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BBQ Grill Parts Safety and Maintenance for the Backyard Chef.

Updated on February 25, 2010

Your Grill Parts Need Maintenance and Cleaning.

Whether you build an outdoor kitchen or just love your little grill,if you take care of your grill parts, they will keep feeding you and make you look good.
Whether you build an outdoor kitchen or just love your little grill,if you take care of your grill parts, they will keep feeding you and make you look good.

Barbeque Grill Parts Safety Inspection.

Having a gas BBQ grill can be both a prestige and a great hazard if certain precautions are not taken. After a barbecue many people just clean the grill cooking grates and never think about cleaning the BBQ burners and other replaceable BBQ grill parts. When these are neglected then the gas grill can become ineffective and hazardous. This can be avoided if certain inspections are made several times in two months or based on how often the gas grill is being used. A gas grill burner that has problems will lack uniformity at the cooking surface and when looking at the flames.

Gas BBQ Grill Valve.

The control valve controls the amount of gas flowing to the grill burner. Many barbecuers believe they can affest performance by tampering with a regulator or a burner but it is the valve and orifice that controls BTUs.
The control valve controls the amount of gas flowing to the grill burner. Many barbecuers believe they can affest performance by tampering with a regulator or a burner but it is the valve and orifice that controls BTUs.

Barbeque Grill Control Valves.

If the control valves are clogged then they will not release enough fuel to the burners. As such, all efforts should be made to keep them clean and the orifice free from any obstacles. This can be done by inserting a special brush or anything that has a smaller diameter than the orifice itself to remove any dirt that is present. Great care should be taken to install the control valves the exact way they were if  removed.  Barbeque valves are fed gas through the manifold and the seal must be leak-checked when installed. 

LP Gas Regulator.

Barbeque grill hose and regulator will generally last 5 years.  Spray fittings with soapy water to leak-check.
Barbeque grill hose and regulator will generally last 5 years. Spray fittings with soapy water to leak-check.
Regulator QCC or POL fittings must be completely attached to propane tank and sealed in order to function.
Regulator QCC or POL fittings must be completely attached to propane tank and sealed in order to function.

Gas Grill Regulator Vent.

Your regulator will be connected to a hose and a O-ring. Check to see if the vent hole in this O-ring is clogged and unclog it with anything that has a smaller diameter. Look to see if the hose has suffered any damages as this can also cause leakages that can lead to an explosion. If you have a grill that has a self-regulating feature, then this will automatically reduce the amount of fuel if it is too high.  A gas tank will also limit gas flow if it suspects a leak but most customers believe the problem is the regulator -- I convince more people to check their tank than I sell regulators.   The regulator regulates the water-column pressure of gas as it leaves the tank. Past the regulator the gas enters the manifold and stops at the valves – if they are turned off, as they should be. Once the lines from the tank to the valve is pressurized, spray every fitting and the regulators vent with soapy water and look for bubbles indicating a gas leak.

Grill Burner Venturi.

On the venturi is a wind vent that behaves like a carburetor.  Adjust the opening to balance the air-to-gas ratio.
On the venturi is a wind vent that behaves like a carburetor. Adjust the opening to balance the air-to-gas ratio.
Burner installs with the venturi fitting over the orifice coming off the control valve.
Burner installs with the venturi fitting over the orifice coming off the control valve.
Some barbecue burner venturi can be removed and replaced.  Adjustable venturi can be adjusted to fit and barbeque valve and firebox.
Some barbecue burner venturi can be removed and replaced. Adjustable venturi can be adjusted to fit and barbeque valve and firebox.

Gas Burner Venturi.

If there is a damage to the Venturi they will have to be replaced. The venturi function by connecting the burner to the control valve and at times they can become clogged with dirt or even insects. It is important to do routine checks on them because they are responsible for creating the flame at the barbeque burner that is produced when air is mixed with fuel. The venturi has a wind vent that can be adjusted to get a proper and efficient gas flame. Insert a small wire brush into the grill burner venturi and then blow it out. When a barbeque grill goes unused for long periods of time, burner venturi tubes have been known to get clogged with spider webs. Once cleaned, adjust the vent to create a blue gas flame with a yellow/orange tip.

Types of Gas BBQ Grill Burners.

