Another propane conversion question

[TuckBoy]

I have been told that my Poloma water heaters cannot be converted to natural gas. That seems ridiculous but does anyone know if that is true? Has anyone converted them?

[Bluestreak]

Paloma? That's a on-demand unit? All the on-demand heaters I have seen come from the factory set for one gas or another and they do not make a conversion kit.

Besides just an orifice and a regulator, often times the venturis are designed differently for LP or natural to get the right air mix and a good flame. Plus there's a valve in on-demand units that increases or decreases the flame size according to the water flow. When the pressure of the incoming gas is different, the valve won't work properly.

I sold one of my old Speed Queen 30# dryers to a campground last year. He needed it converted to LP, and I changed the regulator and orifice. Well it didn't work. After speaking with Alliance, they told me the whole gas valve needed to be changed. The additional pressure of LP gas and sizing of internal passages in the gas valve were preventing the valve from opening with LP gas. It really is best to speak with the manufacturer about these things. If it can be converted from one gas to the other safely, they will make a kit to do so.

[bodman]

Yes I had 2 converted it cost close to 40% of a new one for the parts. . you have to replace the entire burner assembly. they are not like dryers with a couple of parts and regulators . Teco gas did the conversion for all my dryers and two heaters for free . I average 1700 therms per month I am sure they will make up the labor cost in no time.