Gas Grill Troubleshooting: Most Common Problems and How to Fix Them

By
Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 10, 2023
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A gas grill, like every mechanical piece of equipment, can suddenly start acting up. It doesn’t have to be old to develop faults, your new gas grill can also have issues. It’s quite easy to know when your gas grill is not in a good shape. When your grill’s flame is not evenly distributed, or you’re getting low flame and temperature, you certainly have a faulty gas grill on your hands.

If you discover your gas grill is not working as it should, it’s not the time to run to the market to shop for a replacement. Gas grill troubleshooting should be the next line of action. There are a few tricks you can use to troubleshoot the grill to get it working again properly. These tricks are not very complex, and you don’t need to call a professional to help you out.

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about dealing with gas grill problems and getting them solved.

First, make sure what you deal with

Gas Grill Troubleshooting: Most Common Problems and How to Fix ThemBefore gas grill troubleshooting, you should understand where the problem is, so you can know the next step to take.

The flame is too low

It is usually caused by the fuel line regulator. The flow of gas is limited when the regulator gets sticky. Reversing this issue requires releasing the regulator’s pressure.

Too much heat

It’s often caused by a problem with the grill’s orifice. You can have too much heat if the orifice is not the right one for your gas type. To solve this challenge: use the right orifice for your gas type, ensure the orifice is intact, ensure your burner has no holes, and also ensure there are proper gas pressure and supply.

The flame is all yellow/orange

If your gas grill elicits yellow flame, the problem might lie with the venturi tubes and control valve(s). They tend to obstruct the flow of gas to the right channel. When the venturi tubes are not properly aligned, the flow will be poor until the venturi shutters are adjusted. To adjust them, you need to do the following:

  • Find the tube adjustment screw
  • Light your grill, then turn it to low
  • Loosen the adjustment screw to release the shutters
  • Continue to loosen the screw until you can see a mostly blue flame.
  • Turn off the gas and tighten the screw
  • Leave the grill to cool

Uneven heating

This is another common problem with gas grills. It is mostly caused by a blocked burner. A burner has various holes that gas passes through to light up. When some of these holes are blocked, the heat is stopped from circulating, thus depriving the blocked areas.

If you realize your burner is too clogged to work properly, remove it from the burner for cleaning. Use a stiff wire brush to clean the blocked areas thoroughly. Ensure that you remove all debris blocking the holes. You should avoid using harsh detergents or over cleaner on your burner to prevent metal corrosion.

If the issue persists, you will need to acquire a high-quality regulator like the Camco Low-Pressure Gas Regulator. It is designed to help boost low-pressure gas appliances.

It won’t light

A gas grill can fail to light due to some factors. If your grill has an independent ignition, and the burner refuses to light up, you probably have a faulty button or bad wiring that must be rectified to get your gas grill working again. If you have a battery-powered igniter and it won’t light, try to replace the batteries and see if it works. The igniter can also fail to work if it is clogged. If it’s clogged, try to clean it carefully, and test again.

Gas smell

If you smell gas from your grill, this is not normal. You should turn off the gas supply immediately because you are dealing with a gas leak. Locate the leak’s source by spraying soapy water around the regulator. The source of the leak is anywhere you find bubbles. You mustn’t try to use the grill if you smell gas until the issue is addressed.

Popping noises

If your burner is making popping noises when using it, the problem might be a result of some things inside it. To solve this problem, you should check for debris, insects, such as spiders, amongst others, inside the burner.

Troubleshooting by brands

There are different brands of gas grills on the market. The Weber and Char-Broil gas grills are some of the popular brands available. Like other gas grills, they also require troubleshooting when there’s a problem with them. Each brand has some unique troubleshooting tricks. For example, you can do the weber gas grill troubleshooting on your own and still call contact customer service to help out if you hit a snag.

Weber gas grills

Troubleshooting Weber gas grills are a bit straightforward. Weber makes reliable gas grills such as the Weber Genesis Gas Grill designed to deliver high performance. Weber Genesis gas grill features a safety device inside the propane hose designed to identify gas leaks. According to experts Trusted Source WHY WON'T YOUR GAS GRILL GET HOT? - Weber If the grill isn’t lit in a very specific way, the safety device will “think” you have a gas leak and reduce the gas flow from the tank to about 10% or less of its normal volume. When this happens, we say the grill is in “bypass”. With so little gas getting to the grill, it will be impossible to get the grill up to its normal temperature range, or in some cases the grill won’t even light at all. www.weber.com , if the grill is not properly lit, the device will “think” there’s a leak and considerably reduce the flow of the gas from the tank. The grill is said to be in “bypass” if this happens. With very little gas getting through to the grill, the grill won’t attain its normal temperature range, or won’t even light.

If your grill starts signaling that it is in “bypass”, you should first perform a gas leak test to find out if that’s the problem. If no gas leak is found, follow the steps below to get out of “bypass”:

  • Ensure that your grill’s lid is open and the control knobs are turned off
  • Turn on gas supply
  • Wait for some seconds to allow pressure to build up in the hose
  • After you’re done waiting, light your grill with the igniter.
  • Light the burners and turn them to high
  • Close the lid and wait for about 10 to 15 minutes
  • Your grill should now be around 500 to 550 F, which means it is working properly again.

But if you find a gas leak, contact Weber at [email protected] or 1-800-446-1071, so they can help out. The company is open 7 days a week. We advise that you register your grill before contacting Weber or at least have the machine’s serial number available.

Char-Broil gas grills

Your Char-Broil gas drill wouldn’t light? Troubleshooting the charbroil gas grill is the next course of action.

  • Ensure that you check the burner, electrode wires, propane tank, and ignition battery.
  • Ensure that the grill burner is connected with the control panel. Also, ensure that the valves are inside the burner tubes. Insects or other debris could be blocking your grill from lighting. You should ensure that you get rid of the clogs.
  • You should ensure that the ignition battery is still fine. If not, you’ll need to replace it. Also, ensure that the battery is properly positioned.
  • Ensure that you connect the electrode wires properly. If you detect any damage, you should replace the wires.
  • Ensure that the grill is connected to the propane tank properly.
  • After following all these simple steps, your gas grill should light.

Safety tips

Gas Grill Troubleshooting: Most Common Problems and How to Fix Them

  • Keep a fire extinguisher around.
  • Always keep kids away when the grill is in use.
  • Always light grill with the lid open.
  • Never move a hot grill or one still in use.
  • Use long grilling utensils to prevent burns.
  • Always wear a nonflammable apron and gloves when using the grill.

Final Thoughts

You can’t rule out troubles when it comes to gas grills. How you handle them to ensure quick solutions is the most important thing. Gas grill troubleshooting helps to find the source of problems and provide the needed help to get rid of them. With the right troubleshooting tricks, you can get your gas grill working properly in a matter of minutes. This article has discussed the most important troubleshooting tricks that will help you in dealing with the common gas grill problems.

References

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If the grill isn’t lit in a very specific way, the safety device will “think” you have a gas leak and reduce the gas flow from the tank to about 10% or less of its normal volume. When this happens, we say the grill is in “bypass”. With so little gas getting to the grill, it will be impossible to get the grill up to its normal temperature range, or in some cases the grill won’t even light at all.

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