Question about converting from propane to natural gas


 
GTNewton said:
Will Weber sell the natural gas manifold to me if my grill is a propane one?

Also, what high temperature on the gauge should my Weber EP-425 grill be getting up to?
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Weber themselves will likely not sell it. Again their way of trying to force you to either A do something dumb or B buy yet another grill. I and the rest of us don't like being the barer of bad news but not gonna blow smoke up your butt and tell you it's brisket either.
There really is no good reason for them to "lock" their grills down like this. Some NG grills in their lineup do use a regulator and some do not.
As for temps, there really is no set "standard". A lot depends on so many outside factors. Likely though at least an indicated 500
 
LMichaels said:
Weber themselves will likely not sell it. Again their way of trying to force you to either A do something dumb or B buy yet another grill. I and the rest of us don't like being the barer of bad news but not gonna blow smoke up your butt and tell you it's brisket either.
There really is no good reason for them to "lock" their grills down like this. Some NG grills in their lineup do use a regulator and some do not.
As for temps, there really is no set "standard". A lot depends on so many outside factors. Likely though at least an indicated 500
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So if Weber won’t sell the manifold to me how do I get it converted?
 
Buy it from a 3rd party IIRC GrillParts.com is one that sells parts and doesn't ask questions. I'm sure another of our members here will help me out on this and point you to a good source
 
Bruce said:
Another source is to find a NG version of your grill to scavange the NG manifold from. You might possibly find a used (but genuine Weber) NG manifold on Ebay.
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Trouble with FleaBay here is there are no checks and balances. Someone can a, not know the difference i.e. gas is gas mentality, b, tried to do what the original poster here did and "convert" and when it didn't work "ok" I'll simply sell it as such and such.
Honestly for something safety concerned, I'd only get from a "trusted" source. i.e. you scavenged a grill properly set for fuel of choice, a trusted member here who had one like yourself, or some place trusted to sell a new verifiable OEM part
 
I’ve looked and can’t find a manifold or hardly any parts for my EP-425 grill. I think it because it’s a new model that came out in 2024.
I spoke to someone at Weber and they will only sell the original manifold for my grill. They will no longer sell any parts that are not original to a grill model.
 
No one has answered my original questions…

Does the Venturi on each burner need to be adjusted when you convert from propane to natural gas?
Can adjusting the venturis give the burners a larger flame or is it just for adjusting to get a correct blue/yellow flame color?
 
I am probably one of the less qualified here to answer your question GT, but adjusting the shutter is not the way to go for what you are doing. (I assume by venturi you mean the adjustable piece that makes the air opening at the beginning of your burner wider or narrower.) That piece seldom needs adjustment but can impact the blue to yellow mix.

The bottom line is that to convert from LP to NG on most Weber grills, you not only need new orifices but also new valves. The practical way most have found to achieve this is to completely swap out the manifold. I am sorry that you are having such a hard time getting one. It is unfortunate that due to liability issues, Weber isn't going to help you. I hope you can either find a manifold for a less than outrageous price or maybe consider selling your grill and looking for a NG one to replace it. NG ones typically go for a lower price.
 
Jon Tofte said:
I am probably one of the less qualified here to answer your question GT, but adjusting the shutter is not the way to go for what you are doing. (I assume by venturi you mean the adjustable piece that makes the air opening at the beginning of your burner wider or narrower.) That piece seldom needs adjustment but can impact the blue to yellow mix.

The bottom line is that to convert from LP to NG on most Weber grills, you not only need new orifices but also new valves. The practical way most have found to achieve this is to completely swap out the manifold. I am sorry that you are having such a hard time getting one. It is unfortunate that due to liability issues, Weber isn't going to help you. I hope you can either find a manifold for a less than outrageous price or maybe consider selling your grill and looking for a NG one to replace it. NG ones typically go for a lower price.
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Thank you for answering my venturi question.
I’ve decided since I’m unable to get a manifold that I’m just going to have the orifice holes drilled just a little larger or buy new orifices.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to adjust the flames where they need to be.
 
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GTN, I just caution you to be very cautious with your grill the first few times you use it after doing the orifice mod. You will want to not only test it for top end heat, but also low end. You might find it is very low and hard to hold a flame and prone to going out with wind....with the gas still running.
Also, you can adjust the vents on the venturi to get nice flames that match your revised gas delivery system. You are looking for nice blue flames with some small yellow tips. Before you try adjusting the vents, make sure you run the grill on high for 5 minutes or so to ensure you burn off any gunk or dirt/crud from the burners. Until that happens, you are likely to get more yellow in the flames than you want regardless of the vent adjustment.

You have received all the obligatory cautions above. I think as long as you be careful after the modification, you will be OK as long as you monitor the performance after modification and heed any unusual or unexpected situations that arise. If the flames are too high on HIGH or too low on LOW or act odd in between, then I suggest scrapping the experiment and look for a genuine replacement manifold.

Please keep us posted on how it all works out for you and we wish you luck.
 
@GTNewton

The group here is giving advice based on safety. IMO an orifice only conversion from LP to NG is the most risky.

The risk has nothing to do with the size of the orifice as the orifice is only an upper limit. The issue with LP to NG is there may not be sufficient flow of fuel to keep the burner lit when the valve is set to low.

