|
Continued from Page 3
Propane gas is heavier than air. Therefore any leakage along the supply
line will accumulate in the lowest area and will explode when it encounters
an ignition source.
Check all connections with a 50/50 solution of water and detergent. Spray
or brush on all connections. Open the valve on the gas bottle or on the
natural gas supply line but do not open the gas valve on the burner. Soap
bubbles at any point will indicate a gas leak. If you cannot eliminate the
leak by tightening, replace the part.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Gas fired grills are really very simple. Propane fired grills have a
regulator on bottle end of the gas supply hose. Beyond that, propane and
natural gas fired grills are almost identical - the only difference being
the size of the hole in the supply orifice.
A gas grill should be designed and constructed so that the venturi,
burners, their covers and valves should be easily available for cleaning,
maintenance or replacement.
Insects and spiders like to build nests and webs in the venturi tube. If
the flame on your burner begins to burn yellow, this is probably the cause.
Take out the venturi - carefully- and clean out the venturi with a small
bottle-type brush. A clogged venturi may allow unburned gas to escape and
create an explosion hazard.
Sometimes the small holes in the burners become stopped up. If there is no
flame at any hole, it is stopped up. Turn the grill off, allow the burner
to cool, then remove it. Brush it well with a wire brush, then hold a water
hose tightly to the entrance of the burner and flush it out. With a small
wire awl or pin, open any clogged holes. Inspect for any split seams or
burned out holes.
Periodically, remove the gas control knob on the grill and spray a
lubricant, such as WD40 into the stem. Replace the knob and turn the valve
on and off a few times. If the valve binds severely, it should be replaced.
If the grill does not have a grease trapping system, you will need to
remove the burners periodically to clean out the grease before it causes
what may be more than a minor conflagration. Ceramic briquettes and lava
rocks, which collect grease, can be scrubbed or merely turned over for the
flame to clean the greasy side.
Gas grill replacement parts are available from the manufacturer and several
other sources. A well built cast aluminum gas grill can be kept in service
for a lifetime. With an occasional touch up with high temperature tolerant
paint, it can continue to look good, too.
What to look for in selecting a gas grill
ALUMINUM (CAST) BODY: review materials above
DUAL CONTROLS AND BURNERS ON OPPOSITE ENDS: This allows much more control
and, thus, flexibility.
MEAT GRATES: should be adequately substantial for their chore. Porcelain's
propensity to flake from metal, with or without just cause, puts it on the
bottom of my list. Cast iron, stainless or steel, in that order, are my
preferences. Cast iron grates will be wider than the others and, when
properly heated, conduct more heat rapidly to deliver the attractive stripe
that signifies good grilling.
NO GLASS: you can't see in and the meat can't see out.
MASS: there should be sufficient ceramic briquettes, lava rock or metal
between the flames and the meat rack to absorb enough BTU's to produce
radiant heat for broiling.
PIEZO IGNITER: Only if you get a 5 year warranty.
Continued on Page 5
Smoky's 5th basic position for really great barbecue'n.
'According to Smoky' is © by C. Clark Hale
who is solely responsible for its content. Comments
should be addresses to cchale@bellsouth.net |
Subscribe now to The Smoke 'N Fire Enquirer, the Internet's most popular backyard grilling and barbecuing on-line tutorial and we'll send you FREE recipes, techniques and tips for preparing the finest outdoor meals. FREE! See a 
