Friend of mine is having a hard time finding anyone to give him a confident answer to his question. I told him I knew some folks who, somewhere in the collective, there was certainly an answer. Also relevant for me since our next home will be on propane, and if I took a gas dryer away from Deniseair, well, not good things would follow.

His gas range has some sort of flow controller in line that apparently steps down the flow from propane to what is acceptable for a normal gas line inflow. His question is whether or not he needs this on his shiny new LG gas dryer or not. Gas company, plumbers, place he bought the dryer, etc. all point at the other and say "ask them".

Looks like there are pretty standard "kits" for this, looks like just a flow reducer. Link to example here.

So he will need one of these in order for the dryer to work properly, or no? I'm pretty sure he does.

Beyond that, can someone explain why this is a thing with propane, and what the heck a part like that does? From the cross section of that and similar it almost looks as though there is a hole all the way through the center bore. In my simple mind that would lead gas out as fast as it might let air in, so I am thoroughly confused. Does propane flow at a higher pressure than natural gas lines for some reason?

eta - I may be looking at this wrong. Is this a replacement for the orifice rather than something that goes inline with the supply?

Link to large pic

TIA

Yes, he will need it. It's just the orifice to convert from natural gas to propane. Smaller orifice.

Yes. The dryer will have a sticker on the back near the gas inlet which says "Propane" or "LP" if the correct, smaller orifice is installed.

Appliance wholesalers typically stock was is common in the area. Around here, all appliances are NG and gas grills are LP. If you want to run your grill piped to the house NG supply, the orifices on all of the burners, etc, of the grill have to be swapped to a larger "drilling" orifice, as NG is delivered at a lower pressure.

Orifices are just a couple bucks each.

Thanks. Had no idea they flowed at different rates.

LP manifold pressure is normally 10" WC (water column) while NAT is 3.5 WC.

The regulator needs to be converted along with changing the orifice.