, while high-pressure burners adjust the gas supply to approximately 6 ounces. between 1 and 60 pounds per square inch. The difference in suction determines the burner application: external or internal.
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Difference #: Environmental Concerns
The Environmental Cost of Extracting Natural Gas vs Propane Gas
Which Is Better for the Environment: Propane or Natural Gas?
Its too difficult to say how much of an environmental impact extracting natural gas is on the environment. Because of the difficulty of measuring this, some say more while others say less. As of today, there isnt a standard or way to measure this.
But propane gas is a byproduct of processing crude oil, so it will be produced as long as oil and gasoline products are in use. Experts have tried to separate out the cost of it, but propane is too closely intertwined with the crude oil processing methods to be able to measure out separately.
The Environmental Cost of Delivering
Natural gas is delivered through the utility pipes beneath the urban center , so the environmental cost of using this type of grill when it comes to delivery has no environmental impact or cost at all.
Some common appliances that also use natural gas are ovens and hot water heaters.
Propane, on the other hand, poses a bit of a problem. Because propane is used and ported around in propane tanks, those tanks tend to end up in the landfill.
This can happen because the tank has some sort of defect or problem and it was cheaper or more convenient to simply toss out the old, empty tank rather than exchange or refill it.
Also, most 1 lb tanks cannot be refilled .
The tanks themselves are made of steel and aluminum, so theyre never going to break down in the landfill.
Both Can Be Stored In Liquid Form
Natural gas and propane can be stored in refillable cylinders or large storage tanks. At normal ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressures, they exist as gases.
However, the sufficient reduction in temperatures and application of moderate pressure condenses them into liquid form, making them ideal energy sources for numerous applications. When using LP or NG, a small amount of the pressure in the enclosing cylinder gets released and the liquid-gas gets ignited to produce a flame.
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Which Is Cheaper: Propane Or Natural Gas
The answer to this isnt as straightforward as you might think.
Propane is more expensive than natural gas but natural gas burns much faster than propane. In fact, it burns at a rate of two to one. This means that to heat two spaces of the same size, youll use twice as much natural gas than propane.
One cubic foot of propane is approximately 2,516 BTUs while one cubic foot of natural gas is 1,030 BTUs. This means that in one hour, a 100,000 BTU natural gas furnace will burn approximately 97 cubic feet, while a propane furnace will burn only 40 cubic feet.
Keep in mind that if your home does not already have a natural gas line, installing one will be much more expensive than having a propane tank installed.
Overall, there isnt a large price difference between natural gas and propane unless you dont already have a natural gas line running to your home. One thing is for certain, though: both are cheaper and more efficient than electricity.
Hire A Pro For Safety And Peace Of Mind
The risk of gas explosion means this is a risky choice and you should only take on this task if you are confident in your skills. What we have shared here is the freely available information on the internet, but we do not recommend any of these steps be taken by anyone without proper skills and experience. If you want to have this work done by pros who can get it done quickly and safely, just reach out to us by calling .
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Pellet Grills Vs Gas Grills
So while I hope you read the rest of my article below, we are all busy people. Therefore, Ive put together some bullet points on the general pros and cons of pellet vs gas grills. However, please bear in mind, these are generalisations and are not applicable to every single pellet or gas grill:
Popular brands of mid-range gas grills include Weber and Napoleon: Image BBQGuys.com
Advantages of Gas/Propane Grills
- Higher Grilling/Searing Temperatures Any gas grill can easily get over 450-500 degree at the grate and on to much higher temperatures up to around 900 degrees.
- Quicker Warm-Up Time A gas grill can get up to those high grilling/searing temperatures in a relatively short period of time .
- Generally Cheaper Gas grills are generally cheaper to buy and run compared to a pellet grill of the same equivalent cooking area.
Disadvantages of Gas/Propane Grills
- Bland Flavour The gas itself cannot add any flavour to the food.
- Lacking Precise Temperature Control While a gas grill can hold a steady temperature in calm weather conditions, it will not adapt if the outside temperature drops or the wind picks up.
- No Remote Monitoring/Control You cannot leave a gas grill unattended for long periods of time, and you cannot adjust the temperature of a gas grill or turn it off remotely.
