A gas stove is a pretty common appliance in our houses. People use a gas stove for cooking purposes mainly. Generally, natural gas is used on a gas stove. But while using the gas stove, people search for other options as fuel.
So you might be confused about whether a gas stove can run on propane or not. Propane is also used as fuel in many places. But knowing about the safety of using propane in the gas stove is essential.
Moreover, learning about the advantages and disadvantages of using propane in the gas stove is necessary.
Gas stove run on propane
Technically a gas stove can run on propane. But the stove must be set according to the propane gas before using propane on it. Though propane can also be liquid and used as a fuel, the setting of a stove for natural gas and propane is different. So you can use propane instantly on the gas stove.
However, if you want to use propane on the natural gas stove, you must know about the characteristics of propane and nature. Moreover, you must know about the stove setting for different gases.
Generally, natural gas is used on the gas stove. Natural gas is generally methane gas and requires a considerable amount of air-to-fuel ratio to burn the gas. Natural gas is called fossil fuel. This gas is supplied through pipelines.
On the other hand, propane is like natural gas. It is a by-product of natural gas. It is often called crude oil. But like many other gases, propane can be converted into liquid under pressure.
Besides, propane is heavier than natural gas and is collected in the cylinder under high pressure. So natural gas and propane have some significant differences.
To use propane in the gas stove for natural gas, you have to consider some facts. Generally, gas stoves for natural gas and propane gas are different. Because propane gas produces larger flames. So the orifice jet design should be different for these gases.
If you use propane in a natural gas stove, the natural gas stove orifice will produce a large and broad flame. This can lead to accidents and even fire. So, it is better not to use propane in the natural gas stove.
You might find different gas stoves for propane gas. The stove for propane gas is different from the natural gas stove, which has a different orifice design.
It is also possible to convert a natural gas stove into a propane gas stove. If you can convert some parts of the natural gas stove, you can run propane gas in it. The parts are available in a kit also. Generally, the kit contains a pressure regulator, orifices, and air mixer.
But using propane gas is easy and efficient. Moreover, propane is becoming popular day by day. So, if you want to use propane in the gas stove, you must think about some things.
For example, if you use propane in a separate gas stove for propane, you can do it without any hesitation. But if the gas stove is for natural gas, you should not use propane on that stove.
The settings and arrangements of the gas stoves for natural gas and propane are not the same. So, you must not interchange them. It can cause accidents. So, you must use propane in the gas stove safely and carefully.
Can a natural gas stove run on propane?
A natural gas stove can’t run on propane if the settings are not changed. Generally, some parts of the gas stoves for natural gas and propane are not the same. For example, the orifice jet of a natural gas stove is set according to the nature of natural gas.
But if you run propane gas on it, it will make a bigger flame. Even it can cause an fire. The orifice for using propane gas is different. For safety, you must not randomly use a natural gas run on propane.
But if you can convert some parts of the natural gas stove, you can run propane on this gas stove. For example, you can change the orifice, air mixer, and pressure regulator. After converting these parts, a natural gas stove can run on propane.
If you don’t convert these parts and use propane on the natural gas stove, it can cause a bigger flame, difficulty in lighting, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc., problems.
What happens if you use propane on a natural gas stove?
Now that you know you can’t use propane on a natural gas stove instantly, you might know about the consequences. So, let’s see what happens if you use propane on a natural gas stove.
Unsafe large flame:
When you use propane on the natural gas stove, the flame will be larger than usual. This large flame will be generated for the different orifice jets of the natural gas stove.
A propane gas stove contains a different kind of orifice jet. So, the large flame is unsafe and can cause accidents.
Carbon monoxide production:
You might know that carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas. When you use propane gas in the natural gas stove, it will not complete the combustion correctly. This will cause carbon monoxide production.
Moreover, the gas is colorless and odorless but dangerous. It can cause poisoning if you inhale it.
Leakage of gas:
The orifice jet of natural gas and propane are not the same. So, when you use propane on the natural gas stove, the propane gas might get leaked. This can lead to accidents.
Insufficient lighting:
Generally, propane is heavier than natural gas. So, when you use propane on the natural gas stove, the gas will not cause consistent lighting. The ratio of fuel to air will also be mismatched. So, the overall combustion will be improper.
Besides, the pressure of the gas will be improper and insufficient. So, you will face difficulty while turning on the gas stove. The flame will also be unstable. So, these problems might arise if you use propane gas in the natural gas stove.
How much does it cost to convert a natural gas stove to propane?
If you want to use propane on the natural gas stove, you have to convert the stove to propane. Generally, the conversion parts are available in a kit. The price of the equipment is affordable. For example, you can get the kit for $15.
But the professionals will charge more for converting the gas stove to propane. For example, the professional might charge $150 to $300. This cost is pretty high. If you want to convert the parts on your own, you can do it.
But the gas stoves are very sensitive. Moreover, the gas in the gas stoves is not always safe. A little leakage or misalignment might cause a dangerous accident. So, you can convert a natural gas stove to propane for $300.
How do I convert my gas stove to propane?
Now that you know you can convert the gas stove to propane, you might want to see the process. Though converting the gas stove by a professional is recommended, you can also do it on your own.
But a gas stove is a sensitive appliance. So, you must follow the proper process. Let’s see how you can convert your gas stove to propane.
Turn off the stove and disconnect the appliances:
First, you have to turn off the gas stove. Make sure that the stove is off entirely. Then you can disconnect all the appliances connected to the natural gas source. Moreover, you have to remove the natural gas burner.
Convert the orifice and other parts:
Then you have to replace the orifice of the natural gas with the propane gas orifice. Moreover, you have to convert the air mixer and the gas regularly.
Connect the appliances and adjust the settings:
Finally, you have to connect the appliances with the propane gas source. Moreover, you have to change the additional settings on the gas stove. Finally, you can check whether all the parts are correctly connected or not.
Then you can turn on the gas stove and check whether the lighting is sufficient. Then you can safely use the propane gas in the natural gas stove.
Final Thoughts
Generally, running propane gas in a natural gas stove is not recommended. Because natural gas and propane have some differences. Their stoves are also different. But if you can convert some parts of the natural gas stove, you can use propane. Otherwise, it might be risky.