Coupons4LV.com  -  Tree Hugging Frugalitarian

 
  • Blog

Ditch the Propane bottle for Natural Gas Grilling

6/15/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Picture
craigslist gold - picked for $22!
Picture
3/4" tee, 3/4" to 1/2" reducer - make sure you get some 3/4" couplings as well so you can insert your tee into the main.
Face it, dealing with propane tanks is a hassle. Eliminate stress and half cooked meals that have to be "saved" by the oven due to out of propane issues.If you have natural gas at your home, consider switching to it vs. propane for your outdoor cooking fuel. The propane regulator, tanks, filling the tanks, connecting reconnecting, running out of fuel, the sheer weight of the tanks - forget about it. Once you go natural gas, you will be glad you did. One of the only downsides is that propane does burn slightly hotter than natural gas, but i rarely use the hottest setting for cooking, other than cleaning the grates.

First see if you can source a good used Weber off craigslist. Preferably one that has already been converted to natural gas. You may need to replace a few parts, but Weber's are know for being able to be rebuilt with relative ease. The frame on the one i found for $22 was a bit rusty, and the hinge was very stiff. Two pilot holes in the front frame and some sheet metal screws secured the cooking portion securely to the frame once again. A little 3-1 oil on the hinges had those working as good as new again as well.

Disclaimer: If you are not comfortable with plumbing, running gas lines and such hire a gas fitter. Also comply with any codes that in your area and make sure your gas line is grounded properly near the meter.

First, Tap a tee off your main and run a 1/2" flexible CSST line to an area outside near where your grill will reside. There is a 33' kit on amazon with fittings on both ends that has a price you can not likely beat. I like to use 3/4" couplings with a hex in-between for better control when tightening. 

I use Rectorseal #5 pipe thread sealant for all of my water and gas connections. It can be pressurized immediately, easier to apply than teflon tape, and seems to have never leaked in all my installations. I also test every connection with gas leak spray a few minutes after installation and wait to see if bubbles appear. Obviously, gas leaks are not something you want to have in or around your home.
Picture
Drill a pilot hole and screw in some sheet metal screws through the frame and into the grill.
Picture
You can see that the sheet metal screws from the inside.
Make sure you have a shut off valve inside and outside for this line for safety and security. Shutting gas off to the grill inside your home could eliminate the chance of kids or deviants from tampering with your line and worst case creating an explosion that blows up your home while you are asleep or away. I chose a low profile1/2"  ball valve for the one inside the box as the lever handle would not fit. Also note, that I went with all brass inside of the box, there is a lot of moisture in the air here, so this reduces corrosion and will make it look nice for years to come.

I used flexible CSST line and fastened it to underneath my joists with 1/2" plastic clips.
Mounted a 60 AMP disconnect box outside and removed the stock components. I chose this enclosure due to its outdoor use rated capability and it's ability to lock. Then I could install all of the connections required to get the flexible CSST line to the grill inlet hose. Mount the box 3-4' off the ground to make connections easy and protect against possible flood intrusion.

I got a new inlet hose for the grill to ensure that there would be a good connection, no leaks, the kit i got also comes with both ends of the quick disconnect line.

Keeping all the connections inside the box also makes things tidy. Of course, it is easy to remove the quick disconnect hose from the enclosure if you wish to move the grill more than 10' away.
Picture
Eaton 60A sized electrical box used for housing shutoff and quick disconnect. Keeps things discreet and looking tidy.
Picture
new flexible quick disconnect line for the Weber.
Picture
CSST routed under the house and fastened by 1/2" plastic clamps to the joists below
Always make sure that you grill at least 5-6' away from the house, as many house fires are started due to excessive heat coming out the back of the grill catching the siding on fire.

I was able to source most items online for a bit cheaper, but did go to the plumbing supply house for a few fittings.

Good luck and happy grilling.
1 Comment

    Categories

    All
    Coffee
    Craigslist Etiquette
    Cree Led
    Decreasing Power Bill
    Fixing Hardwoods
    Gardening
    Green Commuting
    Heavy Bag Installation
    Home Heating Hot Spots
    Less Pollution
    Moving
    Nightlight Theory
    Organizing
    Polluting Less
    Rain Water Collection
    Saving Money
    Saving Time
    Self Defense
    Self Hair Cutting
    Smart Power Strip
    Smart Take Out Boxes
    Solar Power
    Solar Powered Attic Fan
    Staying Warm
    Texting And Driving
    Thermostat Installation
    Yard Care

    Author

    Lehigh Valley Veteran - The Green Bargain Hunter

    Picture

    Blogroll

    Be the Bee Social Media Coaching
    Lehigh Valley with Love
    Digital Signage Insights
    Juicing Art
    365 Days Of FFFFound Poetry
    PriusLiftSupports
    Urban Shelf
    Sprout Defender

    Archives

    February 2018
    November 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    April 2016
    August 2015
    June 2014
    April 2014
    April 2013
    March 2013
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    March 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.