The two most popular pellet grill brands are Pit Boss and Traeger : Images Pitboss-grills.com and Traegergrills.com
Advantages of Wood Pellet Grills
Disadvantages Of Wood Pellet Grills
Wood Pellet Grills Vs Gas/propane Grills
While this site is called PelHeat and I obviously bat for the pellet team, the truth is, gas grilling has some advantages over pellet grilling. Therefore, what I want to discuss in this post is the strengths and weaknesses of pellet grills compared to gas grills. To the point, where if you have a perfectly good gas grill Im going to tell you to keep it and consider a verticle pellet smoker. On the other hand, if you dont have a gas grill and want some of their benefits discussed below Ill discuss pellet/gas combo grills and when that might be a good option for you to take. However, some pellet grills are set up for high temps too.
The reality is both pellet grills and gas grills have strengths and weaknesses: Images Traegergrills.com and BBQGuys.com
Disclaimer: Hey! By the way any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or other sites are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
To really come to an educated decision on the whole pellet vs gas grill debate you need to have a wide understanding of all the different pellet grills on the market and the different technologies they use. So while this is a pretty long and comprehensive post, to get a true understanding of what some pellet grills are and are not capable of Ive linked to many of my other articles below which go into more detail on specific topics.
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Liquid Propane Vs Natural Gas Grills: The Similarities The Differences & Myths Dispelled
8 minute read|Grills
Everybody loves summertime for the warm weather, sunshine, fun holidays, and especially for the barbecue. There are dozens of ways to cook your BBQ favorites, but the best way is with a liquid propane or natural gas grill from AEI. These high-quality commercial bbq grills are designed and built using tried and true engineering that has made this type of cooking an American standard. But in addition to traditional design methodologies, every grill the AEI corporation carries is modular and easy to maintain with top-quality grill replacement parts available to help you keep your grill running strong for many years.
Our gas bbq grills are made to be powerful, functional, and sharp-looking. But most importantly, they are built to last with safety features you won’t find anywhere else. The one question we get most is which type of grill is best, a liquid propane grill or a natural gas grill. Both fuel types are powerful, efficient, affordable, and lend themselves to useful features. But the fuel type that’s best for you will depend on the peculiarities of your use case. So, let’s take a look at the differences and similarities between natural gas and propane.
On A Scale Of 1 To Pyromaniac How Often Will You Be Lighting The Fire
If youre going to be grilling on almost every clear night, youll quickly get to enjoy the cost savings of natural gas. With it, every time you use the grill earns you back a little bit on the setup costs. If youre more of an occasional barbequer, though, youre likely much better off with propane.
Balancing out the initial cost may take you years if youre only starting up the grill every month or so. The climate youre in will also affect this, since it determines how often you can grill .
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What Are Natural Gas And Propane
Before we get to the price difference between these fuels, its important to understand what they are.
Natural gas is a fossil fuel made up of several compounds: propane, butane, ethane, and methane. It is found in deep underground rock formations and is brought to the surface through drilling. Before being sold as fuel, it is processed to remove impurities.
During processing, propane is separated from the other compounds to be used as fuel on its own. It is sometimes called LP gas .
Charcoal Requires More Technology To Ignite The Charcoaland Maintain The Required Temperature
once you know how to keep charcoal grills atthe right temperature, these grills are made for scorching heat and can easilyreach high temperatures
You need to do more to clean and maintain thecharcoal grill
In return, you can taste mouth-wateringauthentic food every time, without expensive additional costs
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Can I Convert My Gas Grill From Propane To Natural Gas
If you have a grill that currently uses propane, you can convert it to natural gas. However, we recommend that you check your manufacturers web site to find out what they recommend. On some grills you may void the warranty if you convert your grill from propane to natural gas. Others sell conversion kits specifically for their brand of grill. And newer grills may include the connections for both propane or natural gas, and you can choose to install whichever fits your needs.
Propane gas burns hotter than natural gas and therefore, the valves are designed for a lower gas flow on a propane grill than a natural gas grill. If you simply try to connect your current propane grill to natural gas, the flames will be very small and the grill will not heat up properly.
The safest and easiest way to convert a liquid propane grill to natural gas is with a conversion kit supplied by the manufacturer.
