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Thread: Convert grill from LP to natural gas

  1. #1
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    Convert grill from LP to natural gas

    We have a Weber Genesis grill, currently LP. I'd like to convert to natural gas. Weber said they have no conversion kits. Has anyone performed this conversion?

  2. #2
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    I haven't done the conversion, but I have had both types of grills. I prefer natural gas. It seems to burn cooler and the burners last a lot longer. In my case, 20 years vs 1 year.

    You might get a response on one oe the BBQ forums. Weber used to sell a 'conversion' kit years ago that included a regulator, manifold and other bits for a rather large amount of money. The only reason I can think of for replacing the manifold is that the jets must be permanently attached.

    Good luck.

  3. #3
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    There are a number of places online that sell parts for Webber grills ... perhaps one of them can help you. But Mike is correct that the options these days are less than in the past. You may need to "upgrade" to a new unit that can be equipped with the correct nozzle setup for NG from the start for a built-in type setup.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  4. #4
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    Proceed at your own risk. You can drill out the propane orifice to the larger nat-gas size.

    BBQ Gas orafice.JPG
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  5. #5
    burners last a lot longer. In my case, 20 years vs 1 year.



    Good luck.
    Wow! That is very interesting!
    Last edited by Jim Becker; 08-19-2018 at 7:44 PM. Reason: fixed quote tagging

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Gresham View Post
    I haven't done the conversion, but I have had both types of grills. I prefer natural gas. It seems to burn cooler and the burners last a lot longer. In my case, 20 years vs 1 year.
    My propane burners are 20 years old and are fine. Maybe the new ones are lousy.

  7. #7
    It's really hard to get NG grills around here, none of the stores, even the BBQ-specific stores, sell anything but propane grills. When we moved into the new house, it was already plumbed for NG at the grill. So we figured, since our old grill was... well... old, we'd just go get a new one and nobody has any at all. We were told we might be able to order one and have it delivered to the store, but I want to be able to see it before I buy. So we just haven't bothered yet, although at the beginning of the summer, I keep thinking I ought to but never do.

  8. #8
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    On the left coast, many Char-Broil grill models at the BORG come ready to convert. You just unscrew the smaller propane jet and the remaining orifice is already sized for natural gas.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  9. #9
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    I bought a used indoor propane stove and converted it to NG. From the factory it was supposed to have spare NG jets/orrifices these had been lost. So i removed the jets and drilled them out to Ng size. Easy enough if you know the BTU's of the propane jet. The stove had a onboard pressure regulator. I had to unscrew a cap and flip a spacer upside down to reduce it to gas pressure.
    You will have to find a NG pressure regulator to run your stove from. It probably does not need one really the house supply should be regulated before the meter. NG is about 5-6" H2O, propane about double that.
    I did not have to adjust the airflow or anything tricky for the conversion.
    I have read that if the hole is too big it can be filled with solder or epoxy and redrilled for propane. I would not trust that not to melt eventually.
    Bill D.

    I bought a used #drill set and a pin vise from the bay to do this job. Cost about $20 total. Make sure you use the corrugated flex pipe not rubber or rigid pipe/tube.
    Last edited by Bill Dufour; 08-19-2018 at 8:32 PM.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Gresham View Post
    ... I prefer natural gas. It seems to burn cooler and the burners last a lot longer. In my case, 20 years vs 1 year.
    My friend, a ceramics artist, has a 2" natural gas line to his big kiln. He said there is a lot more energy in propane, almost three times as much as the equiv volume of natural gas, so propane burns a lot hotter. However, natural gas is cheaper for the same number of BTUs.

    JKJ

  11. #11
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    Convert one jet and see how it works before you do all the rest. I think you can just use the existing regulator and rely on the house regulator. Ask your gas company what your house regulator is set for or check with a simple tube mamometer.
    Bill D.

  12. #12
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    Grant
    Ottawa ON

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by John K Jordan View Post
    My friend, a ceramics artist, has a 2" natural gas line to his big kiln. He said there is a lot more energy in propane, almost three times as much as the equiv volume of natural gas, so propane burns a lot hotter. However, natural gas is cheaper for the same number of BTUs.

    JKJ
    I think that has more to do with ng is supplied at 1/2 the pressure of propane. If you ran a NG burner at 30psi street pressure it would easily out btu propane for the same size orifice.
    Bill D
    I

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Dufour View Post
    I think that has more to do with ng is supplied at 1/2 the pressure of propane. If you ran a NG burner at 30psi street pressure it would easily out btu propane for the same size orifice.
    Bill D
    I
    That may be true. I certainly didn't research or ask my friend Joe (who knows everything) but I understood there was more involved than just the pressure. I imagine the differing amounts of air/oxygen required and the energy content for each gas would have to be considered as well as the pressure.

    • For proper combustion, LPG requires an air to gas ratio of approximately 25:1 whilst natural gas requires a 10:1 ratio.
    • Energy Content: LPG: 2572 Btu/ft3, NG: 1011 Btu/ft3
    • LPG appliances operate at a higher pressure than natural gas.

    https://www.elgas.com.au/blog/486-co...ethane-lng-cng

    Typical operating gas pressure in the appliance:

    • natural gas pressure is typically regulated to about 0.25 psi
    • LPG is typically regulated about 0.36 - 0.40 psi

    https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Pressures.php

    And this:

    • 100,000 BTU/hr furnace will use about 97 cubic feet of natural gas (100,000 ÷ 1,030 = 97.1) in one hour
    • 100,000 BTU/hr furnace will use about 40 cubic feet of propane (100,000 ÷ 2516 = 39.7) in one hour

    http://www.propane101.com/propanevsnaturalgas.htm

    I have no idea what equivalencies, limitations, or problems would arise from using the same pressure and orifice size. When we installed a gas range top in this house the appliance service person said the orifices must be changed to use LPG. I don't remember if he gave the practical reasons. I don't know if he changed or adjusted the regulator.

    I also found this:
    It is not a simple procedure to convert to a different fuel type, though many consumers mistakenly believe that simply drilling a new orifice will do the trick.
    https://www.hunker.com/12616869/a-pr...-a-gas-orifice

    Based on all this I would hesitate to convert a range or grill without clear information from the maker.

    JKJ

  15. #15
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    I just looked it up the San Bruno, California gas line fire was 400PSi, 30 inch main NG line. At that pressure I do not think it matters what fuel is used.

    Bill D.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Br...line_explosion

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