Most homes use a natural gas stove for cooking food.
Natural gas is a cleaner alternative to various other fuel sources, which is why it’s so widely used in kitchens and other heating appliances.
Despite being cheaper and cleaner than other fuel sources, you should consider switching to another fuel for cooking because natural gas is a non-renewable resource and will soon run out.
Propane stoves are quite popular. Do you want to know how to convert natural gas stoves to propane stoves?
How to Convert Your Natural Gas Stove to Propane Stove?
You can’t simply detach the stove from the natural gas supply tank and attach it to the propane supply tank. Both these gases have different densities and energies. You’ve got to convert your stove.
Converting the stove involves changing the valves and switches to ensure the stove is suitable to be used with propane gas.
If you’re considering converting your natural gas stove to a propane stove, the steps listed below will help you a great deal.
The first thing you must keep in mind when converting your natural gas stove to a propane stove is that propane gas has a higher pressure, and the rate of its flow will be different than natural gas.
Let’s take you through the steps that’ll help you convert your existing natural gas stove to a propane stove.
Step 1: Turn Off the Gas Supply
First things first, turn off the gas supply before starting the conversion procedure. Make sure the valves on the supply tank are turned off.
If you don’t turn off the gas supply, the gas will leak into the air when you detach the supply line from the burners, which can present a serious fire hazard.
Step 2: Remove the Fittings that the Stove Came with
As you already know, propane gas has a different pressure and density than natural gas. You can’t expect the original fittings of the natural gas stove to work well with propane.
Use a screwdriver to remove all the burners on the stove. The existing burners are suitable to be used with natural gas.
Propane is packed with twice as much energy as natural gas, and if you use the existing burners, you’ll get a much larger and stronger flame.
Step 3: Attach the New Burners
The burners for the propane stove will be different. The holes in these burners will be much smaller to control the flame’s size.
With smaller holes, less gas will get through, and the size of the flame will be smaller and more controllable.
Attach the new burners to the stovetop and ensure they’re secured tightly.
Step 4: Adjust the Settings
Propane has a high-pressure rating, meaning you can’t operate the stove that you previously used with natural gas at the same settings.
Every burner comes with a twist that allows you to adjust the simmer setting for each burner. You’ve got to adjust this twist.
Step 5: Attach the Stove to Propane Supply Tank
Once the burners are in place, attach the stove to the propane supply tank. Ensure that the supply line isn’t loose at any point from where the gas may leak.
Step 6: Turn On the Valves
Turn on the valves to allow the propane gas supply to the burner and light up the stove. Your stove is now using propane gas.
While converting a natural gas stove to a propane stove isn’t very difficult, it’s best to hire professionals to do the job.
You may not know the possibilities of everything that can go wrong. A professional will be able to do it quickly and ensure safety.
Natural Gas Stove to Propane Stove Conversion Safety Tips
If it’s your first time converting an appliance to another fuel source, you’ve got to follow some safety tips.
Some of the most important tips to ensure your safety and the success of the procedure are listed below:
Check Stove Specifications
Always check the specifications of your stove to make sure it can be converted to a propane stove.
Most natural gas stoves can be converted to propane stoves, but there are also some that are made only to be used with natural gas.
If your existing stove is for use with natural gas only, you can’t convert it to a propane stove, and any attempt to do it will only put your safety at risk.
Turn Off the Gas Supply
Never forget to turn off the gas supply before you start converting the natural gas stove to a propane stove.
Natural gas will leak into the air when you detach the supply line, and it can catch fire when you light the lighter to test your stove after you’re finished converting the stove to a propane stove.
Why Should You Consider Switching from Natural Gas Stoves?
Natural gas is readily available, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuels that can be used for cooking.
With so many pros, why should one consider switching from a natural gas stove to any other?
Well, there’s not one but many reasons why you should now consider bidding farewell to your natural gas stove.
Natural Gas is a Non-Renewable Resource
One of the primary reasons why you should consider switching from natural gas for cooking is the fact that it’s a non-renewable resource.
It takes hundreds and thousands of years for the resource to form, and if it gets depleted, we may not have it available for other purposes in the future.
Conservation of non-renewable resources is a common and very important agenda around the world.
One way to conserve some of the natural gas is to limit its usage and switch to other options.
Natural Gas Contributes to the Greenhouse Effect
One of the most pressing global issues today is climatic change. Global warming is a serious matter that the world is struggling to battle with.
Human contribution towards environmental damage is at an all-time high, and it’s now that people have started to realize the damage they’ve done.
Some of the biggest contributors to global warming are greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
And did you know burning natural gas produces these gases that are detrimental to the environment?
When you burn natural gas, it releases carbon dioxide into the environment. But that’s not it. Natural gas stoves also leak some unburned fuel (methane) into the environment.
Methane is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
You’ll be surprised to know that the amount of methane leaking from natural gas stoves has an impact comparable to carbon dioxide emissions from about half a million cars!
This is a major threat to the environment.
Natural Gas Stoves Affect Health
Another reason why you should stop using natural gas stoves is they can lead to respiratory problems. Burning natural gas releases nitrogen oxides that can result in problems like asthma, among others.
All of these reasons are compelling enough to make you switch to a safer alternative today. And if you ask us, switching to propane stoves is your best bet!
Benefits of Switching to Propane Stoves
There’s a lot of hype around propane stoves lately. An increasing number of households are switching from natural gas stoves to propane stoves.
Continue reading ahead if you want to know why it is a good option to switch to a propane stove.
Higher Energy Efficiency
One of the first and most noteworthy benefits of propane for stoves is its higher energy efficiency. A single unit of propane has twice the amount of energy as one unit of natural gas.
It means propane stoves will heat the appliances quicker and cook food faster. Having said that, you’ll have to keep the stove on for a shorter duration. Less fuel will be used for cooking.
You’ll be able to cut down your cooking fuel consumption by half by switching to propane stoves.
Environment-Friendly
Propane is more environmentally-friendly than natural gas. It doesn’t release harmful gases when you burn it.
Unlike natural gas stoves, propane stoves don’t leak unburned methane into the air. The emission of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides is minimal too.
Therefore, its contribution to the greenhouse effect is negligible compared to natural gas.
Safer
Propane stoves are safer than natural gas stoves. Propane gas is stored as a gas instead of liquid in the supply tank. It’s supplied to the burner as vapor which reduces the fire hazard.
Propane is also less flammable than natural gas, so you can rest assured that propane stoves offer greater safety for your house and family, although they are costlier than natural gas stoves.
The Bottom Line
Converting a natural gas stove to a propane stove is a very simple task, but professionals are best at it.
Although propane gas costs more than natural gas (almost double), there won’t be much difference in your gas costs.
Even though you’ll be using half the quantity, the double price of propane will bring the cost more or less close to what you’re currently paying.
But you can’t overlook the fact that propane is a greener, cleaner, and safer gas to use in your home for cooking purposes. Converting your natural gas stove to a propane stove is a wise thing to do!
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