How To Tell The Difference Between A Propane And Natural Gas Fireplace

When you are shopping for a new fireplace, figuring out which type of fuel you want to use is the most important step. If you decide on a gas fireplace, the next choice you need to make is between natural gas or propane gas. It's easy to figure that out when you are looking at fireplaces in person. Though, shopping online will be slightly different. In this article, we will give you a few tips for figuring out which fuel a fireplace uses so you won't waste time looking at one you cant install. 

When you are in person, the easiest way to tell what fuel a fireplace uses is by looking at the serial tag or rating plate. These tags are usually hanging onto or connected to the fireplace. Look towards the bottom of the fireplace and remove the faceplate. Inside of there will either be a tag hanging on the gas valve or a sticker on the bottom of the appliance. That is where you will find the info about whether it is a natural gas fireplace or propane gas fireplace. NG or Nat will tell you that it uses natural gas and LP lets you know that it is propane.

If you are unsure of how to open the faceplate or access panel to view the build tag, you can also look in the owner's manual. The owner's manual will list information for both fuel types. Though, if you look a the front of the manual, some manufacturers will affix a fuel type sticker to the manual shipped with your fireplace. From there, the manual will tell you everything you need to know about fuel, operations, and functionality of your specific fireplace. If you are shopping online, this process will be pretty straightforward. The name of the fireplace usually indicates the type of fuel it uses. It's very important to know which type of fuel a gas fireplace uses before you buy or before you switch the fuel type. Not everyone will have easy access to natural gas and for some, using propane gas may be awkward due to the setup of your fireplace.

In other scenarios, if you are considering switching from one gas to another, it may not be possible depending on the type of fireplace you have. You should always consult with a licensed installer before planning big changes like that. If you have any questions about gas fireplaces, please give our NFI certified technicians a call at 800.203.1642