
Can you convert a natural gas water heater to propane?
Unfortunately, you CANNOT convert a natural gas water heater to propane. A natural gas water heater can only use natural gas for its energy source. Propane water heaters require different pipe sizes and orifices, and a propane storage tank.
What is a natural gas water heater?
A natural gas water heater is very similar to a propane water heater, only it uses natural gas for its fuel. Natural gas is a fossil energy source, a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture primarily consisting of methane. A natural gas water heater is more cost-effective than electrical options.
Can you use propane and natural gas together?
Certain models are designed to work with both natural gas as well as propane. Some have the ability to convert but your average propane hater should not be used with natural gas. Propane is refined from natural gas and the two have different properties. As such, they need to operate differently.
What is the difference between propane and natural gas appliances?
Without getting technical, the reason you need to swap out the fittings and other components of your gas appliance is because of the pressure difference. Propane gas has a pressure of 0.36 – 0.40 psi while natural gas pressure comes in at 0.25 psi.

Can natural gas water heaters run on propane?
However, did you know that gas water heaters offer two distinct options when it comes to the actual fuel used to power the heater? A gas water heater uses either natural gas or liquid propane (LP). Picking the right fuel can make a significant difference.
Can propane and natural gas be used together?
Natural gas is a much lower pressure gas than propane and converting the appliance to one or the other gases requires that the differing pressure is compensated for. In other words, connecting a natural gas appliance to a propane piping system will result in appliance malfunction and possibly danger.
Is it cheaper to heat your house with propane or natural gas?
That means, propane is more than twice the energy of natural gas. While the cost per gallon is less for natural gas, you'll use more of it to heat the same appliances. If you get two times the heat from propane, naturally, you'll use less fuel. In this combined round, propane wins for efficiency and overall cost.
What is the difference between propane and natural gas water heater?
Costs. Natural gas water heaters heat water more efficiently than electric water heaters. Natural gas develops naturally, while propane must be pumped, separated and distilled. Propane heats water just as well as natural gas, but is not as cost-effective.
What happens if you use propane on a natural gas furnace?
What happens if you use propane on a natural gas stove? The same thing that happens any time you run LP through any natural gas burner, you get soot and carbon monoxide.
What happens if you hook up natural gas to a propane grill?
What happens if you use natural gas on a propane grill? The burners will run low and have low heat output. Natural gas have less energy than the equivalent volume of propane does. The cure for it is to rejet the burners.
Is propane tank in backyard dangerous?
Yes. The "propane tank in the backyard" market is huge, however not huge enough to justify a totally separate line of water heaters, dryers, ranges and furnaces just for it .
Can propane tanks be used in the backyard?
Yes. The "propane tank in the backyard" market is huge, however not huge enough to justify a totally separate line of water heaters, dryers, ranges and furnaces just for it. Therefore most manufacturers offer jetting kits to convert the appliance from one fuel to the other.
