Natural Gas vs. Propane
Gas grills, side burners, fire tables and patio heaters all run on one of two fuels: natural gas (NG) from the utility, or propane (LP) from a tank. The grill cooks the same on either. What changes is the hookup, the cost to run it, and whether you can switch later. Here is what we tell every customer before they order.
The short version
- Natural gas: Piped to the house. Never runs out. Cheaper per BTU. Needs a gas line run to the grill.
- Propane: Comes in a 20 lb cylinder or a larger yard tank. Portable. No gas line. You swap or refill tanks.
Running a natural gas line
If your house has natural gas, a licensed plumber or gas fitter can run a line to the patio. The line is sized for the total BTU load on it, so tell them everything you plan to connect: the grill, a side burner, a power burner, a fire table, heaters. A 42" five-burner grill plus a fire table is a lot of gas, and an undersized line means weak flames on the far burners.
The line ends in a shutoff valve at the island, or a quick-connect fitting for a freestanding grill. Most West Michigan townships require a permit and inspection for a new gas line. The plumber handles that. We coordinate with them on where the stub comes up inside the island.
Propane
A freestanding grill carries its own 20 lb cylinder in the cart. Built-in propane grills need a cylinder compartment in the island, or a buried or above-ground tank with a line run by the propane company. Propane is heavier than air, so cylinders cannot sit in a closed box with no venting. The island compartment needs ventilation openings at the bottom. We build that in.
Orifices: why NG and LP are not interchangeable
Natural gas and propane burn at different pressures and different energy densities. Propane carries roughly two and a half times the energy per cubic foot and is delivered at higher pressure. So every burner has a small brass orifice drilled for one fuel. LP orifices are smaller. NG orifices are larger.
Run propane through NG orifices and you get huge yellow flames, soot and a fire risk. Run natural gas through LP orifices and you get a weak flame that barely cooks. The regulator is also fuel-specific. This is why every gas grill is sold as either NG or LP, and why we ask which one you need before the order goes in.
Conversion kits
Some grills can be converted after purchase with a factory kit: new orifices for every burner, a new regulator, sometimes new valves. Coyote sells conversion kits for most of its gas grills. Fire Magic, Blaze and Bull offer kits on many models.
Three rules:
- Use only the manufacturer's kit. Aftermarket orifices void the warranty and are not safe.
- Not every grill can be converted. Some infrared sear burners and some high-end models are built for one fuel only. If the manufacturer does not list a kit, there is no safe conversion.
- Some manufacturers require a licensed installer to do the conversion or the warranty is void. We can do it, or we tell you who can.
Converting is cheaper than buying a second grill, but it is not free and it is not instant. Ordering the right fuel the first time is always better.
Convenience vs cost
Natural gas costs more up front because of the line. After that it is the cheapest fuel per hour of cooking and you never think about it again. Propane costs nothing to set up but you pay for every tank, and the tank runs out halfway through a party at least once a summer. If you cook outside three or more nights a week, natural gas pays for itself. If you grill a few weekends a month, propane is fine.
Michigan winter note
Propane stays liquid in the tank and boils off into gas as you use it. In the cold, it boils off slower. A 20 lb cylinder that is a third full on a 10°F night may not keep a big grill at full output. A nearly empty cylinder can frost over and starve the burners. Keep a full spare cylinder in winter, and keep it outside, never in the garage or basement. Natural gas has none of this. It is the better fuel for year-round grilling and for patio heaters in a Michigan winter.
What to tell us when you order
- Which fuel: natural gas or propane. If you are not sure, ask us before you buy.
- Whether a gas line already exists at the patio, and where it comes up.
- Everything else that will share the line: side burner, fire table, heaters.
- For propane built-ins: whether you want a cylinder compartment in the island or a tank from a propane supplier.
Special-order grills are final sale, and a grill that arrives in the wrong fuel is a conversion project, not a return. One question up front saves all of that.
Talk to us
Call (616) 610-4235 or request a quote. We help you pick the fuel, coordinate the gas line, and install within about 50 miles of Holland, MI. Shop all grills or side burners.