What Changes Do You Need to Make to a Stove to Change from Propane to Gas?

Fuel Differences

• Propane is delivered at a much higher pressure than natural gas. The pressure difference dictates the changes made to a stove to convert it from propane to natural gas operation. Only stove models for which conversion kits are available can be converted. The kits have all the parts that need to be changed to accomplish the conversion. Only gas stoves can be converted; an electric stove cannot be converted to operate on any type of gas. Some modern gas stove models cannot be converted, and no conversion kits are available for them.

Orifices

• Among the parts that must be changed are the orifices that feed gas to the stove's burners. A natural gas orifice has a bigger hole than a propane orifice, providing a sufficient volume of gas at a lower delivery pressure. Each cooking burner requires an orifice change, along with the pilot burner if the stove is so equipped. Attempting to use a propane burner orifice with natural gas results in a very weak burner flame or no flame at all because of natural gas' lower pressure and a propane burner's smaller orifice. The conversion is not accomplished by simply drilling a bigger hole in the burner orifice; stove conversions also involve changing other features on the stove.

Regulator

• Converting a stove from propane to natural gas requires changing the regulator that reduces delivery pressure to burner pressure. A propane regulator delivers too little gas pressure to the burners because of the lower inlet pressure from the natural gas line. Gas regulators in household appliances cannot be adjusted. Replacing the stove’s propane regulator with one designed to work with natural gas is necessary. Manufacturer directions must be followed exactly when installing the replacement regulator or the stove will be dangerous.

Fuel-to-Air Mix

• Propane and natural gas require different fuel-to-air ratios for complete combustion. A stove's gas burners have an air shutter near the burner control valve to admit combustion air. In most cases, easing back on a screw moves the air shutter and produces a nice, clean, even blue flame. The adjustment must be exactly correct. An error in the fuel-to-air ratio can lead to the burners emitting deadly carbon monoxide gas. On some stove models, replacing the propane burners with larger burners for natural gas may be necessary to obtain the equivalent amount of heat from the lower-pressure fuel.