Can A Natural Gas Furnace Be Converted To Propane

In some cases you can purchase a conversion kit to convert your natural gas furnace to one that employs propane.

Can a natural gas furnace be converted to propane.

As oil to propane boiler conversions become increasingly popular in the northeast a similar trend is spreading in the forced air heating market. Switching the fuel of your furnace is something that should be carefully planned and every option should be considered in order to do it right. Converting natural gas to propane or propane to natural gas is the same processes by installing new orifices. Some propane appliances such as water heaters cannot be converted and must be.

While converting natural gas to propane is quite simple some city codes mandate that it be done by a professional. You will want to check the coding for your appliance to make sure that the conversion is possible. In order to adjust for the difference in pressure of these gases the internal workings of the furnace must be changed using such conversion kits which should be installed by a licensed technician. The biggest sticking point is that natural gas is kept at a lower pressure and some appliances can t handle the higher pressure of propane even with adjustments.

Converting a gas appliance such as a furnace from natural gas to propane requires technical skill and knowledge of gas burning appliances. It is easier to switch from propane gas to natural gas than what it is to convert from an oil gas furnace to a natural gas furnace but it can be done. Conversion kits are available for many gas appliances but the actual conversion work should be done by a licensed installer. Contractors and homeowners are switching away from fuel oil to gain efficiency comfort and reduced maintenance with propane or natural gas furnaces.

The density difference between propane and natural gas means that propane gas appliances such as furnaces and ranges must be converted to handle the lighter natural gas. Converting a furnace to propane from natural gas or vice versa is a straight forward simple process but great care has to be taken because of the possible danger if done wrong. Most but not all appliances can be converted from natural gas to propane.