propane vs natural gas

[schmism]

Hi schmism,

I have a 1700 sq ft manufactured home, 10 years old, gas range - water heater - and furnace.

All three have labels to the effect "configured for natural gas. The trailer (yes I call the manufactured homes delivered on wheels - trailers).

mines from 94... and i dont care what uphamisms they use these days, i live in a single wide trailer! am i prowd of my single wide that cost less than a new car.... perhaps... im i prowd to say i live in a trailer.... perhaps... knowing it means i get to save like $2K per month toward building a new home on the property!

 

[stumpfield]

So the question is how does one determine what the proper orfice for the stove to be? And secondly does it really matter? (well google says yes, but mostly due to waterheaters and such that can catch on fire.... but a stove?!?!?)
(in case your lost, the questions are in bold)

To answer your question... Only the manufacturer/designer of the appliance knows exactly what's the proper orfice. Yes, it does matter. The design of the burner/air flow determines what size orfice. I recently converted my grill from propane to natural gas. I drilled the orfice roughly 2.2x the original (propane) size by trial of error. Too small, it won't burn hot enough to deliver the correct BTU. Too large, you got yellow flame and can be deadly.... However, you can not convert from natural gas to propane without getting the proper orfice and regulator.

 

[Sigarms]

There is no comparing between hands-on, experienced tradesmen with internet gurus and trying to be helpful novices.

Sometimes ya just plain get what ya pay for.

I would trust Kenmac's advise.

Sometimes you get a whole lot less than what you paid for as well. You would be surprised at the wealth of knowledge of guys who advertise in the yellow pages.

 

[Sigarms]

im i prowd to say i live in a trailer.... perhaps... knowing it means i get to save like $2K per month toward building a new home on the property!

I'm proud to say that I got you beat! I lived in a trailer in West Virginia! I'm not saying that sarcastically (sp?), best days of my life and if I could do it all over again, well, lets not say anything to the wife

Just wait till you get to spend all that money you save. STAY PUT WHERE YOU'RE AT!!!! You'll thank me later

 

[kenmac]

Hey, I'm glad they have mobile homes/ trailers (I've nothing against them ) .I've made alot of $ converting appliances to from Propane to N.G. & back to Propane again & reconnecting their a/c when the move to another location There are alot of folkes that won't convert these appliances because, on the oven you have to adjust the orifice instead of replacing it . You will also have to adjust the air for all the burners even in the furnace. Some folkes are just not comfortable doing this. I learned the old fashion way . I had to drill out orifices on older ranges & furnaces using a conversion chart with a # drill bit. Now days the appliance manufacture sends you the orifices & you just flip the regulator top cap over. Just adjust the air & your set !

 

[Sigarms]

Now days the appliance manufacture sends you the orifices & you just flip the regulator top cap over.

We all know that the manufacturer would never send the wrong orifice in the right bag. Don't laugh, it has happened.

 

[kenmac]

O' Yes, that has happened a time or 2. I just have to pull out the O'l chart & get out the drill bits

 

[ByronBob]

I remember when I built my house 4 years ago that all the appliances came from Sears. The wall oven had a regulator you converted. The dryer on the other hand need to be torn apart and a new orifice added.

So depending on how the unit is built makes a difference. I went to a dealer to get the orifice. You should reference the manual to confirm.