Help with NG for 2 grills with splitter


 
Josh Dekubber

Josh Dekubber

TVWBB Gold Member
Planning ahead for trip to my place in Arizona where I want to add a second natural gas grill. I believe I have a single 3/8 line currently off the natural gas pipe in my backyard. I'll post a pic of it before I installed fittings the first time.Screenshot_20241119_083336_Photos.jpg

I'm thinking now that I'm running two grills off this propane line switching to all 1/2"instead of 3/8. Any thoughts or opinions on this??

Here are some of the stuff I'm considering:

Screenshot_20241119_090638_Amazon Shopping.jpgScreenshot_20241119_090611_Amazon Shopping.jpgScreenshot_20241119_090732_Amazon Shopping.jpg
Two of these hoses


So what are you guys think when running 2 grills possibly even at the same time sometimes would it be best to upsize to half inch or with 3/8 be adequate??

Or am I way off and there's a better option?

I just realized I don't need the second picture fitting. I'll get those with the hose that I can use to attach the splitter to the gas line.
 
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Yep, it'll work just fine. Especially considering you never really run both "flat out". Hell, I've run my Wolf and the Q320 same time. Never noticed any issues, I also have run my Q320 and the Weber fireplace at same time. Although IIRC my stub is 3/4" coming out of the house and just above the deck and then reduced to what is needed for the proper fittings. In any case you will be fine.
 
LMichaels said:
Yep, it'll work just fine. Especially considering you never really run both "flat out". Hell, I've run my Wolf and the Q320 same time. Never noticed any issues, I also have run my Q320 and the Weber fireplace at same time. Although IIRC my stub is 3/4" coming out of the house and just above the deck and then reduced to what is needed for the proper fittings. In any case you will be fine.
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Thank you Larry! So you would say that upsizing from typical 3/8 Ng hoses and fittings to 1/2 would be a good idea?
 
Are you sure the supply pipe is 3/8 "?

Most NG supply lines that I've seen are 1/2 inch black pipe but that's in Cali, and somewhat "modern" installations the oldest being circa 1973.

When I say "most" I'm talking about backyard supply stubs, NG cooktops, NG dryers etc. I have seen larger diameter pipe for larger water heaters or swimming pool heaters that have much higher BTU demand.

There are published tables that show flow / BTU output for different supply size pipes at a distance, but as Larry said it will probably be fine.
 
DanHoo said:
Are you sure the supply pipe is 3/8 "?

Most NG supply lines that I've seen are 1/2 inch black pipe but that's in Cali, and somewhat "modern" installations the oldest being circa 1973.

When I say "most" I'm talking about backyard supply stubs, NG cooktops, NG dryers etc. I have seen larger diameter pipe for larger water heaters or swimming pool heaters that have much higher BTU demand.

There are published tables that show flow / BTU output for different supply size pipes at a distance, but as Larry said it will probably be fine.
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My supply line is definitely not 3/8 in. I believe it's 3/4 but I'm not positive. Currently running 3/8 hose off of this stub for one barbecue
 
So what you guys are saying is to upgrade to half inch everything from the stub through the splitter and the hoses to the grills would be worth it?

Sorry to ask again but what I'm reading is that you guys say it will be fine. I guess what I'm asking is this upgrade to everything half inch worth it? Or should I just run standard 3/8 splitter 3/8 hoses off of my 3/4 inch NG stub on the back of my house? For both grills.
 
No real need to upgrade. I upgraded the Wolf to a 1/2" hose because IMO 3/8 starved it a little but TBH I've not seen any difference in it's performance. I don't think I'd worry about it unless it becomes an issue
 
Bruce said:
I would think that once the line is necked down at any point, it would not be able to deliver gas any faster past that point even if the gas line was re-piped for a larger diameter after the neck down.
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So what if I bring it down to half inch instead of 3/8? Considering now there is two grills off this line instead of one?

So run half inch from the 3/4 stub on the house all the way to each Grill or

Or from the 3/4 stub on the house use standard 3/8 in step down all the way to the grills?

3/8 is what I have now I believe for one Grill off of my 3/4 pipe
 
I'd rather be safe than sorry so I just want to be sure that 3/8 is going to be adequate for two grills. If it's going to be close I would rather Overkill and use half inch all the way from my propane stub. Instead of standard 3/8. And when I say standard 3/8 I'm not really sure that it's standard but it's mostly what I see for sale as far as bbq hoses and fittings
 
Josh,

If I were doing this I would not use a brass Y connector, I'd plumb the second fitting with black pipe.

Black pipe is cheaper than than the Y connector and you'll have flexibility to use whatever you attach in the future.

I would also plumb in a sediment trap at the bottom.

In the end its all overkill IMO and the 1/2" to Y connector should work just fine.
 
DanHoo said:
Josh,

If I were doing this I would not use a brass Y connector, I'd plumb the second fitting with black pipe.

Black pipe is cheaper than than the Y connector and you'll have flexibility to use whatever you attach in the future.

I would also plumb in a sediment trap at the bottom.

In the end its all overkill IMO and the 1/2" to Y connector should work just fine.
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Thank you Dan! Sorry I had a hard time explaining. Appreciate the advice from all of you
 
I changed my opinion and would use a cross fitting with each grill attached to one side of the cross.

At the bottom I'd thread in a 3 inch nipple with a cap for a sediment trap.

It looks like you have a shutoff above in the pic.





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For two grills, I would run 1/2" up to the valve or the "Y" and then 3/8" to each individual grill from there. Three way or two way black pipe or a brass Y is up to you. I kinda like that Marsrut brass Y with quick connects on each end.
 
Bruce said:
For two grills, I would run 1/2" up to the valve or the "Y" and then 3/8" to each individual grill from there. Three way or two way black pipe or a brass Y is up to you. I kinda like that Marsrut brass Y with quick connects on each end.
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Thanks Bruce I'll check it out!

I did see that one on Amazon. I'll go back and check it out.

Oh never mind that is the one that I have in my cart and posted on here👍🏼
 
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