May 25, 2021 – Appliances, Propane Answers
The short answer is “yes!” A propane gas grill makes life easy and versatile. With portable propane tanks, you can take your grill with you to go camping, or simply transport your grill from one place to another.
Plus, propane is more effective than natural gas. Liquid propane contains about twice the energy as compared to natural gas so it’s much more efficient. In one hour, a natural gas burner burns up about 97 cubic feet while propane burns only about 40 cubic feet.
To convert a natural gas grill to propane you’ll need to change the natural gas connection to a propane tank. 3 basic things are usually needed.
Remember to always follow manufacturers recommendations for your particular unit.
- An air shutter/mixer change
- Smaller burner orifices
- A hose with LP regulator
You’ll need to ensure the pressure and volume are adequate enough to manage the load when connecting your grill to the propane tank.
- First, check your grill’s owner manual to see whether or not your gas grill supports a conversion. If you don’t have the manual, call the manufacturer and request information for a recommended conversion kit.
- Often, conversion kits can be purchased at your local hardware store.
- Pre the kit and once it’s ready, shut off the natural gas supply to the grill and disconnect the gas line from the grill.
- Replace the natural gas orifices, valves, and regulators with the new propane grill parts.
- Make sure all the fittings are fully secured.
- Next, turn on the gas at the cylinder while leaving the grill burner knobs in the off position.
- Pour a small amount of the soapy solution around the connections. If any bubbles start to form, it means there is a leak. Turn off the supply, tighten the fittings again, then recheck. Perform this test until no more bubbles form.
- Remember, the orifices on a propane grill are smaller than those of a natural gas grill. This is to account for the higher pressure and increased energy output. Make sure to purchase the correct part.
- If you aren’t familiar with your grill’s parts and components, we recommend a technician perform the conversion for safety purposes.