Although rectangular, this type of burner is referred to as a ring burner because it prodeces flame on all sides.  This cast iron barbeque burner fits both DCS and Lynx grills.
Although rectangular, this type of burner is referred to as a ring burner because it prodeces flame on all sides. This cast iron barbeque burner fits both DCS and Lynx grills.
This U burner is commonly seen on many barbecues because it is center fed and has the ability to cover a lot of width with reliable flame.
This U burner is commonly seen on many barbecues because it is center fed and has the ability to cover a lot of width with reliable flame.
This serpentine pipe burner was used on the older original Ducane barbeque grills.  The electrode and collector box in the image mounts to the burner.
This serpentine pipe burner was used on the older original Ducane barbeque grills. The electrode and collector box in the image mounts to the burner.
The pipe burner is another common design on hundreds of barbecues.  Easy to remove, clean and replace this type of burner comes in hundreds of variations.
The pipe burner is another common design on hundreds of barbecues. Easy to remove, clean and replace this type of burner comes in hundreds of variations.

Barbeque Grill Burner.

The most common grill parts replaced are the gas burners.   Drippings and grease are known to cause blockage to the barriers that are located behind the cooking grid. If the burners are damaged then these should be replaced instead of being mended with welding and other tactics that people use to attempt to fix them. For many years cast iron was considered the best material to manufacture gas grill burners. However, cast iron and cast brass will oxidize and rust quickly so many barbecues have converted to stainless steel burners. If your grill burners are damaged or rusting, consider a wide variety of grill replacement parts to find if a better quality product than the original is available.

Gas Line to the Barbeque Grill.

When running a gas line inside an outdoor kitchen grill island, use corrugated steel to ensure years of weather or friction do not create dangerous gas leaks.
When running a gas line inside an outdoor kitchen grill island, use corrugated steel to ensure years of weather or friction do not create dangerous gas leaks.
A typical hose and regulator comes with a rubber hose and is only expected to function for approximately five years.  A regulator may last longer, but do not take the chance on a rubber hose.
A typical hose and regulator comes with a rubber hose and is only expected to function for approximately five years. A regulator may last longer, but do not take the chance on a rubber hose.

Barbeque Gas Connections and Hoses.

Hoses are known to corrode and develop holes after years of usage. Lines running to a barbeque grill or outdoor kitchen grill island are susceptible to many dangers.  A weed-wacker, edge trimmer or weathered dry-rot can damage a gas line running to a BBQ.  Always check to see if these are releasing any gas by spraying joints with soapy water and examining for bubbles.  Replace damaged lines immediately.  A gas line that is exposed or any part is exposed should be made of corrugated steel.  Do not ever try to repair a gas line or a gas manifold by using adhesive or any other forms of tape to cover the hole. A leaking gas grill is hazardous and when corrosion is noticed on areas that take the gas to the burners, then these should be replaced. If you smell gas then this is an indication that there is a leak. 

LP Propane Gas Canister.

OPD stands for Over-Fill Prevention Device and should stop a filing station from improperly overfilling the gas tank which can have disastrous results.
OPD stands for Over-Fill Prevention Device and should stop a filing station from improperly overfilling the gas tank which can have disastrous results.
A 20 lb LP tank holds just less than 5 gallons of propane and must be fitted with several safety features including the check valve, opd and reverse seal check.
A 20 lb LP tank holds just less than 5 gallons of propane and must be fitted with several safety features including the check valve, opd and reverse seal check.

LP-Liquid Propane Tank.

Once your gas grill's tank has reached a certain age then it is time to get a new one. Usually 12 years is enough time to have a gas propane tank in operation. If you find that it is corroded, then do not attempt to mend it. Although the OPD and Check-Valve safety features are over a decade old, the law requiring these safety features is much younger. At some time in the past five years if you did not buy a new tank, the Liquid Propane filling station you use should have confiscated any non-compliant tanks. Many of my clients find exchange programs convenient and swap their empty tank for a full tank at local stores. Unfortunately, my experience has been that quality control is not good at these locations. Many customers have contacted us requesting service only because their gas tank valve has a bad seal that stops it from functioning. If you exchange your taks, test the new tanks as soon as you get home to find a problem immediately

BBQ Grill Parts Need Periodic Maintenance.

I used to think of the maintenance and safety check for my barbeque grills to be a nuisance.  I did it anyway and today I find that I am able to maintain my gas grill without thinking about the steps; I clean the burners, cooking grates, ignition battery and check the gas flow as parts of my barbecuing habits.  Safety keeps everyone happy, keeps good food with company fun and helps my gas grill to live longer and need less replacement parts.

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