gas mod: propane or natural gas?

[Mark]

According to my calcs in http://www.bandera-brethren.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=1068, natural gas is alot cheaper than propane. Also, once it's installed, no more having to run out for a refill. I imagine parts are about the same either way; except for extending a pipe from your closest natural gas line to the smoker.

So, assuming you're considering a gas mod, what would your preferences be, propane or natural gas? Personally, after "doin the math," and since I've already got natural gas service in my house, I'm leaning towards a natural gas outlet to my rear deck. See http://www.mbsturgis.com/ for an idea of the parts (hose, gas quick connect, etc.).

[willkat98]

I got a natural gas line out to where my deck will be built.

At least, I think thats what it is.

Brother in law said, hey your rigged with a gas line here.

I never noticed it.

Guess I could always turn the knob and toss a spark to see if it really is one.

[Mark]

Bill: check out http://www.mbsturgis.com/ for the hoses, quick disconnect, etc.

[willkat98]

Now I'm curious. I'm gonna take a picture and post it. Maybe you guys know what the fark this is.

It's a black metal (I think) pipe coming straight up out of the ground in my yard, about 12" or so away from the house, with what looks to be a copper coupling on top. All my utility access appears to be right there (except water) with phone and cable wiring junction, as well as the Electric meter.

Copper coupling is what made me think gas.

[brdbbq]

It be gas

[Mark]

Bill: Are you using natural gas already for any major appliance in you house (furnace, water heater, oven dryer etc.)?

[rusold]

Mark,

Are you saying that I can plumb up (or get some one to do it) a gas outlet that I can hook up to my grill/cooker/bandera(if I made the mod)?. Does this provide more BTUs or just cheaper BTUs?

R

[chad]

Bill - you are probably "plumbed" for it but unless you have natural gas already in the house you'll have to get service started (like somebody from Chicago won't know that??) Otherwise just turn on the valve and sniff!! :D

Natural gas is cheaper, usually, but it restricts mobility (duh!! :D). Propane cooks a bit hotter (higher pressure I believe) and you have to refill the tanks.

I guess a lot depends on how much you use the gas grill, if you're already plumbed, availability of service, etc.

[willkat98]

I live in Northern Illinois.

We use more natural gas than anywhere in the country. Phil said he was on heating oil and that he needed 10 neighbors to sign up before they lay pipe. I looked at him dumbfounded.

Natural gas stove, water heater, furnace, etc. It was super cheap up until the last few years when the farking supply/demand curve got farked up, coupled with those Enron ****s and a farked up gas trading futures system. Use to be much cheaper then electric, but now is more volatile

Thanks guys.

I will still post a picture to confirm the hookup.

Damn I am glad this house was built in 1991 and they thought of this ****. Luckily for me, I bought it just as it was turning 10 years old, so I have farking bought a new furnace, a new central air conitioning unit, garbage disposal, driveway, rotted window casings, sump pumps, etc.

Now I found mold in the crawl space, gonna be another couple grand to seal that, I need a deck put on, and I have 14 years on the current water heater and 2 girls that will be taking countless showers as they start dating (4 year old informed us she has 4 boy friends at school)

Thats why my priority is to get this deck done, run a gas line, then just stay out ther. Buddy has a gazebo top with roll down mosquito netting. I like the Idea of sitting out on the deck for a week. Get away from my farlking kids

Back on topic:

David, If I could, I would use the gas grill every night (cept weekends., unless I did the gas mod.)

I cook 96% of the meals, on an annual basis, and the only thing that keeps me from grilling isd excessive high winds. My deck desigh will alleviate this.

The cement patio will be mione, and the wooden deck will hold the furniture.

So it sounds like I got lucky with a good home builder

[willkat98]

Bill: Are you using natural gas already for any major appliance in you house (furnace, water heater, oven dryer etc.)?

Everything is gas.

[parrothead]

hank Hill is holding a big thumbs up!

[SoCalCraigster]

2 quick points:

1) propane burns hotter than natural gas
2) portability-being able to move the grill anywhere
3) exercise (carrying the tanks for refill)

my .000002

[brdbbq]

Leave the grill in place get your excercise with elbow bends.

[Mark]

Bill:

check this out. It might be all you need :
http://www.mbsturgis.com/Adapter%20Graphics/103091-144.gif


MB Sturgis is proud to introduce the industry's first 1/2" ID stripwound outdoor natural and LP gas connector. Used in conjunction with a grill, firepit, heater, or other high-volume outdoor appliance, the 103091 is a kit containing a hose and quick disconnect that connects your appliance to the gas line.

CONVENIENCE

No more hard piping your patio or deck. The 103091 replaces the standard gas pipe and gives you the flexibility to move your appliances freely, and it is available in 6' or 12' lengths.

