How To Convert Propane Dryer to Natural Gas

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

D

DigAPony

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2012
Messages
434
Some friends of mine have a mid-70's GE dryer currently set up for propane, they want to use it with natural gas in their new home. I've seen plenty of conversion kits for NG to LG but not vice versa.

What is needed to convert it back to NG?

Thanks-Douglas
 
For starters, I think the orifices have to be different.  I can't remember how it goes, but the openings are larger for one type (NG?) and smaller on the other (LP?) due to differences in pressure.  I don't see why it couldn't be adapted for NG.  GE made literally tons of dryers designed for NG hook-ups. 

 

Maybe there's some GE literature in Ephemera that speaks to this.
 
Converting a LP Gas Dryer Back to NG

You only need to change the main burner orifice to the larger NG one and change the regulator cap back to NG operation, unless the dryer still has a constant burning pilot then you would also have to change the pilot orifice to a NG one.
 
The dryer is already converted to propane, I wanted to change it back to NG.

Unfortunately after doing an internet search the correct orifice valve seems to be NLA everywhere, crap..
 
Digapony check with a Propane delivery guy. He may very well have the NG orifice parts from changing new natural gas appliances to propane or know someone with a stash of these parts. This is a case where you may have to go from the city to the country to get what you need. Good Luck. Propane orifices are smaller than their NG counterparts. alr
 
In my area propane companies are next to useless, they deliver propane and thats about it.

I wonder if the orifice is a standard size that may accept a substitute?
 
You might be able to find some kind of universal fit component at an appliance parts store.  Or pull the correct assembly off a junk GE dryer.  One is bound to present itself eventually.
 
I don't know if this would help, but around here a lot of people convert their propane grills and propane fireplace logs to natural gas.   Check with your local natural gas provider.  My local natural gas authority advertises that their service department can do

this.  Maybe yours can help.  Jim  
 
Gas Primer

Doug,
There is no real rocket science when it comes to converting from LP to Natural Gas and vice versa. You just need to know that you need to make it all safe.

Natural gas appliances usually run at 3.5" of water column and LP runs at 10" w.c.
So think in terms of a 3 to 1 ratio.
Natural Gas orifices are larger than LP orifices because of that pressure difference.
Assuming the dryer Does NOT have a standing pilot, you will need to install a larger opening orifice to get the equivalent btu's from the natural gas but if you cannot get a regulator kit to go back to natural gas, you MUST install an external regulator set for Natural gas for proper and safe operation. These are available from most major plumbing houses. You will probably have to put in reducing bushings to fit the piping on the dryer. This is to protect against variations in the supply pressure of the natural gas which can and does happen from time to time.
Ideally, you should tee off right after the regulator so you can connect a manometer to check and adjust the pressure while the burner is running. That way the burner will run at its designed parameter. The burners for LP and Natural are 99.9% the same so you should not have to change the burner.

There are orifice charts out there that will tell you the orifice size needed for a specific BTU rating at either natural or LP gas. If you know the burner rating on that dryer, post it here and I will be glad to look it up for you or provide a link to a useful chart.

Once you know the size of the orifice you will need, and theya re never going to go back to LP gas, then you can drill out the LP orifice to the proper size for Natural.

If you want, you can take out that orifice and go to Agway or AMerigas and give them the size you need and they can match an orifice to the one you have only with the enlarged opening.

Does this make sense?

I found a chart that you can use at the link attached.
Just go down the column under 3.5 and find your BTU rating. Then look over to the left and it will have a 2 digit number which is the orifice size and then a drill bit size if you wish to drill out the LP orifice. Hope this helps.
Steve

 
worst case scenario.....you have to buy a whole new gas valve, their usually already setup for NG......

and for the most part these are usually standard valves and fittings....you could almost interchange between models.....

can't believe you could not find one....I was able to change mine back, and mine is a 1985 unit....got the kit off ebay...
 
Thanks for the info.

It is a standard older 70's GE dryer with the D shaped opening and 22,000 BTU burner.
 
From what I understand the regulator on gas dryers are already set from the factory for NG. The LP conversion kit blocks the regulator wide open for propane and a smaller orifice is installed.

Therefore, to convert back to NG the block for the regulator is removed and capped, and the correct larger orifice installed, no?

Just a question of locating the correct parts then?

I'll open it up tomorrow. I heard something rolling around loose inside the dryer, perhaps someone did the right thing for a change and left the old parts in the dryer.
 
Okay, I removed the gas burner and valve assembly today, it is indeed a #55 orifice LP orifice. However, no extra parts or labeling anywhere on the dryer indicating a LP conversion. The regulator had an 1/2 aluminum blocking tee with 7/8 rod and a gasket.

I can probably locate a #42 NG orifice and could just cut off the rod on the tee but then going back to propane would be out of the question as the parts are NLA.

Can I use a generic brass cap on an aluminum body regulator? Also should I replace the ignitor while I've got it apart?
 
Update on the dryer conversion:

I purchased a #42 orifice for NG on Ebay. I'll trim the blocking rod off the aluminum LP regulator cap and that should do the trick. (Also, got a new rear drum bearing sleeve).

Something I noticed, virtually all the LP dryer conversion kits available have brass blocking caps, often installed directly onto the alumimun bodied regulator.

It appears brass on aluminum is acceptable in this instance despite being dissimilar metals?
 
Brass and Aluminum

For a dry application it is unlikely you will ever see any problems mixing fittings of these metals. Brass and aluminum aren't that far apart on the Anodic index so as long as you aren't dealing with a wet, or corrosive environment you should be fine.

For safety and ease of future disassembly consider using a something to protect the thread interface. A good pipe thread compound (I like Locktite 565) or Teflon tape would work well if you are dealing with tapered pipe threads. If they are just straight threads,which have less clearance, I'd use a smear of silicone grease. Just filling the threads so that air and moisture is excluded will do the trick. I have come to use some silicone grease on most every threaded plumbing fitting (non pipe thread) that I work on. Years later they unscrew with no drama at all!
 
Pressure Regulator Caps on Gas Dryers

This cap has machine threads and the cap has a thin permanent gasket on it so nothing needs to be put on these threads to seal them and the worst thing that one could do would use a petroleum based sealant on it that might damage the diaphragm in the pressure regulator.
 

Similar threads

combo52
Pink1960 whirlpool gas combination washer dryer
2
Replies
22
Views
23
cfz2882
C
DADoES
Washer Repair at a Party
Replies
8
Views
10
gelaundry4ever
G
panasonicvac
LG Washer/Dryer 5 year Update
Replies
8
Views
16
panasonicvac
panasonicvac
F
Do natural gas fires have more yellow than propane?
Replies
4
Views
5
tomturbomatic
T
swestoyz
A 20 year old dream turns into reality
2 3
Replies
44
Views
45
appnut
appnut

Latest posts

Back
Top