As the barbecue season approaches, a lot of us are buying new gas grills to have some fun family time. But how do you set it up?
If you have a propane grill and you’re planning to convert it to a natural gas one, chances are it’s very confusing and complex. We have found a simple way to connect natural gas lines to the grill.
Not only are natural gas lines safer, but they are also more affordable in the long run. In this article, we will figure out how to connect natural gas line to grill.
What You Need to Connect Natural Gas Line to Grill
Connecting your natural gas line to the grill is not a single-tool project. It requires a few different pieces of equipment. Here’s a quick list of what you will need:
- Gas shutoff valves
- Pipe-joint sealant
- Galvanized steel straps
- Drill and drill bits
- Spray water bottle
- Dish soap
- Quick connect shoe fittings
- Rust-proof spray paint
- Piper wrench
- Pressure gauge
- Standard wrench
If you have all those things already, we suggest doing it by yourself. Otherwise, it’s easier to just call a professional to install the gas line instead of DIY-ing it.
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How to Connect Natural Gas Line to Grill
Step 1: First thing you need to do is check whether your home natural gas system has adequate capacity to support a BBQ grill. Most home gas systems are good enough for it.
Step 2: Bring out your pipe wrench and turn off the main valve at the gas meter.
Step 3: Then tap into the existing gas line and run a new line out to the location of your gas grill.
Step 4: Each connection should have a pipe-joint compound. Then tighten them with your pipe wrench.
Step 5: It’s time to use those galvanized steel pipe hangers. Suspend the new mine from the floor joists using those changes.
Step 6: Install a new shutoff valve into the gas line.
Step 7: Drill a hole in the wall to continue the gas line from the basement to the outside.
Step 8: Install a shutoff valve just outside the house.
Step 9: You have to pressure test your new gas line to make sure there are no accidental leaks.
Step 10: To do that, spray liquid soap water into the threaded connections and check for leaks.
Step 11: Let it sit like this for 30-40 minutes then check the pressure gauge to make sure the pressure hasn’t dropped. If it doesn’t drop, there are no leaks in the gas line.
Step 12: Install a quick-connect hose fitting at the end of the gas line.
Step 13: Apply rust-resistant spray paint into the new piping. Use cardboards to shield the house around the gas line before painting.
Step 14: Then connect a new flexible quick-connect gas hose to the end of the gas grill.
Step 15: This step is optional but if it’s necessary you can install an adapter to convert the grill from propane to natural.
Step 16: Snap the end of the gas hose onto the quick-connect fitting on the new line.
Step 17: Turn on the main gas valve.
And that’s it. You have connected your natural gas line to your barbecue grill!
Why Use Natural Gas instead of Propane?
As the popularity of natural gas grill is increasing every day, one might wonder what’s the reason behind it. Natural gas grills have a lot of advantages over other types of barbecue grills.
Cost-Effective:
Natural gas is the more economical choice in the long run. Yes, they might cost more to set up, but when you start to use the grill, the fuel cost is much lesser than propane.
Natural gas prices are by default cheaper than propane. If you are a homeowner, natural gas is the obvious choice for you.
Even though propane is more energy-efficient, the cost of natural gas is much lower than per cubic foot of propane gas. So when you judge it from all sides, natural gas wins this round.
Safety:
Natural gas grills do not need to be filled once every couple of weeks or months. As they are filed at a specific spot, they are much safer to have at home.
Natural gas also dissipates more quickly than propane gas when released into the atmosphere. So they are less likely to cause a serious fire hazard.
Propane tanks also need to be under a certain temperature. Otherwise, they might burst. All these things make propane a risky choice especially if you have kids running around.
Convenience:
Natural gas grills are just more convenient in every way. You don’t need to move a bulky propane tank around to refill it every few weeks/months, it doesn’t require any specific guideline to store and it’s fixed at a spot.
As natural gas grills are connected to your main gas line it acts exactly like your stove or oven. It’s always one click away from heating up.
What Not to Do While Converting to Natural Gas Line/Gas Grill
If you re new to using a natural gas grill, there are some things you need to focus one, some things you should never do:
- You should never go over budget with buying the gas grill. Keep in mind the installation will cost you a good amount of money too.
You might need additional parts to set up the grill in place. So whatever your budget is, buy something under that limit.
- If you are not very skilled or familiar with gas lines, do not try to install the grill by yourself. Natural gas grills are not the same as propane grills.
They need proper tools and skills to set up. Instead, hire someone to do the job.
