Q&A: converting water heater from propane gas to natural gas?
Posted on | July 14, 2010 | 4 Comments
Question by collaredfairy0304: converting water heater from propane gas to natural gas?
we are looking at converting our water heater. we were told we need to get a new water heater to go from propane to natural gas. is that true? someone else said we could just change some valves or something. anyone know
Best answer:
Answer by catmaninmo
Its possible, but I would recommend purchasing a new one… the peace of mind alone, knowing the converted unit is not a fire hazard waiting to explode. Plus finding someone to take on the liability for doing so is difficult and expensive if you do.
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4 Responses to “Q&A: converting water heater from propane gas to natural gas?”
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July 14th, 2010 @ 9:21 am
All I need to do with mine is use a different orifice. If you don’t know what that is and how to find it, please have someone else do the work. Some furnaces have both orifices installed and all that is needed to switch is to disconnect from the source in use, turn one dial from the natural gas position to the propane position, reconnect to the new source and go through the lighting procedure..
The orifice looks like a plug in the end of a line and has a small hole that controls how much gas gets through. Different types of gas burn more efficiently at different concentrations and the size of the gas opening in the orifice controls that.
July 14th, 2010 @ 9:52 am
It Will cost more to convert water heater from propane to natural gas. you would need to replace main control, burner, pilot with a new thermocoupler that’s even if you can find the burner.
July 14th, 2010 @ 10:19 am
A minimum of two things must be changed.
1. The orifice must be replaced with a larger one
2. The working pressure must be changed by replacing the balance spring in the pressure regulator. This is not a job for an inexperienced person. One wrong step and the heater can turn into a bomb. But it can be done!
July 14th, 2010 @ 10:22 am
You just need to change the orifice to one for natural gas.