Grilling Basics Part 4: Fixing Low Flames

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Photo: macrotim on Flickr

Rule number one: Control your flame!

 

There are few things in life as annoying as getting ready to throw your steaks on the grill and being faced with a weak flame on your gas grill. Why does that happen? And more importantly, how do you fix it? Read and learn, friends. And then get that grill going. 

How to fix a low flame on your grill: 

So your grill knobs are all turned to high and yet you still can’t get the temperature past 300 degrees. Gas grills have safety regulators that prevent excessive gas flow in the event of a gas leak, but even without a leak you may sometimes trigger this safety feature. To prevent this from happening, always turn on your tank valve before turning on your control knobs.

If our advice is too late and you have already activated the safety device, follow these steps to reset it and get your flame back.

1. Open the grill lid.
2. Turn off all knobs on the control panel
3. Turn off tank knob
4. Disconnect the regulator (that is the hose that connects the propane tank to the grill) from the tank.
5. Wait one minute
6. Reconnect the regulator to the tank
7. Slowly open the tank knob all the way to open.
8. Turn on your control knob and light the grill according to instructions.

More Grilling Basics from Food Republic:

• How to clean your grill and prevent sticking
• How to get the perfect sear
• Some recipes are better left in the kitchen

Got any other grilling questions for us? Let us know in the comments.