The Good The Bad And The Ugly Of Direct Gas Grill Lines
When my husband and I first decided to go with a natural gas grill that hooked up directly to our home gas system, we were thrilled to say farewell to propane canisters and the hassle of refilling them. But a 600° overnight mistake has me wondering if it was such a great idea.
We had family visiting and, after enjoying a delicious steak dinner, my husband, the grill master, failed to turn off the grill. This was after he had turned it up to high to burn off the steak remnants left on the grill.
The next morning as we readied for a day of boating, my sister-in-law went outside to retrieve something and made the discovery. The grill was so hot the siding on our house behind it was melting.
I shudder to think what might have happened if she hadnt gone out there and we had left the grill on all day long . We might have had a serious fire with our pet dog and cat at home to face it alone. So, what are the pros and cons of connecting a grill to your natural gas line?
Be The King Of The Grill Or Cozy Up Around Your Outdoor Fireplace
If you prefer the convenience of gas-fueled heating, AND you already have natural gas for your home, you can run an underground line to outdoor appliances for ultimate convenience. This arrangement allows you to keep large propane tanks out of the way of your backyard entertainment setup.
At Kens Plumbing, we not only know how to install and repair water lines in our customers yards, but we can also install underground gas lines. We understand the special safety requirements needed for working with gas, and we can safely direct the line where it wont interfere with your septic system, main water line, or electrical cables.
Outdoor Gas Line Problem
In the event that your gas line has an unrelated issue, a Plumbing One tech will find and fix the issue. Outdoor gas line damage, for instance, can be a serious safety hazard, so once in a while, its a good idea to have a residential plumber inspect your gas and water lines. Many times a gas line only needs a small fix, but sometimes replacing a section is required. A plumber can get you a diagnosis and on-the-spot project quote. Theyll check your gas meters available capacity and then connect your outdoor gas line. Easy!
If youd like a Central Ohio plumber to come out for an initial inspection of your homes gas line to tell you if a line to your grill is possible, wed be happy to send out a Plumbing One technician. Well let you know if that installation is possible and give you an idea of what youre looking at if you decide to go that route. Feel free to give us a call or send us a message anytime!
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Pretending The Food Tastes Great When It Doesnt
Last but not least, before buying or installing a natural gas grill, find out from others in your vicinity whether they are pleased with the taste of food prepared on their gas grills. In some places the type of odorant added to natural gas so you can smell leaks sometimes imparts an unpleasant taste to food cooked on a natural gas grill. If thats the case, get a propane, charcoal, or even an electric grill designed for outdoor use.
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Never Attempt This Job Yourself
There are many DIY jobs you can do yourself to save some money. Playing around with natural gas in your home is not one of them. It is extremely combustible and dangerous to work with. If you dont do it correctly, you could have natural gas leaking in or near your home. If ignited, it could cause an explosion and/or fire.
This task should be left to a licensed gasfitter. A professional will have the knowledge and experience to do it correctly. They will also know local code restrictions and will obtain all the necessary permits to make this retrofit. Installing it yourself without a permit can have a negative impact on your home insurance coverage policy, not to mention put your family and home at risk. In most jurisdictions, any gas line addition or retrofit has to be signed off by a certified gasfitter to be to code.
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How Do I Connect A Natural Gas Grill To My House
To connect a natural gas grill to your house, you need to hire a professional. Working with gas lines is dangerous, so do not attempt this without a professional present. A plumbing or heating contractor or a licensed gas fitter are your best options to install your natural gas grill.
If you have some experience and plan to pursue the gas grill installation yourself, be sure to have it inspected by a professional before use.
There are two main ways to power your grill: propane or natural gas. Natural gas has several advantages when compared to propane.
- Cost-effective natural gas is often less expensive than propane, which will save you money over time.
- Safe Unlike propane, which is denser than air, natural gas is lighter than air. It rises, which prevents any dangerous buildup of gas from occurring.
- Convenient No need to buy bulky propane tanks and hook them up to your gas grill. Also, you wont have to refill natural gas like you do with propane, which makes it a reliable option.
- Portable As long as you have the right cord to connect your grill to the home gas line, you can install your gas grill anywhere in the yard.
If you are looking to invest in a natural gas grill, then check out this article for our detailed step-by-step breakdown of the installation process. Refer to the video below to help with the installation.
