If you set out to buy a BBQ grill today, one of the options facing you is whether to fuel it with pr...

1. Food :: Propane to Natural Gas - Is it Worth Converting Your
BBQ Grill?
If you set out to buy a BBQ grill today, one of the options facing you is whether to fuel it with
propane or natural gas. But what if you already have a propane gas BBQ. Is it worthwhile converting
it?
In this article we'll help you weigh up the pros and the cons.
The Relative Costs of Natural gas and Propane
Technical tests on both gases indicate that although natural gas is much less expensive than
propane (by up to three or four times for one cubic foot) you'll need twice as much to cook the same
meal. But this is more than compensated for by the much lower cost of natural gas. However, that's
not the complete story.
Grill Conversion Costs
To change your grill from propane to natural gas you'll also have to carry out a technical conversion.
This conversion involves taking out your existing gas regulator and feed pipes and replacing these
with similar items designed specifically for natural gas. The conversion process increases the flow of
gas to your barbecue grill to compensate for the fact that natural gas produces less cooking heat
than propane.
It's possible to carry out this conversion yourself, but this is not recommended because the work
involved demands a certain level of technical skill. It's much more sensible to employ the services of
a natural gas technician who will also be able to install a patio gas supply point at the same time.
However, the conversion cost is likely to be quite high - probably in the region of $100 -$200.
Therefor, you may well decide that it's more sensible to put this money towards the purchase cost of
a new natural gas grill.
Other Factors to Consider
As well as weighing up the cost savings against the conversion costs you should also consider the
following factors:
Factors against Conversion:
Grill Mobility - You'll not be able to use your grill anywhere. You're going to be restricted by the
position of the natural gas supply point.
Taste - Natural gas contains a smelly substance called mercaptan. Its deliberately mixed with the
gas so that you can tell if you've got a leak. Some people reckon that this substance imparts an
unpleasant taste to the food. However, don't get too hung up about this. It's not a frequently voiced
complaint.

2. Foreign Country Recipes
Dinner Recipes
Environmental Protection - Natural gas is not environmentally friendly. If it escapes into the
atmosphere,it gets converted into other substances which are detrimental to it.
Factors for Conversion:
Convenience - Your fuel supply will be on tap and you won't have to carry bottles of propane around
anymore or change a bottle half-way through a BBQ.
Make a Choice. Propane or Natural Gas?
Hopefully my article will help you make a choice about whether to convert your grill or not. If you're
already using natural gas in the home this could be an opportunity to save money on the costs of
operating your BBQ grill, but don't forget those conversion costs. It may make more sense to wait
until you need to purchase a new grill