Just wondering. I know you have to change the orifice and such to convert to propane, but what effect would that have if the appliance is connected to natural gas without replacing the orifice?
What happens when a propane appliance is connected to Nat. Gas?
- Thread starter mattl
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norgeway
Well-known member
You will have
hardly any flame, if you hook up propane to a natural gas range you will have a blowtorch with 3 or 4 foot flames, Most orifices are adjustable for either gas.
hardly any flame, if you hook up propane to a natural gas range you will have a blowtorch with 3 or 4 foot flames, Most orifices are adjustable for either gas.
Yeah, what Norgeway said! Installer changed only one of the ovens in MT Gemini to run on propane. I fired (literally) up the top oven and quickly noticed the problem!
I'm trying to figure out if that is the issue with a dryer I bought on CL. I have no idea if it was converted to propane, but it will not fire on nat. gas. did all the usual things, replaced the coil pack and igniter, no go.
YEs, all sensors are good, every component checks out fine, igniter glows. Just not sure about the orifice and related insert into the valve. Bought this 6 or 7 moths ago, seller said it worked but occasionally needed two cycles to get the clothes dry. Just not sure if it was set up for reg. gas or propane.
arris
Well-known member
Conversion
From LP to Nat gas as stated will not have a large flame but the other way around " Watch out !!! " not only does propane require a smaller orfice, but propane is a higher pressure resulting in the adjustment to the valve... it's also heavier than air and Nat gas.... which if leaking will settle to the floor.....
From LP to Nat gas as stated will not have a large flame but the other way around " Watch out !!! " not only does propane require a smaller orfice, but propane is a higher pressure resulting in the adjustment to the valve... it's also heavier than air and Nat gas.... which if leaking will settle to the floor.....
From what I was told by a person involved in this areas natural gas expansion, propane will do exactly what norgeway said, turn into a blowtorch. As propane is a much more refined gas that has to be filled to a certain temperature level in the tank. I dont understand why but he said propane is much volatile than natural gas. Thats why it costs more. I have propane here and no chance of getting cheaper natural gas here where I am, less than 10 miles from a pipeline.
delaneymeegan
Well-known member
Did you bleed the line?
Before connecting the flex connector to the dryer back, which should be the LAST location to connect, you need to turn the gas on for a second or two, and get the air out of the pipe.
Then connect the gas line to the dryer (or any appliances) but not tight. Turn the gas on again for a few seconds and let the gas into the piping in the dryer and hopefully push the air out.
Then tighten the nut.
I had this situation where I sold a standing pilot Maytag dryer to someone and they put on a nice long 4' or 5' flex connector, but didn't bleed the line.
So they're trying to light the pilot and there is nothing there for obvious reasons.
Before connecting the flex connector to the dryer back, which should be the LAST location to connect, you need to turn the gas on for a second or two, and get the air out of the pipe.
Then connect the gas line to the dryer (or any appliances) but not tight. Turn the gas on again for a few seconds and let the gas into the piping in the dryer and hopefully push the air out.
Then tighten the nut.
I had this situation where I sold a standing pilot Maytag dryer to someone and they put on a nice long 4' or 5' flex connector, but didn't bleed the line.
So they're trying to light the pilot and there is nothing there for obvious reasons.
What I'm wondering is if the orifice is too small to operate with nat. gas.
Everything checks out, there is power to the coils, the igniter fires, just no gas. It's got to be very rare for a gas valve to fail, it could but I'd guess that would be the last thing to go.
Everything checks out, there is power to the coils, the igniter fires, just no gas. It's got to be very rare for a gas valve to fail, it could but I'd guess that would be the last thing to go.
What make and model dryer is this?
I've had a couple of dryers with bad valves in them, not real common, but it does happen.
I've had a couple of dryers with bad valves in them, not real common, but it does happen.
Duet. GGw9200Lw0
arbilab
Well-known member
Matt, I've seen gas coil ass'ys with power and continuity fail to open the valve and replacing the coil restored full operation. It can't be 'that' unusual, or they wouldn't sell the coil alone.
Very glad I didn't have to disturb the gas plumbing, not comfortable doing that.
Very glad I didn't have to disturb the gas plumbing, not comfortable doing that.
As I mentioned I replaced the coil pack, with no improvement. Only thing left to go bad is the valve itself. Frustrating.
arbilab
Well-known member
Oh, missed that.
Do you get the 'clank' of the valve actuating? Does the glowbar ever extinguish (probly shouldn't if no ignition takes place)?
Do you get the 'clank' of the valve actuating? Does the glowbar ever extinguish (probly shouldn't if no ignition takes place)?
Yes to everything but the "click". I may have to break down and buy a used valve on ebay. My "cheap" dryer is now costing a lot more...
If it was vintage I'd mind less, but it's only 8 years or so old.
If it was vintage I'd mind less, but it's only 8 years or so old.
Speaking of propane vs natural gas...
Costco has offered from time to time a dual fuel generator, which can run on either gasoline or propane. Fine. But what I don't understand is why the company (Champion, as I recall) doesn't also offer a conversion kit to change from propane to natural gas. All it would require would be a larger fuel jet and possibly a different pressure regulator.
Maybe they figure the generator, being portable (heavy but with wheels) might try to walk away from a plumbed gas connection, and therefore be a safety hazard? My answer to that would be to take off the darn wheels so it's stable, and use a flex hose connection, with a nice ball valve to shut the gas off when it's not in use.
Not that I need one. I have a small two stroke 900 watt generator for extreme emergencies (or car camping) and used it only once, when I bought it, to make sure it actually worked. LOL.
Costco has offered from time to time a dual fuel generator, which can run on either gasoline or propane. Fine. But what I don't understand is why the company (Champion, as I recall) doesn't also offer a conversion kit to change from propane to natural gas. All it would require would be a larger fuel jet and possibly a different pressure regulator.
Maybe they figure the generator, being portable (heavy but with wheels) might try to walk away from a plumbed gas connection, and therefore be a safety hazard? My answer to that would be to take off the darn wheels so it's stable, and use a flex hose connection, with a nice ball valve to shut the gas off when it's not in use.
Not that I need one. I have a small two stroke 900 watt generator for extreme emergencies (or car camping) and used it only once, when I bought it, to make sure it actually worked. LOL.
I had the same thing happen with a "good deal" 27" Whirlpool dryer - all else having failed, I replaced the entire valve assembly and solved the problem. I got the dryer in a deal with some other washer and eventually sold them both so I did recoup my costs. I can get parts at "trade" pricing from my local parts company (Sundberg) so the cost wasn't too bad IIRC, about $80.
Yeah, I'm going to break down and buy a used valve on ebay ~$30. At that point I'll have a little over $100 into the machine, which I was trying to avoid.
My Kenmore dryer from the mid 90's has a motor issue, new motor was $150 so I said no, and opted to go this route. Second motor to go bad in that dryer- after one load it's unable to start unless I give the drum a turn -- had to bypass the door switch.
My Kenmore dryer from the mid 90's has a motor issue, new motor was $150 so I said no, and opted to go this route. Second motor to go bad in that dryer- after one load it's unable to start unless I give the drum a turn -- had to bypass the door switch.
