It’s that time of the year (warm weather)… time to haul the gas grill out to the patio (or dust it off) and fire it up. This often turns out not to be as easy as it sounds. Many grills sit outside all winter and the damp, cold weather takes its toll, even when the grill is covered, damage and filth can occur.
So, here are a few simple Safety Tips to help ensure you have a safe, early season grilling experience:
Many of the fires and explosions occur when consumers first use a grill that has been left idle for a period of time or just after refilling and reattaching the grill’s gas container. To reduce the risk of fire or explosion, consumers should routinely perform the following safety inspections:
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Check the tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Use a pipe cleaner or wire to clear blockage and push it through to the main part of the burner. - Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
- Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease. If you can’t move the hoses, install some sort of heat shield to protect them.
- Replace scratched or nicked connectors, which can eventually leak gas… Not good!
- Check for gas leaks, following the manufacturer’s instructions, if you smell gas or when you reconnect the grill to the gas container. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.
- Keep lighted cigarettes, matches, or open flames away from a leaking grill.
- Most of us consider this common sense… But, never use a grill indoors! Use the grill at least 10 feet away from your house or any building. Do not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that can catch fire.
- Do not attempt to repair the tank valve or the appliance yourself. See an LP gas dealer or a qualified appliance repair person.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions that accompany the grill.
This may seem like a lot of things for you to personally check, but it can ensure your safety! If you would rather a professional handle all of this for you (and even get your grill sparkling clean), give us a call here at Texas Grill Masters: 817-946-8206