When buying the best gas grills, many people opt for natural gas, due to the cost, convenience, and safety factors.
Although propane gas grills do have numerous benefits. Propane gas grills can be more convenient in terms of portability, and energy efficiency.
Both natural gas and propane gas grills have their pros and cons, which is why an increasing amount of gas grill brands, from Weber to Char-Broil, offer options with both natural gas and propane.
The major disadvantage of natural gas grills is that you'll need to have them installed in your home, which can be time-consuming.
Once it's done though, your gas grill will burn cleaner and you'll have an endless supply. And if you already have access to gas in your home, this is an obvious choice to opt for.
By contrast, propane gas grills have the portability factor in their favor. Because propane tanks can be transported with the grill itself, you'll never be constrained by propane gas.
These tanks can run out after use, but you'll find them easy to replace at many stores, and you can even fill up your empty tank.
Despite that, you will need to refill the propane gas as and when you require it, depending upon the frequency of your use of the grill.
More crucially, there's nothing worse than running out of gas mid-BBQ. It's enough to put a dampener on any cookout, and barbecues with larger cooking areas can get through your propane gas, faster.
We've weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of both, to help you choose between the two options - natural gas or propane gas - when buying your next grill.
Of course, there are also the best-infrared grills to consider, if you want to skip gas completely, but they offer a different cooking style and end-flavor.
Natural gas grills: What you need to know
Money in the Bank
Getting natural gas installed in your home, if you don't already have it, could potentially rack up a bill. Some services will install natural gas for free if your home is near a natural gas main.
If you live far away from a natural gas main, there is a good chance you will have to pay a portion of the costs to have the main extended to your home.
Upfront costs therefore could set you back a bit, but over the long haul, you could be paying roughly a third for natural gas of what you pay to stay stocked up in propane.
Going Green
The fact is that natural gas and propane both have a small carbon footprint and are on the low end of the CO2 emissions fuel scale. They contribute less to global warming than any other fuels such as gasoline, kerosene and coal.
With that said, natural gas burns even cleaner than propane, so if you had to give the green edge to one, it would be natural gas. But in terms of the environment, you can't go too far wrong with either.
The other popular fuel source for grills - charcoal - is much less energy efficient than natural gas or propane, and it produces far more pollutants than both of them.
Convenience
Setup is really the only complication, but once you are hooked up to natural gas you're home-free. No more running to the store to swap out propane tanks.
Simply turn on your grill and enjoy an unlimited supply of fuel from your home's natural gas source. Initial setup can be complicated, but there is a wealth of information online to help.
Many gas grills offer a natural gas kit option that comes with a manual (often accompanied with an online video).
This provides step-by-step instructions on how to hook it up. If you don t already have a gas line channeled to your back porch, contact your gas company to schedule a professional to do it for you. Unless you have the expertise to take on the job yourself, it's probably not something you want to mess with.
Propane gas grills: What you need to know
Fuel Efficiency
After having expounded on the virtues of natural gas, it may feel like there is little to be said in defense of propane, but the fact is many people prefer propane and there are good reasons why.
Propane contains more energy than natural gas: propane contains 2,500 BTUs per cubic feet as compared to 1,000 BTUs for natural gas.
Propane will give you all the heat you need, and then some, to cook your favorite BBQ dishes. For this and other reasons, some feel that propane is a purer barbecue experience.
Easy to find
While it's embarrassing to run out of propane in the middle of a barbecue, most grills have a gauge that lets you know when you're getting low, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Propane is readily available at supermarkets and convenience stores alike, so even if you forget to monitor your supply and run out, it's only a temporary inconvenience.
In some areas, you might even have a propane guy who comes around regularly to fill up your tanks - and such luck would make this factor hardly an inconvenience at all.
Portable power
If you're barbecuing at a remote cabin in a mountain retreat, you probably don't need to be told to have a couple of backup tanks on hand to avoid running out.
Speaking of remote locations, it's nice to have the option of propane since there are some locations where connecting to a natural gas main would be next to impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is safer - natural gas or propane gas?
Both natural gas and propane gas are considered to be fairly safe fuel sources, however there are some specifics to consider.
Propane is non-toxic, and considered to be less flammable than natural gas, as it has a narrower flammability range than natural gas. Propane will only ignite if the ignition source is at least 920° F.
However, according to the majority of experts, propane is also more explosive than natural gas, as it is heavier than air, and sinks, resulting in a more concentrated explosion risk, compared to natural gas, which rises and disperses in air more easily.
Both natural gas and propane are flammable fuels and therefore must be treated with respect, care, and with safety in mind first and foremost.
What is the price difference between a natural gas grill vs. a propane gas grill?
The upfront cost and long-term costs for both options differ quite substantially, so let's break this down.
Natural gas grills are typically a larger upfront investment due to the requirement for professional installation of a gas line, which may be significant, depending upon your location.
In contrast, a propane gas grill requires only the grill and the propane tank to use.
However, as a long-term option, natural gas is a cheaper option, as it is significantly less expensive than propane.
The cost for propane gas grills would vary according to the frequency of use.
What is the energy difference between a natural gas grill vs. a propane gas grill?
Whilst propane gas is considered to be more energy-efficient, with a significantly higher British Thermal Unit (BTU) value per cubic foot compared to natural gas, which also results in faster heating and reduced fuel consumption, natural gas is known to be a greener option for burning.
Although propane is actually considered to produce fewer greenhouse gases per unit of energy.
Actually, natural and propane gas are both are considered to be better options for grilling from an environmental perspective, especially compared with coal, for instance, which produces more pollutants than both natural gas and propane.
Final Thoughts
So whether you decide to opt for a natural gas grill or a propane grill, there are advantages to both and you won't go too far wrong with either option.
If you go the natural gas route, the savings, environmental advantages, and overall convenience more than makeup for the initial headaches of putting all the pieces in place.
However, there are reasons why some would wish to consider propane gas grills as their first choice; a lot of that will be down to personal requirements in terms of location and setup, as well as preferences.
