Nowadays, we all are upgrading to propane grills from our beloved charcoal grills. While charcoal grills have their place, gas grills are just easier to use on a regular basis.
Not only gas grills save a lot of time and energy, but they are also healthier for our body and cause less greenhouse emission. We know, turning a propane grill is not that tough either.
But if you are here, that means it’s your first time using a gas grill and you need an easy guideline. So here we are with two different methods to turn on your grill within minutes.
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How to Start a Propane Grill
Although gas grills are fairly easy to use, we all face one of those moments where it is just not turning on. And the fact that there are so many different models with different features can make it a little bit confusing for a beginner.
No worries, as we are going to mention all the different methods there are to turn on your propane grill. If your grill ever troubleshoots and the gas grill does not ignite, check if you are doing it right in the first place.
Using the Ignition System:
This is basically the default way you are supposed to start your gas grill. When this method does not work, we have to look for alternatives. Here’s how to turn on your grill using the ignition system for the first time:
01. Open the Lid:
Before you start doing anything else, open the lid of your gas grill. If you accidentally turn on the gas without opening the lid, there can be serious fire hazards as gas tends to explode in closed environments. So whether you have a grill with lid open or closed, knowing this is a good thing.
This is because gas fumes tend to gather in enclosed areas. When you lit up the grill, all the gas inside the lid will just fire up and cause an explosion. It is very dangerous. So do this step first.
02. Supply the Gas:
If you are using propane gas for your grill, you need to make sure that there is actually enough gas available to use. For first time users, you will have to set up the propane tank as well. As most of the propane grills are easy to carry, you won’t have too much trouble setting it up.
Hook up the gas tank to the grill following the guideline mentioned in the propane tank. Follow the cautions carefully as fully loaded gas tanks need extra attention to handle. But this is just something you have to do once every month, depending on how much you use your grill.
For built-in grills with a main gas supply, there is no worry of replacing propane tanks. You just have to set it up once and forget about it.
03. Turn on the Gas Supply:
After making sure the gas connection is properly set up, you can turn on the supply of it. For propane grills, turn your knob either clockwise or counterclockwise. Then wait 15 seconds to let the gas run through the system.
04. Ignite the Grill:
This is the fun part. Now you can ignite the grill by pushing the ignition button. After doing so, your grill will light itself up. Most propane grills have the same system for automatic ignition. You will find the button just beside the gas knobs.
And there you have it. It’s that easy to turn on a gas grill with an automatic ignition system. In the next part, we will talk about what to do if you don’t have it!
Do It Manually:
Maybe your grill does not have an automatic ignition or it simply is not working properly. This does not mean you can grill your favorite food on it! Here’s how to turn on a grill manually:
01. Find the Lighting Hole:
The first thing you need to do is find the lighting hole. The lighting hole is usually on the grill’s exterior. You can not light up your grill like a regular gas stove.
If you can not find this exact lighting place, do not try to toss a matchstick inside the open grill. So look for it thoroughly or check the instruction manual to easily find it.
02. Grab Your Matchbox:
Now that you have found where you have to light it up, grab your matchbox and fix it on the curled holder. This helps to keep your hand at a distance. Sudden flame exposure can burn your fingers so taking careful measures like this are crucial.
The curled holder also helps to put the light exactly where you want. As most automatic grills are not meant to be used manually, the design is not very user-friendly.
So the narrow holder helps to easily enter the match inside the hole. Without this, you will end up wasting a lot of good matchsticks.
03. Light It Up:
After you have successfully set up your match into the holder, it’s time to light up your grill. Make sure to turn on the burner before doing so.
After one burner is ignited, you can go and turn on all the other burners. This process is basically the same for both manual grills and grills with a broken automatic ignition system.
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How to Tell If Your Grill Has Issues
- If it has a hissing sound when you turn it on. This can be a sign of gas leakage.
- If the ignition and gas supply has no problems but your grill still won’t turn on, then your burner needs to be replaced.
- For a colder environment, you might be experiencing a slow gas supply. Cold can freeze parts of propane and reduce the gas flow.
- If your rubber pipe feels rigid, they need to be replaced immediately. Long term use makes rubber lose its flexibility.
Maintenance Tips for Gas Grills
As gas grills are not cheap to own, taking proper care is a must. Here are some of our favorite tips to maintain the quality of your grill for years:
- Do routine checkups with soapy water to know if there are any gas leaks. Running soapy water once a month through the pipes is a very smart idea to look for holes.
- Always cover your grill. Keep the lid on when you are not using it. Put a durable, high-quality grill cover on top to make sure it doesn’t get corrosion or rust. This protects your grill from weather damage.
- Clean your grill after each use. This is very important to keep it looking brand new.
- Do a thorough cleaning once a month.
- Season your grill grades to get a non-stick finish and rust-free experience. You don’t have to do it for stainless steel or ceramic-coated grated.
- Regularly check fuel levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Why is My Weber Grill Not Lighting Up?
If you are having trouble with turning on your Weber grill, the problem probably is in the ignition system. So the first thing you should do is check the system to make sure all the wires are connected to the right place. You can plug and unplug all the wires to make sure they are in their respective places.
If this does not work, you can manually light up Weber grill by using a matchstick. Of course, this is a temporary solution. You can replace the ignition system by contacting the manufacturer using your warranty.
02. How to Fix Low Flame on Gas Grill?
Low flame issues on a gas grill is a very common problem. To fix it, you can start by turning everything off. This includes the gas flow at the tank. After that, disconnect the regulator from your gas tank.
Let the whole grill sit like that for 5-10 minutes. Then set everything up again and slowly open the valve all the way, wait for 40 seconds, and then light up your grill. You will find your grill to have an increased flame.
03. How Do I Unclog a Gas Grill Line?
You can unclog your gas grill line using a thin and sturdy wire. The wire needs to be longer than the line you want to clean. Then push it gently through the line and remove whatever is stuck inside it. This will unclog it and let the gas run through seamlessly again.
04. How Do I Light Up My Grill if the Ignitor is Broken?
It is a very common problem to happen. You can definitely use other things to light up your grill. To light up your grill without an ignitor, first, open the grill and find the lighting hole on its side.
Then light up a matchstick and put it in the curled end of the holder. You can also use a lighter to light up a piece of paper and use it the same way as the matchstick. Once the fire is closer to the hole, turn on your gas burner. And voila! Your grill is ready to use.
Wrap Up
Now that you know how to turn on your gas grill, go and start making your favorite hamburgers and wings. Whatever you do, make sure to keep it clean and pristine.
If you can not turn on your grill even after following all those steps, it’s time to consult some professionals as you will likely have to replace some inside parts.
With proper care, you can actually use your grill for years and years without any issues. So make sure to appreciate such a useful gadget for making mouthwatering dishes!
