Can Any Gas Stove Be Converted To Propane? | Safe Switch Guide

Switching a cooktop from utility gas to LP can be straightforward on the right model and risky on the wrong one. This guide explains how to tell if a range is compatible, what parts change, who should perform the work, and what the codes expect. You’ll also see costs, timelines, and a clear checklist to use before you book a technician.

Natural Gas Vs Propane Basics

Both fuels burn clean when the appliance is set up for them. They differ in pressure, energy per unit, and how jets meter flow. That means the same burner needs different parts and settings for each fuel. A proper conversion changes small hardware items so flames stay blue, steady, and sized for cooking.

Which Gas Ranges Convert To LP Safely?

Most modern freestanding and slide-in units ship with a small kit taped near the regulator or inside the storage drawer. If the data plate or manual states “convertible,” a trained tech can swap jets, flip the regulator cap, and set simmer flames. Some specialty cookers, sealed commercial units, and old models lack an approved path. In those cases, replacement is the safer route.

How To Confirm Your Model

Find the rating plate around the frame, drawer, or rear panel. Look for language that mentions LP, a kit number, or a “convertible” mark. Then pull the exact manual from the maker’s site and read the burner chart for your model number. If instructions and parts are listed, you’re clear to hire a pro. If not, don’t force it.

Who Should Do The Work

A qualified service agency or licensed installer should handle the changeover. The job sounds small—swap brass jets, adjust the regulator, tweak air shutters—but gas leak checks, combustion checks, and code compliance matter. A tech also sets each burner’s low-flame screw so pans simmer without sputter.

What A Proper Conversion Includes

Every brand uses the same core steps with small variations. The tech shuts off gas and power, removes burner caps, replaces each jet with the LP size from the kit, flips the regulator insert to the LP side, reassembles parts, and checks for leaks. Then comes a burner test and a simmer set on each valve. Ovens use a different jet and an adjustable shutter at the mixer tube.

Parts You’ll Hear Mentioned

• Orifices (jets): Brass pieces with tiny holes sized for the fuel.
• Regulator: Keeps steady pressure; a cap or pin sets NG vs LP.
• Air shutter: Sets mix for a clean blue flame with sharp tips.
• Manifold test port: Used to verify pressure with a gauge.

Safety Checks That Protect Your Kitchen

• Leak test at fittings and the regulator after reassembly.
• Blue flame with no lifting, yellow tips, or soot on cookware.
• Oven burn test with even flame pattern along the burner tube.
• Ventilation on and clear space around the range while testing.

Costs, Timing, And What A Tech Will Quote

Expect a service window of about one to two hours for a typical four-burner range. Many ranges arrive with the LP kit included; if not, branded kits are easy to source by model number. Labor varies by region, travel time, and whether the technician also installs the outdoor tank regulator or checks piping to the shutoff valve. Keep the removed jets in a labeled bag so you can revert if you ever move back to utility gas.

Common Signs The Job Was Done Right

• Flames stay tight and blue at high and low settings.
• Oven preheats on schedule with no smell or soot marks.
• Simmer holds without clicking or flame-out.
• Sticker or tag near the rating plate lists LP as the fuel.

Key Restrictions You Should Know

Not all ranges can change fuels. If the maker offers no kit or instructions for your exact model, stop there. Swapping generic parts, drilling jets, or skipping the regulator flip can damage valves and create unsafe flames. Some states also require a permanent tag on the appliance after the work is done. Your installer will add it where required.

Codes And Manuals You Can Trust

Two documents guide this task: the fuel gas code adopted in your area and the appliance manual. Use your model number to pull the correct guide on the maker’s site. Makers publish clear pages that point to the LP kit location and steps. You can also read the model fuel gas code online for context; it explains installer duties and pressure control rules.

Helpful links: GE LP conversion kit and the International Fuel Gas Code index.

Step-By-Step Overview For Homeowners

This outline helps you plan the visit and spot quality work. It’s not a DIY script; it’s a way to follow along.

1. Confirm convertibility: Check the rating plate and manual for an approved kit and instructions.
2. Source the kit: Order the correct kit by model number if your unit didn’t ship with one.
3. Book a pro: Hire a licensed installer or service agency familiar with your brand.
4. Prepare the space: Clear the area, run the hood, and keep pets away during testing.
5. Watch the process: Jets are swapped, the regulator is set to LP, and leaks are checked.
6. Test together: Run each burner high to low; then bake to verify oven flame and preheat time.
7. Label the unit: If your area requires it, the tech applies an LP tag near the rating plate.
8. Save parts: Keep the removed jets taped in a bag in case you move back to NG service.

When Replacement Beats Conversion

A new unit can be smarter than a hard conversion in a few cases: there’s no kit on the parts list, the cooktop uses non-serviceable valves, or repair parts are discontinued. If your layout or ventilation is being redone, a fresh model with factory LP setup can be the cleanest answer.

Troubleshooting After The Switch

If flames lift, blow off the ports, or leave black marks on pans, turn off the burners and call the installer. The jets may not match the burner size, the regulator may still be on NG, or the air mix may be off. If the oven smells or preheats slowly, the shutter or oven jet may need a tweak. Don’t keep cooking through bad symptoms.

Permits, Labels, And Local Rules

Local rules vary. Many areas follow the model fuel gas code, and some add labeling steps after a fuel change. In some states the tech must place a durable tag near the rating plate to show that LP jets and settings are in place. Your installer will know the rule in your jurisdiction.

Supply Setup And Pressure Control

An LP system feeds the appliance through two stages of regulation. The tank regulator drops cylinder pressure to appliance range, and the range regulator holds a steady setpoint. The installer verifies the tank side first, then reads the manifold test port while the top burners run. Pressure can sag under load if piping is undersized or the outdoor regulator is mis-set. Readings should match the values on the label and in the manual. After testing, the tech seals the port and rechecks for leaks.

Quick Reference: Parts, Pressures, And Tasks

Checklist Before You Book

• Model number and serial number written down.
• Manual downloaded from the maker’s site.
• LP kit in hand or confirmed on the parts list.
• Shutoff valve accessible and working.
• Vent hood clean and ready.
• Clear countertop space for small parts.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Mixing jets between burners of different size.
• Leaving the regulator in NG position after swapping jets.
• Skipping leak tests at the manifold and unions.
• Ignoring a lazy yellow flame or soot on cookware.
• Using generic parts that aren’t listed for your model.

Buying With LP In Mind

When you’re picking a new unit for a tank-fed home, search the spec sheet for “LP kit included” or “factory LP model available.” Check that oven bake, broil, and all burners have listed jet sizes for LP. A clear chart in the manual makes service faster and cheaper later. Brands often post a help page that points to the kit’s storage spot inside the chassis and outlines the steps a tech will take.

Final Take

Plenty of ranges can run on LP after a proper setup, but not every model can make the change. Check the plate, read the manual, order the right kit, and hire a trained tech. Do that, and your cookware will see steady, clean heat on day one.