Converting a Gas Fireplace to Propane (or Natural Gas): Kits, Cost and How It's Done
No Sales Tax in any state on every Napoleon conversion kit we carry. Yes, most gas fireplaces can be converted from natural gas to propane, or from propane to natural gas. You don't replace the fireplace. You fit the manufacturer's conversion kit for your exact model, and a gas technician installs it and checks the pressures. This guide covers what's in a kit, how to find the right one, what it costs, and what the install involves.
Quick answer
- Find your model number on the fireplace's rating plate. On a Napoleon, an N in the model (for example B36NTR) means natural gas and a P (B36PTR) means propane.
- Pick the kit for your model and direction in our Napoleon conversion kit finder. Kits are model-specific; a kit for another model won't work safely.
- Have a qualified gas technician install it. Most Napoleon kits are $50–$160. Kits for larger fireplaces such as the Elevation, Vector and Luxuria run $280–$455.
Every kit ships with No Sales Tax.
Why a fireplace needs a kit to switch fuels
Natural gas and propane burn differently. Propane carries more than twice the energy per cubic foot and is supplied at a much higher pressure. A typical gas fireplace runs at about 3.5 inches of water column at the burner on natural gas, and about 10 inches on propane. Your manual lists the exact figures for your model.
So the fuel-specific parts have to change:
- Burner orifice(s): propane orifices have much smaller holes than natural gas orifices. Run propane through a natural gas orifice and the fireplace overfires, soots up the glass and logs, and can produce carbon monoxide. Run natural gas through a propane orifice and you get weak, lazy flames.
- Pilot injector: the pilot needs its own fuel-specific orifice.
- Valve regulator: the gas valve's regulator is set for one fuel's pressure. Depending on the valve, the kit swaps a regulator spring and cap, a regulator tower, or on some models the whole valve.
- Conversion label: a sticker that goes on the rating plate so the next technician knows the unit was converted.
The three kinds of Napoleon conversion kit
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| Kit type | What's in it | Fits | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic ignition kit | Pressure regulator, main burner orifice, pilot injector, label | Most newer Napoleon fireplaces with electronic ignition, such as Elevation and Tall Linear Vector | W175-0749 Elevation 42, NG to LP |
| Millivolt kit | Millivolt valve regulator, burner orifice, pilot injector, label | Standing-pilot fireplaces such as many Ascent and Ascent X models | W175-0860 Ascent X 36, NG to LP |
| Orifice set | Brass burner orifices, regulator spring and caps, label | Stoves and older fireplaces, including Fiberglow, Castlemore, Havelock and Knightsbridge | W175-0628 Castlemore, NG to LP |
How to find the right kit for your fireplace
- Find the rating plate. On most Napoleon fireplaces it's in the control compartment behind the lower louvre or grille, often on a chain. It lists the model number, the gas type and the input rating.
- Read the model number all the way to the end. Napoleon models change kits between versions. The letters after the size tell you the fuel and ignition. N is natural gas and P is propane. An E usually means electronic ignition (B36NTRE), and no E usually means millivolt (B36NTR). A suffix like -1 or -2 is a revision. B36NTR and B36NTRE take different kits.
- Check the manual. The installation manual's parts list names the conversion kit for each version. Match that part number exactly.
- Pick the direction. Natural gas to propane (NG to LP) and propane to natural gas (LP to NG) are different kits. For example, the Napoleon Vector 50 uses W175-0644 to go from natural gas to propane and W175-0645 to go from propane to natural gas.
Our Napoleon gas conversion kits page has a table of every model we stock with the kit for each direction. If your model isn't listed, or the rating plate is gone, email a photo of the plate or the model number to info@stovesource.com and we'll find the kit.
Popular Napoleon conversion kits
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| Fireplace | Natural gas to propane | Propane to natural gas |
|---|---|---|
| Ascent 36 (B36NTR) | W175-0387 | W175-0388 (B36PTR-1) |
| Ascent 36 (B36NTRE) | W175-0399 | – |
| Ascent X 36 (BX36) | W175-0860 | – |
| Elevation 42 (E42) | W175-0749 | W175-0750 |
| Vector 50 (LV50) | W175-0644 | W175-0645 |
| Tall Linear Vector 50 (TLV50N) | W175-0842 | W175-0845 |
| Oakville X3 insert (GDIX3N-1) | W175-0823 | W175-0824 |
| Riverside 36 | W175-0856 | W175-0858 |
| Fiberglow 24 (GL24) | W175-0348 | – |
| Arlington stove (GDS20N) | W175-0234 | – |
See all 125 kits on the Napoleon conversion kit page.
What the conversion costs
- The kit: most Napoleon kits are $50–$160. Kits for larger fireplaces such as the Elevation 42, Vector and Luxuria are $280–$455.
- The install: a technician's service call. On most fireplaces this is a short job: swapping the orifices and regulator, then leak-testing and setting the pressures. Get a quote from a local gas technician.
- The gas supply: if you're moving to propane, the tank, the tank regulators and the line to the fireplace are separate work for your propane supplier.
What the install involves
Gas conversions must be done by a qualified gas service technician. In most places a licensed gas fitter is required by code, and the kit instructions say so. In broad terms, the technician will:
- Shut off the gas and power and let the fireplace cool.
- Remove the glass, logs or media and the burner to reach the orifice and valve.
- Replace the main burner orifice(s) and the pilot injector with the ones in the kit.
- Convert the valve regulator (or the valve) as the kit instructions direct.
- Reassemble, leak-test every joint, and check the inlet and manifold pressures against the rating plate.
- Light the fireplace, check the flame, and apply the conversion label to the rating plate.
Some fireplaces also need an air shutter adjustment after conversion so the flame burns clean. The kit instructions give the setting.
Common questions
Can I convert a natural gas fireplace to propane myself? The parts are simple, but getting the pressures right needs a manometer, and a mistake can cause overfiring or carbon monoxide. Building codes and Napoleon's instructions require a qualified technician, and a DIY conversion can void the warranty.
Can every gas fireplace be converted? Most can. Some models only have a kit in one direction, and some older or vent-free units have no kit. If there's no listed kit for your model and direction, don't improvise with parts from another model.
Do I need a kit to go from propane back to natural gas? Yes. It's a different kit with larger orifices and a natural gas regulator.
What about a Napoleon grill? Napoleon grills use different conversion kits from the fireplace kits on this page. Check your grill's manual.
Is propane or natural gas cheaper to heat with? It depends on your local prices. Propane usually costs more per BTU where natural gas is available. If you're weighing fuels, see pellet stove vs propane.
Buying a new Napoleon gas stove?
If you're replacing a stove rather than converting one, the Napoleon Arlington GDS20NNSB is a cast iron direct vent gas stove rated 20,000 Btu/h. It ships set up for natural gas, and the W175-0234 kit converts it to propane. Its millivolt pilot needs no electricity, so it keeps heating in a power outage. No Sales Tax and free shipping.
Related
- Napoleon gas conversion kits: find yours by model
- All Napoleon fireplace parts: blowers, remotes, panels, fronts and venting
- Napoleon Arlington direct vent gas stove
- Napoleon vs Drolet: which wins where
Not sure which kit fits? Email a photo of your rating plate to info@stovesource.com or call 1-888-914-0022. Every Napoleon conversion kit ships with No Sales Tax in any state.