If you have a Pit Boss (or any other brand) griddle and are looking to convert it into natural gas, this guide is precisely the one for you.
So, first up, to answer the question, ‘can a Pit Boss griddle be converted into natural gas?’ Yes, it absolutely can, using a pit boss conversion kit along with some other common tools.
Pit Boss makes excellent griddles and this guide will walk you through how to convert your Pit Boss Griddle to Natural Gas.
Converting a Pit Boss Griddle into Natural Gas – Things to Know and Have:
Before you begin this conversion process, there are a few things to remember and have:
- It is important to know the pressure level for the natural gas. Generally, most buildings have a 7-inch gas wall, producing a pressure of around 10,000 BTUs.
- To measure the natural-gas pressure, you will need a manometer. The manometer will let you know the number of BTUs of power that the natural gas offers
- You will also need a head screwdriver and crescent wrench
- Lastly, of course, you will need the natural conversion kit manufactured by Pit Boss
Steps Involved in Converting from Propane to Natural Gas:
Once you have the above tools and information, you can get down to the actual conversion part.
In this section, we will discuss all the steps involved in converting a propane griddle into a natural gas one.
Step 1:
First of all, you need to see if your grill has a natural gas feature.
Not every grill can run off of natural gas, which is why you need to turn to your owner manual to find this information.
If you are unable to find it or are confused, we recommend using the manufacturer’s helpline or website.
Check if your grill has the ‘duel fuel’ marking. If it does, it can be run using natural gas.
Step 2:
The next step is to get a natural gas conversion kit. Not every conversion kit can be used for every kind of grill, which is why you will need to find a kit that is compatible with your particular grill.
Step 3:
Once you have identified and purchased the right natural gas conversion kit, you should get in touch with your local gas or plumbing inspector.
Make sure that running a flexible natural gas hose is legal and not against any regulations or guidelines.
Some inspectors or states require the local residents to install more permanent systems.
When you are dealing with natural gas, it is always better to be too cautious than to not be cautious enough.
Step 4:
Once you have ensured that you are not breaking or violating any laws, it is time to get down to work.
Before you do anything else –and we mean ANYTHING – you should switch off the gas mains.
Alongside that, also disconnect and switch off the gas bottles.
After switching off and disconnecting the bottles, you can detach and store them in a secure place, as, once you are done with the conversion process, you will not need these bottles anymore.
Once you have done this, you should use your screwdriver to open up your burner box.
Step 5:
Replace your burner gas valve. Alternatively, you can drill your gas knob in accordance with the amount of gas pressure.
Step 6:
Once this is done, you should replace your burner box exactly in the way it was attached before you opened it.
Step 5:
Detach the hose that is supplying propane gas.
Step 6:
Fix the natural gas conversion kit into the space left vacant by the gas hose.
At this point, the conversion from propane to natural gas is complete.
Benefits of Using a Natural Gas Kit:
There are plenty of benefits associated with converting from propane gas to natural gas.
However, if you are someone who enjoys carrying or moving your grill around with you, propane gas might still be the better choice.
This is because, once the line for the natural gas has been established, the luxury to move the grill around will be lost (if you see it as a luxury, that is).
Below are a few pointers on why you should consider opting for a natural gas conversion:
- You will not have to keep moving your gas barrels and bottles all over your backyard, once you are done with the grilling.
- You do not want to keep running out of propane gas in the middle of the cooking process.
- Natural gas is relatively inexpensive and can help you save money over the long-term – more so if you are a frequent griller.
- You have set your grill up, and you do not want to move this setup to your backyard
Can You Convert Any Grill Into Natural Gas?
Yes, as long as your grill uses propane as fuel, you can convert it into a natural gas grill.
As a matter of fact, every grill manufacturer has a gas valve situated at the rear of the burner.
To convert your grill into natural gas, all that you need to do is remove this gas valve, replace it with the natural gas conversion kit, and connect the kit with a natural gas line.
If you do these steps right, you will be able to convert your propane grill into one that uses natural gas.
Wrapping Up:
All in all, an increasing number of grill enthusiasts are converting their propane grills into natural gas, primarily due to the convenience and cost-savings associated with the latter.
The conversion process, as a whole, is fairly simple and straightforward.
However, the process does require a high degree of safety and precaution because, if anything goes even slightly wrong, the consequences can be dire.
For this reason, we strongly recommend hiring a professional for this task (or at least performing the task under the supervision of an expert).
If you have other questions or confusions related to grills and grilling, you might want to check out some of the other blogs on our website.