Natural Gas is about 50% hotter than propane.  When we were shopping for a stove for our vacation house (fueled with propane) we were always told that propane is about 2/3 as hot as NG. Our 12,000 btu super burner would only produce 9,600 btu with propane.

Propane is heavier than air so if there's a leak, it dissipates more lowly.  NG is lighter than air.

Hope this helps.

NO disrespect but you don't know what you're talking about

Thought I don't want to use the wording Larry used I have to agree more with him on NG/LP, I have heard propane actually produces a larger/hotter flame but in the end both are comparable, just do you want an endless supply of gas(ng) or the ease of moving your grill around(lp)?

With most gas grills you can get a conversion kit .....so if you dont like NG you can switch back to PP....just a thought

With most you can but as I learned some grills there is no conversion kit, make sure to research things carefully.

So, who's right?
Is NG & LP gas the same or not.
Someone must know.

What do you mean "the same"?
NO they are NOT the same. Both are gaseous fuels both burn very clean but NOT the same. A cubic ft of propane contains IIRC about 30% more btu  (energy) than the same volume of NG. So a NG appliance will have larger "jets" to allow the appliance to have the same heat output. NG also typically operates at lower pressures (at the appliance). From the bottle propane is EXTREMELY high pressure since it changes state from liquid to gas.
A PROPERLY set up appliance (again read PROPERLY) will see NO difference in operation between the 2 gases. IOW if you have 2 grills identical in every way the propane grill will operate EXACTLY as the NG and vice' versa'.
However throw in frgid temperatures and this goes out the window a bit. As the propane bottle get's colder (i.e. closer to the temp of the liquid inside it) vaporization becomes less efficient so you will than notice a decrease in performance. Keep the bottle indoors and it won't matter. But than how do you get the gas to the grill.
A NG unit will not show this and will operate at the same efficiency as cold as you care to be out there tending your ribs. Why? Because NG is piped to your home in it's gaseous state so there is no drop off in the efficiency of the gas itself. Now keep in mind it may take more energy to get the temperature up and or keep it up due to the physics of being in a frigid environment BUT the efficiency of the gas itself will not drop. On the propane grill you're fighting not only the ambient temp but the efficiency drop of the gas itself.
I hope this has cleared your confusion.

Ahh going back to your original post I see your confusion. You got some VERY bad advice from some very uninformed sources.
Let me gove you some practical terms.
I have 2 setups for my Weber Genesis II. A propane manifold and a NG manifold. Why? I got tired of fighting the ice and snow on my deck. So in winter I simply installed the propane manifold and moved the unit to the garage where in even the worst weather I could sit back with an adult beverage and grill whatever dead animal I cared to. Trust what I tell you here there is NO DIFFERENCE in operation/performance.
I no longer will have to do this as (lucky me) I aquired a 2nd grill which I can now keep in the garage. So now I don't have to mive anything or switch assemlies out. Come winter if weather is bad and I'm hankering a steak it's out to the garage.
Both units perform identically. So bottom line if you have a NG line. Buy yourself a NG Weber and have at it and never run out to the store for a bottle again.
Treat yourself to this investment you will NEVER be sorry!

This is incorrect- Propane burns much hotter than natural gas- There are conversion kits when switching fuels and the orifices for NG are larger- this allows more fuel to get the same amount of heat ( or BTU)

Propane does NOT repeat NOT burn "hotter". They perform the same. Different jets are required because propane operates at twice the pressure of NG. Whoever has told you this nonsense needs their head examined!
Propane operates at 14" pressure NG at 7! Propane also has slightly higher BTU per cu ft than NG so again the reason a NG orifice is larger. Properly jetted THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. What is a maniflod and how does it work regarding N.G. vs propane?

2. How do you make the change?

3.How do you like your Weber Genesis.  That's what I am looking at.  They are pricey.

I have a N.G. grill that is 13 years old.  It has seen it's best days.  I have not been able to find a N.G. grill at the big box stores.  They say they can order them.  Any ideas.

A manifold is what the gas goes though and distributes it to the control valves.

Not sure what you mean by "the change" if you mean convert a propane grill to NG there are a number of things that must be done. Main jets are changed along with the valves as the orifices are a little different inside the valves. Apparently you cannot buy the manifold set from Weber any more (at least from what I have read here but I have not had the need to call weber for this myself).

As for how I like my Genesis? I would NEVER buy anything else again. (save for a Summit). I actually was lucky enough to score a secind Genesis (small 2 burner propane model) which I bought used. It's a little gem. I bought this one to keep in the garage for when winter comes or there is bad weather and I have a hankerin to grill.

So I leave the big NG one outside and the little guy inside.

BTW the big guy is 17 (old enough to drive), and I fear I'll have to finally break down and spend $12 on it for an ignitor.

Oh wait maybe I'll go to Home Depot and but some cheap shiny unit. After all I can't possibly spend $12 ;-)

Larry

 

Thank you so much for the info. I have a natural gas grill and I like not having to run out and refill it, I also have gas lines in both the front and back deck so I can move it where ever I am entertaining.

Carol CA.

WOW you're a person after my heart! What time shall I be over for dinner? ;-)

Everyone,

 

I don't have a technical degree or anything but this is what I know and have observed.

My 17 year old Weber grill uses propane and absolutely gets hotter. Grilled veggies as well as steaks cook very fast which is great. Not so great if you are cooking chicken or fish. You need to be more attentive.

My second grill is a 5 year old Sears NG. Absolutely more convenient as it does not run out, no tanks to switch etc.  Food takes longer to cook but chicken and fish do not burn. I'm sure if I wanted to I could but in the normal course of entertaining and cooking I have never ruined a meal. Temp gauge on hood reads 400 to 450 on Weber reads 550+.

Before buying second grill called Weber and looked at Costco Conversion kits go one way only form propane to gas.  Reason. Propane burns hotter and the other components are not tough enough.

My money goes on Propane hotter, chemically has more Potential energy.

 

My second grill is a 5 year old Sears NG. Absolutely more convenient as it does not run out, no tanks to switch etc.  Food takes longer to cook but chicken and fish do not burn. I'm sure if I wanted to I could but in the normal course of entertaining and cooking I have never ruined a meal. Temp gauge on hood reads 400 to 450 on Weber reads 550+.

First you're NOT comparing NG to LP you're comparing a very poorly made NG grill to a well made LP grill. Both burn the SAME!!!!!!!!!!

Having BOTH NG and LP Webers I can tell you FIRST hand there is NO difference. LP runs at TWICE the operating pressure so requires smaller jetting. That is the only REAL difference. More cu ft of gas flow faster with LP so it needs to be "slowed down" hence smaller jetting. LP operates at 14" pressure NG at 7".

Please stop posting FALSE statements like this as you mis-lead some people.

BTW I have 2 Genesis grills (1 propane 1 NG) for convenience. When winter grabs hold here I have one unit in the garage and one on the deck. So when I get a hankerin to grill I have a unit convenient in the garage I pull out without having to go in the snow/rain/ice what have you.

If you REALLY want to know do as I and have 2 identical units.

In most aspects they are the same.  They cook almost the same, deliver the same heat, and so on. 

The main areas they differ is cost and convenience.  Propance is more expensive and has to be refilled, natural gas does not.  Propane costs about 3 times more than natural gas, but you have to have the line installed if you don't have one already.

If its convenience and cost you're after, natural gas is the way to go.

An indepth article on the two:  Propane Vs. Natural Gas