So you might be connecting a new grill, patio heater, or fire table - whatever the case may be and you're probably thinking, "What size should my gas hose and brass fittings be?" Well, you're in luck because here at Barbecues Galore, we pride ourselves on having expertise in the area of gas fitting because we get it... this type of stuff is confusing. Together, we can figure out what you need.
Let's start with the common problems with measuring your gas fittings.
Many people unknowingly buy the wrong size of fittings for their natural gas or propane hose because they don't know how to measure it; or more accurately, they don't know which part to measure.
There are three commonplace measurements people take, but only one of them is right. First, there is the outside diameter (OD), the Nominal Pipe Size (NPS), and the inside diameter (ID) of the hose.
The measurement you want that corresponds with the name of your gas hose is the inside diameter (you can remember this because ID in this case means "inside diameter", but in many other case means "identification"). For example, a 3/8" LP/NG Hose will have the inside diameter of 3/8".
Now for the tricky part: How to measure a quick disconnect nipple and coupler
Your keen mind might have thought, "If the inside diameter is what we are measuring, how could the 3/8" quick disconnect have the same inside diameter of the 3/8" hose if one goes in the other?" Well my friend, it's because the world (of gas fitting) works in mysterious ways... but that's why we're here.
Fittings get their name based off of the hose they fit with. That being said, you're right - the inside diameters would not be the same. Thus, the inside diameter on the female end of the Quick Disconnect Nipple would have to be more closely similar to the outside diameter of the male end of your gas hose. For example:
Due to this, we advise you to make sure you know the proper measurement of your natural gas or propane hose first. With that, you'll be able to know the measurements of the Quick Disconnect Nipple and Coupler that you'll need. However, if it's the hose that you're looking for, you now know how to find which hose is needed and we've got them in 5', 10', 15', and 20' lengths.
You can then get the correct parts you need from our site by clicking here. You can also visit or contact any one of our five stores across Canada.
To continue learning, watch these videos here:
As a company that handles both propane delivery and natural gas hookups, the team at LG Jordan Oil Co. has a good background on the difference between these two fuels. Customers sometimes ask us if we use the same piping for both. WE DO NOT because natural gas and propane are different and require different lines to deliver fuel to your home’s heating, hot water, and appliances.
To get you more familiar, here is a rundown of how propane and natural gas differ…and how that affects the pipes that bring it to equipment in your North Carolina home.
While propane is a coproduct of natural gas extraction and production, they are quite different fuels under the microscope. Here are a few significant differences:
That difference in heat production means that piping for natural gas is sized differently than propane piping. Propane piping has a smaller diameter because you use less of this fuel for the same amount of heat generation.
As a result, a home with propane piping is not equipped for natural gas. We would need to change it out for piping with a larger diameter. As you can imagine, this also affects the connections and valves for regulators and other hardware. They need to be replaced too.
As mentioned before, you need access to a utility for a natural gas hookup, making this option a nonstarter for many rural area households. If you do have access to a utility, you can expect to spend at least $2,000 to connect your home—and likely even more than that. Plus, the more appliances you need to connect, the more expensive it gets. Installing and connecting a propane tank can be noticeably less expensive, especially if you’re leasing your tank from a propane company.
Whether you’re installing propane or natural gas connections in your home, you need to have trained, licensed, and experienced professionals handle the job. At LG Jordan, we’ve set up many families throughout Wake, Chatham, and surrounding counties with natural gas services.
We’ve also helped many households make the change to propane, too! Our technicians work with you to find the best propane tank for your family and ensure that it’s installed safely and quickly. Then, you’ll have an energy partner to make reliable provide propane tank refill visits, so you’re kept comfortable all year long.
Contact us for a free consultation on our propane or natural gas services. Our team is standing by and ready to get started.