Super Square and Squeaky Clean ([info]assiram) wrote in [info]hip_domestics,
@ 2009-07-09 08:00:00
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Need Gas Grill Help
Hello hipsters!
i am having problems w/ my gas grill, and i have tried google w/ little success, so i thought y'all could help!

My gas grill won't light!  i checked the propane tank- it is definitely not empty.  i also turned on the gas tank and the burners and tried to light the grill w/ a match because i read on line that the actually ignition can easily break. but that didn't work either.  my grill doesn't have an ignition switch, it just has two nobs, one that controls the outside gas and one that controls the inside gas (its a round grill, not rectangular), and you turn the knob to light a few times to get the grill to light.  

so i've eliminated the possiblility of the problem being both the ignition and an empty tank. but form my searching, those are the only problems i have read about.  can you help me?

if it helps, here's a picture of my grill: 

Edit: yes, the tank was connected to the grill when i tried to light it :) and i bought the grill used so i do not have a user's manual.

 


 




(18 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]lucifera_shadow
2009-07-09 01:39 pm UTC (link)
Call the manufacturer?

(Reply to this)


[info]elcewa
2009-07-09 01:45 pm UTC (link)
Is it safe to assume that unlike in the photo, your tank is attached to the grill? ;)

Try swapping out your tank for another one?

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[info]zaxwrit
2009-07-09 02:02 pm UTC (link)
I LOL'd at this :)

OP, also, with our grill we turn on the gas and then wait about a minute before turning on the burners. That gives the gas a bit of time to build. Then we turn on the burners and light them (with a flame, as our ignitor has never worked).

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[info]assiram
2009-07-09 02:41 pm UTC (link)
this is good advice, but yes, i did wait many minutes and try it over and over. i do not smell gas when the gas it turned on and the dials on the grill were turned on. and yes, the tank was attached to the grill :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]revchris
2009-07-09 01:56 pm UTC (link)
When you turn on the gas, but before you light the burners, do you smell gas?

If not, then either the tank really is empty, or you've got a problem.

The way it all works: The first thing on the line next to the tank connection is the vaporizer and pressure regulator. It makes sure that the gas coming out of the tank is vapor, and not liquid (spraying liquid propane out of the burners is really bad!), and that not too much gas comes out. Next, there's a hose leading to the control valves on the front. After the control valves is a venturi that mixes gas with some air so that it burns better and more cleanly. Then the gas/air mix goes to the burners, where, if everything works, you get fire, and cooked food.

I've seen the vaporizer/regulator assembly fail, but, more often, there's a problem in the venturi assembly, usually, or so I've seen, it gets to be full of bug or spider nests, and gas won't flow through.

I'd suggest starting by finding the manual for your grill and looking at the troubleshooting and maintenance sections, one of which should show where these parts are and how to check and/or clean them.

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[info]elcewa
2009-07-09 02:07 pm UTC (link)
You're a handyman god. Officially.

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[info]elegyforlife
2009-07-09 02:47 pm UTC (link)


Agreed XD

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]assiram
2009-07-09 02:45 pm UTC (link)
thanks for your help!
i do not smell gas when i turn on the burners, but i know the tank isn't empty. also, i bought the grill used and i don't have a manual. it doesn't say on there what model it is, and i tried searching google images to figure it out, but no luck.

when i first got the grill last summer, it wouldn't light. but it turned out what you call the venturi assembly was messed up- the gas line wasn't lined up and no gas was going into the grill. so i fixed that. this time, i checked for that same problem- it wasn't that. however, i think your suggestion that it might have bugs or spider nests in it, so i will check that later.

thanks!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]elegyforlife
2009-07-09 02:48 pm UTC (link)


Do you see a manufacturer's name on there? I might be able to find it for you through google-fu. Worth a shot, anyway. Nowadays, there's an 80% chance that if you can figure out the name of something, then you can find the manual online too =)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]assiram
2009-07-09 02:57 pm UTC (link)
it is a sunbeam, but that's all it says. i don't know the model, etc. any info you could find, if you have time, i'd appreciate it:)

re: and earlier comment, i found sumbeams' 800 number for grill customer service and will call later when i'm not at work. seems like an obvious solution, but i didn't think of it!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]elegyforlife
2009-07-09 03:10 pm UTC (link)


Well that failed horribly...the only thing I could find that was even remotely similar was a Weber grill...

Sorry =/

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[info]mymaninthemoon
2009-07-09 03:00 pm UTC (link)
Did you fill the tank up yourself recently? If not - it could be empty!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]deanne
2009-07-09 03:30 pm UTC (link)
Ok so I know you say the tank isn't empty but I've brought in a tank that they even told me wasn't and it was. I know it must've been because the new tank produced the required fire once I put it in. That said, I would try cleaning the inside of the grill. Take a wire brush or something and rub it over all those holes where the gas comes out because they could be clogged with grease/food/etc.

(Reply to this)


[info]beewee
2009-07-09 09:48 pm UTC (link)
You are so stupid, you should not be allowed to own a grill.

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[info]assiram
2009-07-09 10:48 pm UTC (link)
you are too stupid to have an LJ account! go suck a Narwhale!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]beewee
2009-07-09 10:54 pm UTC (link)
Oh no you don't! Don't go bringing Narberth into this!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]assiram
2009-07-09 10:58 pm UTC (link)
try and stop me. i'll sick the highschool monster on you.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]beewee
2009-07-09 11:02 pm UTC (link)
What are you gonna do? Throw up something you ate 17 years ago???

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