“Come and light me; I’ll serve you with delicious steaks.” “Oh, I fear I can’t!” The dialogue can be pretty common when you don’t know how to start a gas grill safely.
Indeed, you’ve got your dream gas grill now. But the sleek grill can seem dangerous when you get confused about igniting it. Well, the time is now to learn how to light a gas grill. Therefore, we’ve got you this easy-to-follow but comprehensive guide about how to use a gas grill for the first time.
Should you continue with this guide? Yes, no matter if you want to start a portable propane gas grill or an automatic gas grill, you will get the ultimate solution to your problem. Ready? Here we come.
How to Start Gas Grills?
Not all processes of starting a gas grill can be the same. You have to do it either via auto lighter or manually.
So, to help you know to start a gas grill, we’ll be dividing our guide into various sections accordingly. But, stop proceeding, and let us know, “have you prepared your grill for the first use?”
If not, you can follow this link. Let’s begin with igniting your grill to make your first barbeque if it’s ready to light.
How can you Start a Gas Grill with an Automatic Starter?
When you’ve got a modern gas grill, it might have an automatic igniter. In such a case, here are the steps you’ll follow.
1. Open the lid to begin igniting.
Should you light the gas grill with a closed lid? No way, it can be disastrous.
So, what to do? Turn off the gas and open the lid every time you’ve to lit your gas grill, not only for this first time.
It allows the build-up of gas fumes to disperse. Wait for up to 15 mins.
2. Attach the gas supply with your grill.
This step is necessary if your gas supply: natural or propane, has not been connected to your grill. You need to follow the product-specific gas supply instructions as you find with your grill manual or the company-supported digital instructions to attach the gas line with your grill. If you find it hard, you can quickly check out these links:
- Weber grill gas connection
- Char-Broil grill gas connection
- Master Cook grill gas connection
- Cuisinart grill gas connection
Hence, you can check out the online guides about natural gas supply connection with your grill, and they are similar and simple.
Remember, linking a propane cylinder or natural gas supply is alike. Yet, the tabletop grills come with gas canisters. You’ve to connect them to your grill’s valve this way.
3. Turn the gas supply valve on.
It’s time to relax now. You’ve done a challenging task.
You only need to turn on the gas valve present on your propane cylinder to allow the gas flow to your gas grill. Likewise, turn on the grill ignition button that allows the gas to run for ignition, and wait for one more minute.
4. Lit your gas grill.
Here the process will end with igniting your gas grill to get the heat that cooks your food.
- For this purpose, turn on the regulator knob on the control panel of your grill at the highest point. A simple ignitor press will help ignition of your grill. However, not all the grills have separate buttons for gas regulation and ignitor. So, you need to read the manual.
- When you need to lit the rest of the burners, not every time, you’ll need to press the ignitor button. You can turn on the relevant burner knob, and it’ll light up automatically.
How can you Start a Gas Grill Manually?
Starting the gas grill manually isn’t entirely different from the previously defined process. You can do it by following these simple steps.
1. Open the gas grill lid.
The foremost step to start your gas grill is always opening the grill lid to allow the build-up gas to go away. So, keep the top opened for 15 minutes, and keep the gas valve closed.
2. Connect the gas source.
Now you have to connect your natural or propane gas supply to the gas grill. If you have jumped to read this section, skipping the last part, you can consult that section to see how you can attach a gas line to different gas grills from other brands. Or you can search for it online.
3. Ignite the gas grill.
Here is the tricky part of our process of starting gas grills. You’ve to lit your grill now.
- For this purpose, first, turn on the gas. Then, lit the match stick and bring it closer to the igniting hole by the side of your gas grill. It will light the burner that you had turned on.
- Once the burner has turned on, you can turn on other burners. Yet, it’ll not require lighting the match. The flame from the first burner will work.
Do you need a demonstration? You can further check this link.
Starting a Gas Grill if it Troubleshoots
What if your gas grill doesn’t start by following predefined two methods? It can be a troubleshoot.
The hardest part of your first experience with any product can be when your new gear seems not to work. You scratch your head, call customer support or the seller. Yet, failing to get work done can result from some minor reason.
Before ringing an expert for help, you can check out this section from our guide and fix the problem in no time. Here is what to do.
1. Check the gas sources and connectors.
The time is not to find fault with the product. Perhaps you have made the happiest purchase — the future will let you know.
- First, check the gas supply lines and propane tank. No spark will help light the grill if the gas is not enough in the tank or the gas supply line is not “ON.” So, check the gas filling and make sure that the supply valves are open.
- Second, ensure that the supply lines are in good condition with no breakage, etc. If you see any cracking or thinning or the supply line, replacing it for any leakage can be more dangerous — you never want to be among those 10,600 houses that catch fire annually because of grills.
What can be the sign? The hissing sound. When your grill doesn’t light, we’ll recommend you try to listen to the sound from the valve or supply lines to determine the leakage.
When you spot any leakage, get the replacement for the parts as soon as possible. But, during the course, keep the gas tank closed and keep any type of flame away from your gears.
2. Check the Auto Lighting Ignitor
The case can be trivial. If your grill is not helping you, at the next step, check the ignitor.
But how? There can be some signs like:
- The change in sound
But does it help with a new grill? NO…
So, what to do? Ignite your grill manually, as we told you in the last section.
If you successfully lit your grill, it shows that your grill and supply are fine. And the problem has been with the ignitor.
Troubleshooting is less common with fresh products. However, if your product comes damaged, the return can be much more complex.
You can either think of replacing the part easier than bearing the expenses for sending it back. The most common can be the damaged burners.
3. Replace the burner or prevent it from wind.
If all things mentioned above are OK, the problem can be in the burners. You can replace the burners following the product manual, but we’ll recommend you get some expert services to carry out the process.
It might not be a technical fault with your grill. But temperature drop or wind can also be the cause that your grill is not lighting. So, use the windscreen or move your gas grill to a relatively enclosed area.
Some Don’ts of Starting a Gas Grill for the First Time
Have you known to start a gas grill? Yet, some necessary points need to be remembered. These are here.
- Don’t forget to keep the gas grill lid opened before lighting it.
- Never keep the gas supply on when you are done with grilling. Turn off the valve on the propane tank and the burners as well.
- Don’t rely on a single propane tank. It can end up. Instead, keep another handy.
- Never lit a grill indoors. Make sure you have ample ventilation around your grill. It’ll save from any dangerous outcomes from leakage.
- Don’t start grilling instantly. You might end up complaining about the heat inefficiency.
- Never open the gas valve until all the knobs in the gas grill are off. Similarly, keep your head away from the grilling chamber.
- Don’t operate the grill with the wider sleeves, a scarf, too loose dress, or some sparks-catching stuff in your hand.
- Never keep your propane gas tank valve open when you’ve done with the grilling.
- In no case ignore the color of your gas grill flames. The mix of blue and red flames means that the grill is working properly.
In contrast, the yellow and red flames can be a sign of leakage or breakage. If it’s so, disassemble all the setup and check it.
Final Thoughts
It’s never difficult to ignite a gas grill if everything is fine with the system and assembly. By consulting our article on “how to start a gas grill, “ you can safely turn on your gear.
However, when you cannot start the grill after several efforts, you should consult an expert for self-repairing can cause more harm than good.
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