Install gas line
 

I am going to have a gas line installed going to my barbecue grill/pad. Does anybody have experience with getting a contractor to do this? Any recommendations?

I would recommend Mike Scott Plumbing. If they won't do the final connection to the grill, the gas company will probably do it for a fee.

IMO I’d have to be using it 5 days out of week or IMO too much trouble for what you get. I just use 20 or 40 pound propane tank

Remember you will also have to replace the jets in your grill to work with natural gas instead of propane.

they are called orifice , and sometimes you can drill them out , or replace them. and if going to natural gas replace the regulator with a natural gas one.

A previous poster brought up a good point, a neighbor had this done a few years ago and I think it was around $1500 for 20-25 feet of underground gas line, so be sure you get an estimate before you go ahead.

I didn't contract with them directly, but I had an outdoor kitchen installed in my lanai and Mike Scott Plumbing was the sub-contractor for the gas. They did a fine job. Keep in mind that your gas manifold is probably in your attic and they will somehow need to get the line from the attic down to its final location. In my case, they basically cut a channel in the concrete blocks, then ran galvanized pipe from the attic to the outlet location. That channel was then covered and the entire area was re-stuccoed and repainted. Good luck.

I had a line installed by Mike Scott plumbing. They even changed the jets on my grill . Great job and no more dealing with propane tanks. I will let you know ,the line is run from a manifold in your attic , the pipe , galvanized coming down to your grill will be external down the side of your house.

Mike Scott Plumbing
 

18 years ago, I used Mike Scott plumbing to run the line. At the time I did not have an outdoor kitchen, but had it installed in a location that if I ever wanted to add it, It would in the right spot. Fast forward to 8 years ago , I then wanted an outdoor kitchen and that part was already done. It was the best thing I ever did because as I got older, messing with picking up the tank and carrying it from the garage to the lanai, etc. It was the best investment I ever made as we grill alot and eat out on the lanai a lot. The contractor who was pouring the lanai extension dug the trench before we did the concrete work. And as mentioned, if you havent gotten a grill yet, make sure you purchase one for natural gas.

Fireplace Installers Inc
 

Had mine done 3 years ago by Fireplace Installers Inc. Wildwood. House is Iris model and cost then was $1728.00

Natural gas vs propane
 

Be aware that propane has around 2x energy compared to natural gas. Natural gas will make your grill more like an oven. Stay with propane tanks. Get the tanks refilled at Ace hardware in Wildwood.

cheers
Bob

Village Plumber 352-205-5262

[/U]As a retired inspector of a gas utility, I highly recommend reaching out to your gas supplier who can provide you with a reliable CERTIFIED gas contractor. I did this a few years ago with a tankless water heater. The price was reasonable and the install was solid. They even offered the option of an no upfront cost interest-free payment plan.
Also, while you have them on the phone, ask about gas lighting outdoors. This adds a wonderful ambience to your barbecue area. There are many options in lamp styles to choose from.
Good luck.

First, I bought a Weber that ran on natural gas. Second, had Torrey plumbing install a gas line from meter to grill. 18 years ago, it was $450.

All these years without the hassle of propane tanks has made it well worth it.

I've used natural gas for decades with my grill and it gets plenty hot. I get it up to 450 in no time. Steaks sear just fine.

The 2x energy measurement is really more about efficiency. Natural gas is less than half the price of propane so that more than makes up for it.

Correct, "While propane has more than twice the BTU power of natural gas, grills are designed to release less propane into the burner than natural gas.

All gas is jetted from small orifices at the entrance of the burner to mix with air to get the perfect flame.

The orifice holes for propane are much smaller than those for natural gas. "

Propane Or Natural Gas – Yes, There Is A Difference - Broil King

We had the line installed as part of the build. The size of the fitting required a coupler to downsize the line - discovered after purchasing the grill and conversion kit. Oddly, it is hard to find natural gas grills in the area, even though natural gas service is common below 44.

An induction cooktop can get a steel pan blazing hot even faster than gas. It can also be easier to control the temperature. Far easier to clean than a grill. I used to be a grill fan boy, ever since I had a house with an indoor grill. Grills put out a lot of heat - to get you sweating - so maybe most usage will be winter.

You can get induction cooktops on Amazon. All of the cooks in Learning Academy classes that I have attended used portable induction cooktops. I have added one myself even though I already have an induction cooktop in the kitchen. Great for steaks, but you can even use them for doing stuff like safely melting chocolate or butter if you get one that controls the termperature - an expensive feature, to be sure.

Same experience.

I changed a propane grill to natural gas a few years ago because there was an existing exterior NG line right next to the grill. Just needed a hose and changed the grill orifices.

The grill never got nearly as hot as it did with propane. At least all I spent was about $30. I went back to propane and a new grill.

Like Hank Hill says, stick with propane and propane accessories.

We did this two years ago.

Ramsey Gas......$1350.

Alan Curry Plumbing......$1500

Mike Scott.....$3700

We chose Alan Curry because they were already here on another job.