Gas Type Propane Or Natural Gas
The cost is roughly the same for installing a propane gas line from the tank to the house as the cost to have natural gas run to the house. Find out which kind of gas your home currently has.
- Propane gas is stored in tanks, usually outside the home.
- Natural gas lines are comparable to power bills in that a local or city utility company provides the service. Instead of a tank, there will be a meter outside your home.
If you are building a new home or do not currently have gas, there are several benefits to each type. Take the time to understand the differences between propane and natural gas so that you can choose the right one for your individual needs.
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Best Brands Of Natural Gas Grills
For most homeowners, the price of the grill itself will be the most important and variable component of their natural gas outdoor BBQ installation. Where simple, straightforward models cost as little as $250, deluxe multiburner units can cost $5,000 or more, depending on the design and detail of an outdoor kitchen. Finally, most propane grills can actually convert to natural gas grills via purchasing a simple adapter kit for under $100, opening up even more possibilities in terms of models, costs and features available to natural gas enthusiasts.
When it comes to purpose-built natural gas grills, however, some of the most popular brands include Weber, Broil King, Char-Broil, KitchenAid and Dyna-Glo. Models include 3-, 4-, and 5-burner options, and many can be fitted into built-in kitchen spaces or stand alone.
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Can You Use Flex Pipe For Gas
CSST is a flexible, corrugated stainless steel tubing used to supply natural gas and propane in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. It should not be confused with appliance connectors, the similar flexible piping that connects directly to moveable applianceslike ranges or dryersfrom the wall or floor.
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Why Natural Gas Outdoor Barbecue Grills Are A Great Choice For Any Home
Having an outdoor barbecue grill on your patio is something every homeowner should strive for. As mentioned above, it can add a great deal of value to your home by providing readily available and reusable access to outdoor cooking. Your initial investment will provide you with years of affordable entertainment as well as better quality meals for you and your family.
Natural gas grills are installed permanently in place because your gas line/gas hookups are stationary. For many people, this feels like somewhat of a commitment. But in reality, the permanent natural gas hookup sets you free from unpleasant cleanup, the burden and the expense of buying, replacing, and installing additional tanks. Also, dont forget, adding a natural gas grill is a great way to boost the resale value of your home.
Our gas grills come with a number of available mounting and installation options. The best mounting option for you will be based on the available space you have in the area where you wish to use your grill and the location of your natural gas line.
In most cases, the best installation option is to have your grill installed into an outdoor countertop. There are many sizes and material options for use on the countertop surface. The best countertop material for your grill installation is a simple matter of personal preference. You can choose any material or color that you think looks best.
Want more information? Have a question? Contact us today, and we will be happy to help!
Edwards & Mills Plumbing Inc
At Edwards & Mills, Inc. plumbing services of Greensboro, we not only aim to provide superior plumbing and gas services quickly and efficiently, we also take the necessary time to explain what needs to be done and how it will be achieved. Our prices are competitive and affordable, and we want to ensure that you have a complete understanding of what you are paying for. We give you realistic up-front cost estimates and a projected timeline so that you know exactly what to expect to pay and when to expect the plumbing projects or repairs to be completed
Give Edwards & Mills, Inc., a call today for advice, information, or to schedule an appointment. We promise that you will not be disappointed.
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Example Of Mechanical Igniter Installation
Im going to demonstrate how I replaced the igniters in my 2002 Summit 450. The steps are similar on most older Weber grills:
- Remove the burner control knobs and control panel to access the igniter parts. Remove the cooking grates and Flavorizer bars to access the gas catcher.
- Remove and replace the igniter parts and gas catcher.
- Test the new parts.
- Put the grill back together.
On my Summit, the knobs and control panel are on the front of the grill and there are two igniters to replace:
On other grills like the popular Genesis 1000, the knobs and control panel are on the right side of the grill and theres only one igniter to replace:
Thats my 1992 Genesis 2 in the photo above, now being used by my parents. Heres how the igniter is configured on that grill, shown with the control panel removed. This is the same on Genesis 1-5 and 1000-5000 grills.
Someday Ill photograph the replacement of the igniter in that grill and post them here. Until then, the photos that follow from my Summit igniter replacement will have to do.