Although The Gas Grill Is Not Perfect
If you plan to burn or smoke, cheap gasgrills will not be comparable to charcoal grills with comparable prices
You can pay some large cash on the gas grillto include features such as an infrared burner to make it burn better.
If not handled properly, the gas may explode.Although most gas cylinders and grills now have mechanisms to reduce the riskof this happening, there are still some examples that indicate the possibilityof gas rising in a big explosion.
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Difference Between Liquid Propane And Propane Gas Grill
If you enjoy grilling, the first natural question that will pop up is whether you should choose propane or liquid propane gas grill.
For determining which one is better for your particular needs, you have to understand how each grill functions as well as other features that will help you along the way.
In general, grilling is a serious process, and it does not matter if you wish to make the best vegetables possible, or use it to accommodate your daily protein needs, because grill is one of the most popular and favorite tools for household owners.
In case you are searching for best grill possible, it is crucial to understand the difference between liquid propane and propane gas grill.
Even though propane or liquid propane gas grill. will provide you a distinctive grilling taste and flavor, you should know about their disadvantages as well so that you can make up your mind with ease.
Natural Gas To Propane Grill Conversion
Can a Natural Gas Grill Be Converted to Propane?
In most cases, not officially. Some manufacturers are not fans of grillers converting their grills and any kind of attempt will void the warranty of the grill. There are 2 reasons for this:
Safety
The conversion is not as simple as vice versa. Removing the gas line from the grill and connecting the propane tank simply wont do.
Why? The two fuels are not interchangeable. But some creative grillers have actually managed to do this:
Playing with gas is dangerous. One wrong spark and BOOM.
This is one of the reasons why gas grill manufacturers dont allow conversions.
Price
Sure, you can get a conversion kit for and do the conversion yourself with some basic tools and a little thinking, but its much better for the manufacturer to sell you a brand new grill.
Do you have a Weber natural gas grill that you paid $500 for but want to connect a propane tank to it? Great! Buy the same exact model except it runs on propane for the same price of $500 or even more. Do you understand what Im trying to say?
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Propane Grill Vs Natural Gas Grill: Whats Better
A good grill can take your cooking experience to a whole new level with a juicy splash and smokey flavor in the food. Choosing between a natural gas grill and propane grill can be a daunting job because both have their pros and cons. The best thing to consider to get your grill is the taste of the food, cooking convenience, and grilling cost.
In terms of taste, with variable cooking time, youll get the same flavor to the food. However, some people also reported that their food smell like propane after cooking them with propane, which is because of the wrong cooking method. For convenience, the propane will get you a much convenient cooking experience with mobility and higher heat, especially if you have to move around. The cost with natural gas is almost rd of the propane tanks to help you cut the cost for regular grilling.
Final Thought
Getting your first grill can be confusing instead, its a daunting job to get it right if you dont know which fuel you should get. If you have to choose between a propane grill vs natural gas grill for your next shopping, you must know their pros and cons. The bottom line is, you have to get the one that can get you the output you need depending on your situation.
Differences Between Natural Gas And Propane
Many furnaces and other appliances use propane or natural gas as fuel. They can both keep your Charles Town, West Virginia, home warm and comfortable in winter. Natural gas is found underground, and it contains several different gases, including butane, propane, and methane. It can be a liquid or a compressed or uncompressed gas.
Propane, also called liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, is stored as a liquid after its separated from natural gas at a processing facility. Before you decide which fuel source is best for your home, you should consider the differences between natural gas and propane installation techniques, delivery methods, efficiency, compositions, and safety.
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What Is A Natural Gas Grill
Natural gas grills are fueled by a direct line the natural gas system of your home. If you dont have natural gas installed already, the original set-up may cost a bit. But since natural gas is cheaper than liquid propane, this will prove less expensive in the long run.
In addition to the economic sense, with a direct gas line you will never have to consider if or when you can open the hood and start grilling. Its always ready to go. If outdoor grilling is a major part of your life, then natural gas would be a good choice.
Natural gas also burns cleaner than propane, so you never have to worry about which way the wind is blowingyou and your guests will breathe easy.
Here are a couple of quality natural gas grills for your perusal
