This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University.
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An LP (liquid propane) gas conversion kit is a set of adaptors that allows natural gas appliances to work with propane gas lines. When you buy a new appliance, it may come with this conversion kit, although you’ll need to buy one for your specific appliance if you don’t have a kit. Unfortunately, this process can be fairly complicated and you may need to call a professional to convert your appliance if you get stuck or can’t access the pressure regulator. [1] X Research source Also, if you’re converting a stove, make sure that you convert the stovetop and the oven range before hooking it back up to your gas line.
Method 1 of 4:
Choose an LP gas conversion kit designed for your appliance. Use the LP conversion kit that came with your appliance if it came with one.
If you bought a third-party LP conversion kit, read the instruction manual and label thoroughly to make sure your specific appliance is listed as compatible. These kits are not universal, so just double-check to make sure your kit matches the appliance. [2] X Research source
Some appliances have built-in conversion kits where you can just turn certain screws or nuts to change the gas output. If you have a new appliance and you don’t have a conversion kit, you may have built-in converters. [3] X Research source
This process involves messing with your appliance’s gas lines. If you do not have your appliance’s instruction manual and you do not have the correct adaptor kit, you cannot safely do this.
You must hire a professional if you want to convert the gas source for a water heater or HVAC system. The risks are just too high if you make a mistake. [4] X Research source
Shut off the gas supply for the appliance and disconnect the hose. If your appliance is already hooked up, turn the valve near the wall where it connects to the gas hose so that the valve rests parallel to the wall.
It may take a bit of force to shut the gas off, but you should be able to close it by hand. Once this valve is closed, disconnect the gas hose on your appliance by sliding it out or twisting it counterclockwise. [6] X Research source It’s okay if you smell a little bit of gas after disconnecting the hose, but the odor should not linger.
Remove the bulkhead, drum, or back panel to access the pressure regulator. Depending on where the pressure regulator is located, you may need to remove the back panel, bulkhead, or drum.
Use a screwdriver or hex wrench to unscrew any panels you need to remove to access the pressure regulator. Set the panels aside and keep any screws or nuts separated so you can put the dryer back together when you’re done. [9] X Research source
The bulkhead is the large cover that conceals the drum, which is the cylinder that spins when your dryer is running. The back panel is the flat cover on the back of your dryer.
The hardest part of this process is accessing the regulator. Since this is different for every make and model, there’s no real trick here. You’ll just need to refer to your manual for this part.
If you can’t find your manual, search online. Most manufacturers publish their instruction manuals as PDFs for anyone to search up. You can also watch a tutorial of someone converting the gas source on your specific dryer to make things easier.
Remove the burner in your dryer by unscrewing it and pulling it out. The burner is the long, metal cover that connects your regulator to the drum. Inspect the top of the burner to see how it’s connected to the frame.
Use a screwdriver or wrench to unlock the burner and slide it out of the dryer. The regulator’s orifice is underneath the burner where it connects to the regulator. This is the part you need to swap out to convert your dryer. [11] X Research source
The burner is the long, thin pipe leading out of the pressure regulator into the drum. When the regulator releases gas, the burner fires and heats it to help your clothes dry.
An orifice is a general term for any nut or valve that regulates pressure. To make a long story short, orifices restrict gas flow and control how much gas enters an appliance from the regulator. On appliances, orifices are almost always gold, and they’re typically 1 in (2.5 cm) in length or shorter.
Depending on where your burner and regulator are located, you may need to use a special 90-degree wrench or screwdriver to remove the burner.
Step 6 Apply a thin layer of thread sealant to the threading on your new orifice." width="460" height="345" />
Install the new orifice and tighten it with a wrench. Slide your new orifice into the opening on your pressure regulator by hand and turn it clockwise until the threading catches. Then, use your wrench to tighten the orifice into the regulator. Continue tightening the orifice until you feel some resistance and you can’t see the threading on the orifice where it meets the regulator. [14] X Research source
Adjust the pressure regulator’s hex cap based on your appliance’s instructions. On top of the pressure regulator, there is a small screw that’s usually made of plastic.
Read your instruction manual to see which direction this cap needs to be turned to complete the process. On most appliances, you use a screwdriver or wrench to twist the hex cap 1 full rotation clockwise to tighten the opening in the regulator and restrict the gas flow a little bit. [15] X Research source
The tightness of the hex cap basically controls the amount of gas that your pressure regulator holds at any given time. Since different regulators have different pressure requirements, you must follow your appliance’s instruction manual to determine how far you need to turn the hex cap.
There may be a plastic cap on top of the hex cap to protect it. You can usually pop this cover off with a flathead screwdriver. In some dryers, you unscrew the hex cap completely and then reinstall it pointing in the other direction.