Running A Gas Line For An Outdoor Bbq
bluenoojMike SwearingenRe: running a gas line for an outdoor BBQ1) Is 3/8″ gas pipe large enough.2) Do I use the black pipe? If so will it rust? If not is there a pipe made for exposure?3) Should a shutoff in the basement on the grill line be enough or does it have to be outside?4) Anything else I should be aware of? 4Housemarried5notuboo
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Hook Up And Turn On The Gas
- Determine if your grill is designed for burning propane or natural gas. Most gas grills use propane, supplied from small portable tanks, but some are connected directly to the natural gas supply of a house.
- Find your grillâs gas supply hose and regulator . If your grill takes propane, thread the regulator onto the valve at the top of your propane tank . Be sure to thread it all the way on, taking care that itâs aligned properly. Do not over-tighten.
- The best way to maintain a supply of propane is to have a second tank on hand at all times. When the tank youâre using runs out, which can happen at any moment, simply install the fresh tank and keep on cooking. Then swap out the empty tank for a full one. or have the empty tank refilled before your next grilling session.
- Open the propane tank valve, or the natural gas valve, all the way.
- Make sure you have a fire extinguisher within easy reach before lighting.
Keep Your Outdoor Kitchen Clean With A Durable Vent Hood
Once you install your natural gas grill, be sure to install an outdoor range hood as well. It will keep the smoke and fumes produced from your grill outside of your patio. At Proline, our outdoor vent hoods are manufactured with a sleek outdoor-rated 304 stainless steel that is stain and scratch-resistant. Take a look at our professional outdoor hoods below.
Thats it for our article on how to connect a gas grill to your house. Its not something we recommend that you DIY, but if you want to tackle the project, have a professional plumber or gas fitter inspect your work.
For more home improvement ideas, check out our articles below.
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Gas Line Installation For Natural Gas Grills
In the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, we’re lucky that our grilling season is a long one! Natural gas grills take all the hassle out of outdoor cooking: no more running out of propane and lugging tanks around to refill or exchange them. If you love grilling out, you’ll enjoy the reliability and ease of natural gas grilling, and Edwards & Mills, Inc.’s professional gas line installers are ready to help you “get cooking with gas” in time for the cookout season.
Who Can Install A Gas Line
While its possible to install a gas line yourself, its not recommended. Primarily, this is a safety issue. While you might have experience installing appliances and piping, a lot of care has to be taken to install a gas line. It can be dangerous to install a gas line. The gas line installation has to be precise and meet any home safety codes.
Preferably, you should have either a trained master plumber or trained HVAC technician install a gas line. When hiring a professional for gas line installation, make sure the professional is insured.
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Youll Need Your Local Plumber On This One
The following video from This Old House will give you a good idea of how much goes into the process of connecting a natural gas line. We want to stress, as the video does, that this is not a do-it-yourself job. Many of our friends and customers know us not only as plumbing contractors but as a resource for DIY tips. We love to empower our Columbus community, but safety comes first. For this particular project, you need a license.
The biggest question is whether or not your home has a gas supply. If it does, thats great news! More than likely, your local plumber can set up a gas line to your grill no problem. Plumbing One would love to help get you connected and grilling with confidence this season.
Gas Line Sediment Trap Cost
Plumbers charge $75 to $150 to install a gas line sediment trap. Sediment traps capture moisture and sediment so that they don’t enter the control unit. Unlike a drip leg, the flow of the gas is altered to remove any sediment. A sediment trap may be included in a drip leg install.
The sediment trap parts cost $10 to $14 each and plumbers will be able to install it within an hour.
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Gas Lines For Your Indoor/outdoor Needs
When we come to the job, we bring all the necessary materials to do the job right. Whether running black iron pipe or flex pipe, we only use the best materials to ensure stability and safety. All gas line installations are leak tested for safety. Our gas technicians will give you the best options on how run the gas line to the appliance, whether its a gas line from your furnace room or your gas meter. We have the right equipment to drill holes through brick, tile or wood so the job can be done safely and to your needs.
Gas Lines For Bbq Grilling
Crown Plumbing Service knows the unmatched pleasure of a grilled meal on a summer evening. But grilling can be a hassle when your propane tank runs out right in the middle of meal preparation while your guests are ready to eat! Consider a Gas Line Barbeque! That same steak or seafood prepared on a gas line barbeque tastes like one prepared on a propane barbeque without the hassle and inconvenience of propane. Call us to find out about hassle free gas barbeque today!
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