It is always frustrating when you run short of propane or natural gas while preparing a delicious dinner for your guests. If you are facing such issues, it is time not to spoil your gatherings when your guests wait.
Hence, in this post, you will learn an effective way of connecting an outdoor gas line to your gas grill by just learning a few simple steps. Moreover, you will also learn how to convert a natural gas grill to a propane gas grill, even if the local plumber is not around.
An important point to keep in mind is that connecting gas to your gas grill is dangerous. You must call for customer support or hire a nearby plumber so that you can assemble the gas grill, according to your preference, anywhere inside your house.
Therefore, read each step carefully so that you should know how to examine the work of the plumber without hiring a third party for inspection.
When to use propane gas in the gas grill?
Deciding upon which source of the grill is ideal depends on you. If you often go out for a picnic or spend some time with your loved one under the deep green shadowy trees, we recommend you should use a propane tank. Thus, it gives you portability, and you can assemble your grill anywhere you want to use your gas grill.
However, on the other side, you risk running short of propane gas while preparing a recipe on a grill. Further, you need to carry extra propane gas cylinders to ensure sufficient gas availability.
When to use natural gas in a gas grill?
The most popular one nowadays is using natural gas in your gas grill. Using natural gas has many benefits; you will not have to worry about the availability of natural gas unless the gas company stops providing gas in your home.
Moreover, we recommend having a natural gas connection in your home to make your gatherings and summer parties a pleasant experience.
Apart from these things, the downside of using natural is that you cannot fill it in the gas cylinders and then connect it with the grill hose under the hanging from the grill towards the downside. You also have to bear the gas installation cost to pay some extra bucks for the connection process, but it is not that expensive.
Easy steps to ensure a natural gas connection with your gas grill:
Here under this heading, you will come to know different steps you must follow, or you should know when the plumber ensures gas connection into your house.
Step 1: Number of appliances using natural gas
In this first step, you will count how many appliances in your home are connected or using a natural gas grill. These appliances could be a gas water heater, furnace, stove, and other stuff that consumes natural gas.
Step 2: calculating the total number of BTUs:
Here you need a meter reader to calculate the gas pressure and the total number of BTUs your natural gas appliances use. Then, after calculating this, your local plumber should know the pressure of the gas coming through the line and the total number of BTUs your natural gas grill requires. The last step at this stage is to know the best spot where there is high gas pressure and is close to the location of your gas grill.
Step 3: measure the length of the pipe that would be required:
At this stage, the plumber will ensure to bring the pipe with different lengths and other material to cut or replace the pipe if necessary. Other instruments include ranches, paint, paintbrush, thread, measuring tape, driller, and other miscellaneous things.
Step 4: Turn off the gas supply:
After following the three steps mentioned above, go outside your house, where you have installed the gas connection, and turn off the gas supply.
Step-5: pipe joint compound:
Connecting pipe joint compound at the connection spot outside your home is essential, which helps connect other pipes easily and ensures fast fitting.
Step-6: Tighten the pipe:
After installing the pipe joint compound, start connecting the pipes. Use joint compound whenever necessary to ensure that the pipes of different lengths have been secured.
Step-7: Use Teflon tape or Pipe dope:
These are important because if you want to connect the pipes rigidly, you need to apply pipe dope, a lubricant that stiffly connects the two lines at the joint. You can also use Teflon tape, which is sticky too.
Step-8: drill a hole through the house wall:
Here at this stage, you need to drill a hole to ensure that the pipe goes to the other side of the wall. After hitting the hole through the house wall via hole-driller, pass the pipe through the gap towards the inside.
Step-9: measure the final pipe:
After drilling a hole through the wall, measure the final pipe that will run through it to the other side of the wall.
Step-10: Use a drip cap:
It is vital to use the drip at the joints. The drip cap ensures smooth gas flow through the pipe while catching the water and other things.
Step-11: use a pressure gauge:
After completing the connection, attach the pressure gauge to the pipe; this will tell about the pressure of the gas fowling through the pipe.
Wait for around one hour, and test the pressure of the gas. Consistent pressure is a good indication.
Step-12: Use of soap water:
You must ensure that there is no gas leakage; therefore, to ensure zero leakage; you must spray soap and water solution on those joints. If a bubble appears, gas moves out of the joint. Here, it would be best to tighten the joints so that no gas moves out.
Step-13: remove the gas gauge and installs the natural gas hose
Step-14: spray the paint on the pipe to ensure a rustproof pipeline.
Ensure that you do not spray on the ends of the pipe. Cover those sides with tape so that you do not paint those sides.
Step 15: Connect quick connect gas hose:
After following all the steps mentioned above, you need to install the quick connect a gas hose at the end of the fitting. This ensures easy turning on and turning off the gas supply to the grill.
Step 16: start grilling:
Since you have connected the gas grill with the gas supply, turn on the gas, and start grilling.
Converting a natural gas grill to a propane gas grill:
You must know how to convert a natural gas grill to propane gas if you are fond of spending some time in some far-off area. Thus, to become a pro, read and follow the given steps.
Step1: Read the instructions:
First, read the instruction manual on whether the natural gas grill can be converted to propane gas or not. If nothing is mentioned, go to the brand’s official website or call the manufacturer for confirmation. Usually, the manufacturer provides conversion; otherwise, you must purchase it manually.
Step 2: Turn off the gas supply:
After ensuring that the given grill is convertible to the propane gas grill, go to the main line outside your house, and turn off the gas supply.
Step 3: Change natural gas parts:
Remove any front or side panels to have access to the inside parts of the grill gas hose. Then, replace the orifice or gas valve, which is marked for using natural gas, with the parts compatible with the propane gas.
Step 4: Connect the propane gas cylinder:
After making the propane gas compatible, connect the propane gas cylinder with the grill through the hose that goes down the grill’s burners.
Step 5: Spray soapy water on the connections:
Turn on the gas supply by not running the burners, see if there is any leakage from the gas connections, by apply soapy water to those connections. If there appear no bubbles, you are going well. Turn on the burners and enjoy grilling or making BBQ.
Frequently asked questions:
How to tee off an existing gas line?
Teeing off an existing gas line is easy. First, you need to have the following instruments available with you. They are wrenches or a saw for cutting the pipe, Teflon tape, fittings, pipe joint compound, drip cap, pipe dope, mearing tape, and gas gauge.
However, teeing off an existing gas line needs expertise; if you are naïve in doing this, seek the help of an expert plumber.
How to use a gas grill?
Using a gas grill differs from a charcoal, electronic, or propane gas grill. You need to ensure the continuous flow of gas to your gas grill. Other things are the same as you do grilling on other grills.
What is a gas line cap?
A gas line cap is used on the joints to ensure the smooth flow of gas flowing towards the gas grill by accumulating any water or other rust ingredients in the cap.
How do you differentiate natural gas grills from propane gas grills?
Natural gas grills have the same operations as the propane gas grill, except they require a permanent gas supply, unlike the propane gas grills that require propane gas cylinders connected to the grills.
