Barbeque grills are handy pieces of cooking equipment without which cookouts would be a bore and, quite frankly, very difficult. The whole idea of a cookout is to turn out fabulous meals under the sky. If grills start acting up, what's supposed to be a fun day quickly turns into a big disappointment.
Gas grills, and any grill for that matter, is best repaired by a professional service. However, not every problem needs a pro's help. Some are very easily handled with a bit of know-how. If your gas grill has been acting up, try out some of these troubleshooting tips. If it's too old and has seen multiple repairs, it's time to get a new one.
Uneven heat: This is common and should be expected. The main reason for this is a blocked burner that needs cleaning. A wire brush should do the trick even for heavily clogged burners. You may need to remove the burner completely before getting down to business. Don't use a cleaner, just the wire brush.
One way to prevent burners from clogging is to clean the grill after every barbeque session. Focus on the burners which will most likely have drippings. Every once in a while, give the grill for professional servicing where it can also be checked for faults and damages.
Fails to light: This is frustrating but a fairly common problem. Grills have different types of ignitions and the remedy will depend on what yours is. Independent igniters can sometimes get clogged or may have bad wiring or a faulty button. Isolate the problem by carefully cleaning the area and giving it a go. If it still doesn't work, check the wiring. Burnt wiring will obviously need to be replaced. This is best done by a professional service. It also applies to a faulty button.
Low flame/yellow flame: Problems with flame strength and flame color are very likely the fault of the regulator which tends to get stuck. You can minimize it by turning off burners before switching off the regulator. Opening the gas tank valve slowly also keeps the pressure in the tank from overwhelming the regulator. As a quick fix, you may need to reset the regulator. Follow the manufacturer's instructions or these tips:
* Turn off the gas supply and disconnect the hose from the gas tank. Open the lid of the grill and turn the burners to high. Wait for a couple of minutes and switch them off. Reconnect the hose and very slowly turn the regulator on. Light the burners and see if the flame is high enough and blue. If the problem persists, the regulator may be faulty. Give it to a professional service.
* A second cause for low/yellow flame is a leak in the gas supply. You can confirm it by applying soapy water to the hose, connector and tank valve. Look for bubbles which indicate leaks. The only solution is to repair or replace leaking components at a professional service.
Expect grills to have problems, even the expensive ones. They don't last forever and even excellent maintenance will see a few issues crop up on occasion. Periodic servicing can keep yours working better while these DIY fixes will save a lot of money. Try to bring in the grill when not in use as the weather and dust can cause unnecessary problems.
