The Propane Heaters

Somehow we always feel that when we head out to the backyard to have our barbecue, all we have to do is push a little button and voila! We have an immediate flame and are ready to go. What could go wrong? If you an experienced backyard barbecue cook, you know a lot can go wrong. You probably know what to do, but the rest of us don’t.

What if you don’t get a flame? Most people would assume they are out of gas, but that might not be the case. Before you rush to get a re-fill, check to see if the hose is correctly attached. You can also check to see if there is a kink in the line.

To find out if there is a leak, you have two choices. One, if you were smart enough to buy a leak indicator, you will know if that’s the problem. If you didn’t, soap up a sponge and make sure you have a lot of suds. Apply it to the tank where the connection is. If it bubbles, you have a leak.

Two, if you were smart enough to buy that same leak indicator, it will tell you if there is gas in the tank. If there is, you might have a kink. Check all the lines. You might have a clog. Pull off the lines and clean them accordingly.

If you have the manual that came with the propane grill, get it out. It will have other tips for flame issues. Sometimes the flames are not distributed properly or are too low. All of them should be addressed in the manual.

If the burner won’t light at all, your gas line might not be open. Again, you could have kinks in the line. Disconnect the line and check it thoroughly.  Clean them if necessary.  There might have been residue that has built up that interrupts the flow of gas to the grill. If you have an electric starter, the battery might need to be replaced.

Perhaps your knobs are not sitting properly. Cut the grill off, remove the knobs and clean them well, then re-seat them. Try lighting the grill again.

If these troubleshooting tips do not help, contact the hardware or home improvement store where you purchased it. Maybe someone in the department that sells grills has some experience in the particular problem you are having and can help you.

Propane Smoker