Quick and safe connection and disconnection. After the initial installation of the quick disconnect, no tools are necessary to connect and disconnect your appliance to the gas line.

You can buy bigger appliances. The 103091 has a capacity of 150,000 BTUs at 1/2 PSI.

SAFETY

The internal barb stem creates a bond with the steel of the strip within the hose, thus giving the hose a high pull capacity.

Since there are no tools involved in the routine use of the 103091, you never have to question whether or not the connection is leak tight. Just insert the plug into the quick disconnects and you are ready to go.

COMPETITIVE

Our stripwound hose is more flexible and easier to handle than its thermoplastic counterpart.

Our quick disconnect has a much higher BTU rating than the competition, 150,000 BTUs vs 90,000 BTUs.



For more information about the 103091 or any other products, email us at information@mbsturgis.com

[Mark]

Bill stated:

Natural gas stove, water heater, furnace, etc. It was super cheap up until the last few years when the farking supply/demand curve got farked up, coupled with those Enron f*a*r*ks and a farked up gas trading futures system. Use to be much cheaper then electric, but now is more volatile

It sounds like you've got a pretty good understanding of "deregulation." Enron may have hit the skids but thier spawn lives on. I don't know what your cost per kWh is up in Chi town but say it's $0.10; at 3,412 Btu/kWh, that would equate to 34,120 Btu's per dollar (assuming 100% conversion efficiency to heat).

[BBQchef33]

Gee Bill, That sounds like a grounding rod.

[willkat98]

Upon closer, sober, inspection, it is a farking grounding rod.

Damn it.

Phil, glad to have you back. My grill woul have run a little "cool" had i hooked it up to my rod.

[parrothead]

you have got to be ****ting me.

uhhhhhhh, No comment, partner.

[brdbbq]

Next time take pictures, I know you have one of them digital thingy's.

[Mark]

Couldn't help but chuckle on that one Bill. Looks like you're gonna need to buy some copper pipe & fittings if you want to go through with it. If you do & care about code, use pure silver solder. MAPP gas may be hot enough or else use acetlyne (SP?)

I knew a guy who took the cap of the "dirt leg" of his water heater gas supply pipe, hooked up a garden hose and ran it to his smoker burner. Definately NOT code (but it worked).

[willkat98]

Alright.

Brian.
You have gas mod type cooker

Just occured to me. Do you use lava rocks, bricks, or something above the flame to retain and distribute heat, like in Ken the Kenmore gas grill of mine?

Just wondering.

[Heath]

Hey all,

Where I work we put in stuff like this for people all the time. Questions to ask yourself before you put in gas. What are all the possible uses. What will I want in the future. What can I afford right now.

You would be surprised but we have people tell us to add in a BBQ stub when were gas piping thier house then get pissed when, a couple years later they buy some giant Viking or Wolf BBQ that runs 175,00 btu's and the 1/2" line we put in is only sized for 35,000 btu's.

The btu load is limited by pressure, length, and pipe size. Some of the things possible on gas: Built in BBQ, Portable BBQ, deck heaters, mosquito magnets, outdoor fireplaces, you get the idea. We put in fire pits out here too. Right now I've got gas pipers working on a fire pit that the burners are buried in some sand. You don't see the burner, just flames coming out of the sand. It really looks pretty cool. Oh, also generators can ge run off gas.

If you put in a Quick disconnect then you could run just about anything, just one at a time.

So, my .02, size the line big enough to meet your current and near future needs, get lots of bids if you are hiring it out, and if you are thinking of doing it yourself use a good pipe dope and/or teflon to seal it. Check your codes if you are thinking of doing it.

Other think to think about, gas pipers are like welders, have the Q running when they come over to look at your job and invite him to some Q and beer. Just not while he's workin'!

[willkat98]

Damn, Heath in Brier. 53 posts here (and a ****load in the old site) and all quality posts.

Good point.

My farking turkey fryer is 185,000 btu or something.

I'd be pissed if I ran the patio for the wrong size.

Thankx

[brdbbq]

Alright.

Brian.
You have gas mod type cooker

Just occured to me. Do you use lava rocks, bricks, or something above the flame to retain and distribute heat, like in Ken the Kenmore gas grill of mine?

Just wondering.

Just sand in the pan and it works like a grape raped ape. FYI the Bow tie didn't work spent half the evening in Sam's what a mess. Now if this doesn't raise some quesions I wil be disappointed.

[Mark]

"FYI the Bow tie didn't work spent half the evening in Sam's what a mess. Now if this doesn't raise some quesions I wil be disappointed."

Okay, what the hell you talkin about?