[chele_4]

I have a fairly new LG dryer that was natural gas. I moved to a state with no natural gas, so my husband bought a conversion kit and changed it over to propane, (tho it does not seem to dry as well). We have now moved to a home with fuel oil heat. I read that you can use a small propane tank, like for a grill, but then found out you need some kind of regulator before hooking it up. I did call a local propane company and it will run me well over $600 to get this all hooked up. My husband is a very handy person, we are just stumped on where to go from here, and of course want to do it right for safety. I would appreciate any help.
Thank you
chele_4

[donf]

Be aware that there are local and National codes that determine how and what you can do. It's not just a question of being handy. It's a statement of safety

A small cylinder (40 lb.) will not give you the service you need.

Usually the local LP companies such as Ferrell or Suburban will do the install for free provided you sign a contract with them for the LP gas.

My son worked for several LP/Natural companies over the years. That was the policy for all of them. Gas companies make their money off the sale of gas.

If your husband is going to do the work, he has to take particular care with setting the orifices. Natural gas uses larger orifices than LP. Natural gas is much lighter than LP.

[brians08]

First, I wonder about your problem with the dryer not drying as well on propane. This is not usually the case as propane has a higher energy density and burns hotter. Better make sure your dryer is not malfunctioning.
Second, make sure to calculate the long term cost of running on propane vs. the cost of using an electric dryer. Propane can be expensive depending on your location. A used electric dryer in good condition could be found on Craigslist for less than $150.
To respond to the previous answer, a gas company will probably not set you up with a free tank if you are only using a dryer. They usually want to see at least one major appliance like a furnace or water heater to make it worth their while.

I have done this propane bottle conversion a couple of times and not had any trouble making it work. The main issue for you to decide is whether you need to follow your local code to the letter or are willing to do it as a handyman project. In the latter case, all the risk and responsibility for safety are on you. If you are not experienced and don't have a good understanding of how a gas burning system works don't try it!
That said, here is the info you are looking for:
Yes you can run a dryer off a small tank. You can use a standard regulator for a gas grill or other gas appliance but you will need to verify it is adjusted correctly. You need to measure the output pressure of the regulator and verify it is delivering a pressure of 11 inches of water. Make sure you by a high end regulator that is adjustable. The cheep ones are usually sealed at the factory and can't be adjusted. (If you don't know how to check the pressure then you should go no further and find someone who know what they are doing!)
Next you need to put together the fittings to connect the regulator output to the dryer. This will not be simple because the fittings are not standard. They will be hard to find and expensive. Don't be surprised if the regulator, fittings, piping and tank(s) add up to nearly $100.
The two safety rules that you must follow are:
-The tank and all non-metal tubing must be located outdoors in a well ventilated area to prevent small leaks from being a hazard.
-All indoor pipes should be made of metal and leak tested as they would be for any gas pipe. (Black iron pipe is strongly recommended and code usually requires it)

I have found that my family of two adults and two children will use about one 7gallon (40#?) tank a month. It is best to have two tanks so you can keep one full and ready to switch with the empty.

One last issue is that if you live in a cold climate. With a small outdoor tank you may experience loss of pressure on sub-zero days and heavy dryer use.

[ballengerb1]

Brian, you said "This is not usually the case as propane has a higher energy density and burns hotter." That is a surprise to me. When I convert appliances to propane my BTU chrt shows a drop in enery. Are you sure of your thinking? Maybe I got it wrong for 60 years.

[brians08]

I don't want to sidetrack this topic so I will be brief.
NG = 1000 BTU/scf; propane has 2500 BTU/scf (scf=standard cubic foot)
Maybe because propane burns hotter than NG you have to run at a lower BTU rating? There was never an issue with reduced performance the two times I converted.