Not sure where to start converting your grill from propane to natural gas? In today’s guide, I lay out everything YOU need to know to make the switch.
You may have considered switching the gas source from propane to natural gas to save on ongoing fuel costs and switch to a more secure way of powering your grill.
However, this can be daunting as you have to consider potential issues such as practicality and security.
In most cases, converting to natural gas is fairly simple and straightforward, but before you die, there are a few things you need to be aware of.
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Before you begin, here are some important checks YOU should make before attempting to rebuild your grill.
Find out if it’s compatible
Your first stop should be to check if your grill can even run on natural gas. You can do this by checking your grill brand’s website or owner’s manual. Alternatively, look on your grill for dual fuel markings on your grill.
Invest in a converter kit
One of the best kit pieces you can get to help is a conversion kit. Be careful though, be careful with a conversion kit that is compatible with your particular grill. Not all kits are created equal, so you will need to source an upgraded kit from your grill manufacturer.
Talk to an expert
It’s easy to think exactly what to do, but it always pays to consult an expert to make sure you’re doing everything thoroughly and safely, especially given the dangers that can come with using natural gas.
Speak to an authoritative plumbing inspector to make sure it’s legal for you to have or install flexible gas hose. If it’s not legal, they may suggest a permanent system or present you with other viable alternatives.
If your grill is compatible and your local expert confirms the switch is safe and legal, you’re good to go.
You can also convert your propane grill to natural gas.
Turn off your gas at the main and canister
We’re swapping two gas sources here, so before we do anything, we need to turn both off before proceeding. It is important to take strict safety precautions and stopping all gas flow is the best way to do this.
Turn off the natural gas on the main grid first. Then, unplug your propane bottle or canister and put it away. As an additional measure, open a valve to allow residual gas in the manifold to escape before closing all valves. This should ensure all gas exits the grill.
Remove grill parts
He’ll have to climb into his grill when remodeling it, so we’ll have to eliminate some of the obstacles and obstacles in his path.
Remove grill warming rack, main grill grates and flame arrester. Next, remove the latch smokers holding the burners to the brackets and draft tube. The transfer tube(also called crossover tube) is a connection between all burners and provides a channel for gas transport from a next burner.
Remove the burners by loosening the tube burner from the valves and then sliding it out.
Locate the port removal tool that came with your conversion kit and insert it into the combustion chamber port in the burner area of the grill. Use the tool to loosen the holes at the end of the valves.
Pro tip: don’t throw away these holes. They will come in handy if you temporarily decide to switch your grill back to propane.
Without the orifices, the valves are designed to operate on natural gas. Don’t replace them.
Remove the propane gas baffles from the control panel and unscrew them. Replace the bezels with the natural gas versions included in your kit. Before tightening, make sure it is properly aligned with the control knob. Push the control knobs back into the valve stems.
Remove the control panel
This step came from the design of your grill. If your grill’s burners are bumping against the control panel as shown in the image below, you will need the control panel to have full access to your grill’s valve tubes in order to remove them for the rebuild.
If the grill valve tube and burner connector are directly below the cooking grates, you cannot remove the control panel and can skip this step.
Remove the control panel from your grill. On most propane grills, like the Weber Spirit , it can be lifted and removed fairly easily. Removing this should release the control valves. With the valves exposed, locate the gas line connecting the manifold to the valves.
The tip of the control valve is inserted into the torch. At the front of the burner, the air fairing rides as a carburetor that mixes gas with oxygen while the valve sprays gas mixed with air into the Weber tube burner.
We need to slide the torch off the valve to access the orifice. To slide the burner off the control valve we have two options. However, the condition of the grill usually prompts us to choose one of these options. If not, you’re in luck, but collecting fat and destroying materials usually decides for us.
Reinstall the tube burner
Reinstall the tube burners into the firebox burner ports, in line with the valves and with the mounting hole facing up. Make sure the cane burner fits properly on the valves.
Secure the tubes to the bracket using the hook shackles pictured above.
Also replace the tow tubes and secure them with the hitch smokers.
Remove LP regulator
Use a wrench to remove the low pressure regulator hose assembly from the manifold fitting. Save this part in case you decide to convert back to propane.
The low pressure regulator hose is located on top of the cart or under the side burner shelf.
If the manifold fitting is inside the wagon, insert the natural gas hose from your conversion kit through the back panel and into the wagon. Route the hose to the manifold connection.
If it is the side burner, YOU can also route the hose through the shroud and into the fitting on the side burner area of the grill.
Secure the natural gas hose to the connector with a wrench.
Why should I change a natural gas?
Switching to natural gas ensures you always have a constant supply of gas without having to constantly refill propane tanks and propane gauges .
However, this poses immediate challenges to maneuverability since your grill MUST be properly attached to the area around your natural gas supply. If you also enjoy camping with the BBQ or going on a road trip, then converting to natural gas is not a viable course of action.
However, if you tend to grill at home and are interested in saving on propane costs, then switching to natural gas is certainly worth considering.
The number one tool for converting your grill from propane to natural gas is a conversion kit. This is a hose with brass fittings on each end that can connect your propane grill to your natural gas line. However, your grill manifold accessories will be specific to your brand, so be sure to purchase one that is compatible with your gas grill.
Install your chosen conversion kit according to the kit’s instruction manual.
Here are some examples of make or model specific conversion kits that will work with your grill:
- [Works Perfectly] Tap straight into your natural gas supply and transform a propane gas grill…
- [Multiple suitability] Perfect for connecting your grill, fireplace, pizza oven, patio heater and…
- [100% Safety] Made from 100% solid brass fittings and durable rubber tubing, offers…
Can I convert my Weber to natural gas?
The short answer is yes, but be careful: Weber advises against it and says attempting to break your grill will void your warranty.
It is also important to note that this can be dangerous as this involves handling gas supplies and should only be done if you know what you are doing.
“Due to safety considerations, the complexity of the throttle cable technology and components, and the level of disassembly required, we do not allow conversions or offer conversion kits. Converting a grill will actually void the warranty of the attached one and could create an unsafe situation.”
How big is the valve opening?
Another consideration is the orifice size of your valve. This is the small hole in the center of the valve halfway with the drill used to make it. Most often you will see the orifice size marked on the valve.
Sometimes confusing, hole numbers and hole size work in reverse. That means the bigger the bit, the smaller the hole.
All of this combines to produce a BTU output that is determined by the pressure of the gas, the volume of the gas, and the size of the orifice. This means that the same fixed natural gas pressure, but delivered through different sized orifices, results in different measurements of BTUs.
Never drill these holes yourself. Just use the numbers as a guide when trying to select the conversion kit you need.
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
