How To Convert Propane Grill To Natural Gas – Here’s Everything to Know!
Like many things, propane has experienced a bit of price hike in the last few years. So, much so that it has discouraged many people from using it as often.
This steep price of propane is also what has encouraged homeowners or outdoor grill owners to take a step and convert their propane grill to one of natural gas.
If you are one of them, you have come to the right place.
Here you are going to find a detailed step by step to-do list if you want to convert propane grill to natural gas.
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Things to Do Before Starting the Work
There are many aspects you will have to consider and go over before you can take a step towards the conversion. Make sure you check these boxes off before you start with the task; otherwise, you will have to stop in between and do some of the steps all over again. Now that is the trouble you want to avoid.
• Determine If Your Grill Is Compatible
Before you even consider anything at first, you will have to check to make sure if the grill at home can use natural gas to run or not. The easiest way for you to check would be to look it up on the website of the company you bought your grill from, or the manual.
You could also directly contact the manufacturers to get the information you are looking for.
Either of the ways should give you all the information you need to know regarding your grill and its ability to run on natural gas.
• Get Yourself a Conversion Kit
When you set out to do anything or any work, you always must have all the right equipment and the right tools with you, this will help you get the job done faster, and the result will be much more satisfactory.
That is why you should invest some money and get yourself a conversion kit. Before buying the equipment, see which one is suitable for your grill, and the best way to do that is either the website of the grill company or their instruction manual.
In some cases, you might also be able to avail of the conversion kit from the manufacturer, and this will make it easier for you to get the one that will work with your grill.
• Get a Professional’s Opinion and Advice
If you are new to this type of work, it is always better to speak to someone who knows this. There are many steps by step instructions out there, but an expert will be able to sort out all your problems and questions.
They will brief you based on their experience. You must make sure that the work or the conversion you want to do is legal or not. You can only go ahead with your plan when you have determined that it is, in fact, legal and doable for you.
Now that all the pre-requisites are out of the way; we can finally move on to discuss in detail what you will have to do for the grill to run off of natural gas rather than propane.
The Step-By-Step Instruction on How to Make the Conversion
Here, I will walk you through the conversion process.
Step 1: Switch Off the Gas at Both the Bottle as well as the Main Source
This is one step you absolutely cannot forget to do. For your safety and those around you, it is always the right idea to switch off all sources of gas and power. In case something goes wrong, you will be able to contain it before it goes out of hand.
So, for that reason, at first switch off the primary source of the gas, and then make sure the can of propane is disconnected from the grill and adequately stored away somewhere far away.
After you are done with this step only then, we can move on to the rest of it.
Step 2: Install the Conversion Kit
For the conversion to take place and to work, you will have to use a kit that is made for just this conversation. The package should consist of a tube or pipe which has brass fitted on each end of it.
This pipe or hose is what will connect the original grill to the pipeline for the natural gas supply.
Like mentioned before, when you get the conversion kit, you must make sure the model is right for your grill. Otherwise, you will have to exchange it, because you will not be able to make them work together. So, it is best to check beforehand and make sure they go well along before starting the task.
The installation of the conversion kit will depend totally on the instructions provided to you by the manufacturer on the website or the manual. Both should have all the required information for you to do the work.
Step 3: Remove All the Old Hose and Regulator
Along with installing the new conversion kit, you will also have to connect the grill properly to the natural gas supply. Otherwise, you will not be able to make good use of this.
Another thing to keep in mind is, you have removed all the old hose and the regulator which was with the propane supply. You have no use of all of these for the natural grill, but do not throw them away, in case you want to go back to using propane.
In case your natural gas supplier does not have a shut-off valve, then you will have to install it yourself. Also, if the grill is on wheels, then you have used a quick disconnect pipe which will help you to connect the gill to the gas supply.
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.
Is it Possible to Convert Weber Grill to Natural Gas?
Weber grills are a widespread and popular choice for many people. So, many might have the question regarding its conversion too.
It can be converted to a natural gas grill; however, you must be cautious with it. That is mainly because the manufacturers themselves advice you against it, you might damage your grill in the whole process and will at the end lose out on the warranty you were promised along with the purchase of the grill.
Furthermore, it might be harmful to the grill as you will be exposing it to many potential damages that come with handling gas and its supply. As recommended before, you should consult with a professional or an expert before doing anything that might put you in danger.
Why Is the Size of Valve Orifice Important?
Along with the many things you must consider when it comes to converting propane grill to natural gas grill, you must find the valve’s orifice size as well. The orifice size is a tiny hole drilled in the middle of the valve; the size is measured based on the size of the drill machine.
Something to keep in mind while you consider the size is that, the drill size and the hole size work the opposite way. If the size of the drill bits is big, then that means the holes are smaller.
The size of the hole will determine the BTU measurement, as the pressure of the natural gas will be supplied through the hole.
Final Words: Much useful information has been covered in the whole length of the article, going over all the things you should know if you want to convert your propane grill to a natural gas grill.
However, even after all of this, you might encounter a few questions of your own, which might not be answered here. In that case, feel free to ask us any of the queries you might have while doing the work.
