Do-It-Yourself Gas Grill Repair Before Summer

While you may have done the right thing when you put the grill away for the winter, it still may need some maintenance when you take it out to cook this summer – most of which you can do yourself. Here are some simple troubleshooting tips to help fix a broken igniter, repair blower tubes, or knobs that are loose or not turning properly.

The first thing to do is to identify any damage that may have occurred during the off-season by inspecting parts of your grill. If the inside of the grill is damp, take out the grates and removable trays to dry things out: if there is a problem with the igniter, this is often at least part of the cause. If these parts are in good condition, you can brush them a few times with rolled foil ( not a wire brush ) to remove any residue or dirt, and then replace them.

How to replace the burner tubes on a gas grill

If the tube burners are damaged or rusty, they should be replaced because it will be more difficult to control the heat of the flame and can be dangerous to anyone using the grill. To remove old pipes, most gas grills have a screw or screws that attach the pipes to the ends of the gas pipe inside the grill, which can be accessed by removing the grate and looking under the edge of the front of the grill.

Unscrew the old tubes and replace them with new, suitable ones. While many stores offer a “universal” tube burner that will work with many types of grills, you should pay attention to the make and model of your grill and ask for specific details if you’re unsure of the size. (If all else fails, you can bring one of the old pipes with you to the store for comparison.)

How to replace the igniter on a gas grill

If your bulbs are working but you are not getting a spark, you probably need to replace the igniter . This part can wear out from time to time, especially in wet conditions. To replace it, you need to unscrew the button you press to start the grill. Once it is unscrewed, you will be able to pull out the igniter from the back to the edge of the grate and the wires coming from it. If you don’t already know what type of igniter you have, this will show if you have a two or four wire type and what type of replacement you need.

You will see the switch and wires when it comes out: be sure to remember how the wires are connected. If you think it might be difficult for you to remember the location, take a picture with your phone for future reference. You will need a new igniter, ready to go where you got the old one. Disconnect the wires from the old one and connect them to the new one in the same way as the old one was installed. Screw the button back and you can start the grill.

Grease the handles of your gas grill

If your handles don’t turn well when you take the grill out, it could be due to rust or residue that has built up on the handle bars. Remove the plastic parts of the knobs to gain access to the stems, making sure the knobs themselves are clean. If the stems are sticky, you can use a little WD40 to lubricate them, turning them back and forth to get it into the mechanism. If there is any stubborn residue, you can use a wire brush to remove it. If the knobs are still not working after this process, you may need a more complex type of repair – you don’t want the valve stems to break causing uncontrolled gas flow when the valve to the tank is open.

Remember that when you are servicing your grill, you must always be very careful to protect the valves and hoses from damage. If there are damaged parts of the valve coming out of the propane tank, the grill should be taken out of service immediately and returned to the manufacturer for repair. The hoses coming from the tank should also be inspected for damage. Since propane is a combustible gas under pressure, it is very important to consider safety when making repairs.