You have other options.
- don't convert and keep running propane. Less convenient but it is what the grill was built for.
- sell your LP grill and buy an NG grill. NG grills tend to be harder to sell so you might find a great deal on one used
- keep looking for the proper manifold to convert it properly

Sure, you can drill or upsize the orifices and it might work, until it doesn't.
 
A little bit of research reveals that the part # for a Spirit EP -425 grill NG manifold is 2401687. It's apparently available to ship from Sears parts direct for $285, not cheap.Screenshot_20251202-122434.png
 
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Opening the orifice will do NOTHING for your issue nor will messing with the shutter. I'm sorry as this may come off as a bit hard nosed. Number one, if you wanted a NG grill why did you buy an LP one?! Now to address the sizes of the orifice. Increasing that will ONLY cause the grill to over heat dangerously in a full burner on situation. Or perhaps even give you a pretty adventurous fireball when attempting to light the grill. NOT SAFE either way! It's obvious you know nothing about the things you're venturing into and you're treading into VERY VERY dangerous waters. My advice is either A, just run your grill on the original fuel intended or buy one in the fuel type you wanted or buy one from another brand that can be converted SAFELY.
Not meaning to come off harshly but you're wandering onto dangerous ground messing with gas when you know nothing about it.
 
LMichaels said:
Opening the orifice will do NOTHING for your issue nor will messing with the shutter. I'm sorry as this may come off as a bit hard nosed. Number one, if you wanted a NG grill why did you buy an LP one?! Now to address the sizes of the orifice. Increasing that will ONLY cause the grill to over heat dangerously in a full burner on situation. Or perhaps even give you a pretty adventurous fireball when attempting to light the grill. NOT SAFE either way! It's obvious you know nothing about the things you're venturing into and you're treading into VERY VERY dangerous waters. My advice is either A, just run your grill on the original fuel intended or buy one in the fuel type you wanted or buy one from another brand that can be converted SAFELY.
Not meaning to come off harshly but you're wandering onto dangerous ground messing with gas when you know nothing about it.
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Thank you for your warnings and concern for me and others safety.
I’m sorry as this may come off as a bit hard nosed and/or harshly but… who are you to judge me???

What exactly are your qualifications with gas grills?
 
GTNewton said:
Thank you for your warnings and concern for me and others safety.
I’m sorry as this may come off as a bit hard nosed and/or harshly but… who are you to judge me???

What exactly are your qualifications with gas grills?
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GT, please allow me to say that we all want you to feel welcome here. There’s lots of good sharing of ideas & experience as well as encouragement and troves of resources to be found on this board.

Unfortunately, you have unintentionally landed in the middle of the most volatile issue that comes up here on TVWBB. We see so many ads for grills that say inaccurate things like “can easily be converted” and have had numerous posts of flame-thrower grills created from improper attempts to quickly change the fuel source.

So, if you can, try to forgive the strong language. It comes from frustration of things like I described above and seeing sellers on eBay and the like selling half-baked, unsafe “kits” to do conversions.

For the record, LMichaels does have a great deal of knowledge and experience in gas grills, conversions, etc. He has seen how to do it right and what can happen if it is done wrong. Try, then, to understand his passion on this subject.

Again, for many of us here who do not claim “gas expertise” swapping manifolds is the 100% safe route, so that is why we so strongly recommend it.

In your situation, I certainly wouldn’t give Weber $285. I think the advice to either live with it as an LP grill or sell it and find a good deal on a NG one is the best plan.

I hope you will stick around and let us know what route you go and how it works out. :george:
 
Jon Tofte said:
GT, please allow me to say that we all want you to feel welcome here. There’s lots of good sharing of ideas & experience as well as encouragement and troves of resources to be found on this board.

Unfortunately, you have unintentionally landed in the middle of the most volatile issue that comes up here on TVWBB. We see so many ads for grills that say inaccurate things like “can easily be converted” and have had numerous posts of flame-thrower grills created from improper attempts to quickly change the fuel source.

So, if you can, try to forgive the strong language. It comes from frustration of things like I described above and seeing sellers on eBay and the like selling half-baked, unsafe “kits” to do conversions.

For the record, LMichaels does have a great deal of knowledge and experience in gas grills, conversions, etc. He has seen how to do it right and what can happen if it is done wrong. Try, then, to understand his passion on this subject.

Again, for many of us here who do not claim “gas expertise” swapping manifolds is the 100% safe route, so that is why we so strongly recommend it.

In your situation, I certainly wouldn’t give Weber $285. I think the advice to either live with it as an LP grill or sell it and find a good deal on a NG one is the best plan.

I hope you will stick around and let us know what route you go and how it works out. :george:
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Thanks. I appreciated all the information and the concern but LMichaels went a little too far in my opinion.
Apparently he is a self-taught expert. And he doesn’t know anything about me.
I’m 69 years old and I’ve worked with gas many times. I understand that working with gas can be dangerous.
I’m being very careful.

Why would certified gas experts tell me that changing the orifices will work?
Why are there so many orifices being sold online and why do they have so many good reviews?
How many people have been hurt or killed by changing or drilling the orifices in their grill? Where are those statistics?

My grill is working ok so far since I put in the first set of orifices. It just needs a little higher flames. A little more btu’s.
When I get new orifices with a little larger holes (which are on their way to me) I think it will solve the problem.

I will follow up after I install the new orifices to let you guys know.
If I’m still alive.
 
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