- Contact your house contractor to know your gas line pressure level. You need it to set up the regulator.
- Don’t ignore the permit requirements while setting up your natural gas line. It might cost you a lot in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Can I Hook In My Own Natural Gas Grill?
You definitely can hook up your own natural gas grill if you have all the right tools for it. If you don’t have prior knowledge of plumbing or you are not familiar with the tools, we recommend hiring a professional to do the job.
As it’s natural gas, a small accident can be very detrimental and no one should take a risk.
A plumbing or heating contractor can easily install your gas grill. It’s always better to go natural as it saves a lot of money and energy in the long run.
You won’t have to refill those bulky propane tanks. As you won’t have to move around the tank at all, it’s safer too.
02. How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Natural Gas Grill?
Hooking up a natural gas grill is a task for a professional. Usually, it takes somewhere between $200-$400 depending on nowhere you live. They do all the things necessary from running the gas line to hooking it up with your gas grill.
There are also high-end and low-end installations. It’s ideal to contact the people who do these tasks and negotiate a price depending on your needs.
03. Can You Join a Propane Grill to a Natural Gas Line?
You can hook up a propane grill to your natural home gas line. Some grills come with a built-in adapter that provides a smooth transition from one fuel type to another. Others need an extra adapter for it.
You should never hook your propane gas grill to your natural gas without converting it at first. Otherwise, it can turn into a fire hazard. To convert, you need certain tools and instruments. You can hire someone to do the task for you.
It is important to note that not all propane grills can convert to a natural line. Check the user manual of your grill or contact customer service to know whether your grill is compatible with switching.
04. Do You Need a Regulator for Natural Gas Grill?
All-natural gas grills require a regulator to handle the pressure going into the grill. Natural gas grill requires a pressure rating of 4” WC. A regulator’s job is to make sure the pressure stays that way.
As we run our natural gas line for many different home appliances like stove, oven, water heater, furnace, etc. the pressure always changes to fit the appliances.
But for a gas grill, this pressure needs to remain steady. That’s why it’s so important to invest in a good regulator. Consult your contractor to know more about it.
05. Are Natural Gas Grills Safe?
Natural gas grills are definitely safer than propane grills or charcoal grills. You need to move the propane tank around for a propane grill. When the tank is full, it can actually cause serious accidents in not being careful.
You need to be careful about its heat and temperature too. There are so many stories of propane tank automatic combusting and then creating a fire hazard at home. So propane gas is not the safest thing out there.
Charcoal grills are another risky option and arguably the trickiest to work with. If the grill gets knocked over, the hot coals can burn you and cause serious injury. Sudden air can cause small coal flakes to spread and cause a fire without you even realizing it.
Many people are converting to natural gas grills for these reasons. They are fixed so you can not move them around which makes them much safer than any other options.
06. Why are Natural Gas Grills So Expensive?
Natural gas grills are more expensive than other options but they are with the money. They are very convenient and easy to work with.
The reason why natural gas grills are more expensive is that they come with long and fast connection fittings. These features cost more to make thus resulting in their higher price range.
07. What is the Difference between Propane and Natural Gas Grills?
Both propane and natural gas grills are super popular and accessible to everyone. As charcoal grills are slowly exiting the market, propane and natural grills are dominating the industry.
Both of these grill types are excellent but each comes with its advantages and disadvantages.
Propane grills are more affordable and powerful. So you can use them at super high temperatures. They have more than twice the BTU of natural grills.
Natural gas grills on the other hand are safer and more convenient for a busy household. If you have kids, you want something that is childproof.
Propane tanks are known to cause fire hazards if not being very careful. They are also quite a pain to fill up. These bulky tanks are not easy to move around.
Natural grills save a lot of energy and power. As it gets connected to your main gas line, you don’t have to worry about refilling every month. It’s cost-effective in the long run.
08. Can My Weber Use Natural Gas?
This mainly depends on the model but most of the Weber grills can be easily converted to natural gas. Weber, however, does not permit gas conversions anymore.
So make sure to contact customer service to know whether your specific model can be converted or not.
Some of the models are not allowed conversion even though they can be done. You might lose your warranty by changing its fuel type. So make sure to know all the details.
Verdict
And there you have it. Setting up your gas grill with the natural gas line is that simple. Hopefully, we were humble to answer everything you needed to know on how to connect natural gas lines to grill.
Do you have any confusion? Feel free to ask us in the comments down below!
