Gas Grill Maintenance

What could be more frustrating than heading outdoors for a cookout, only to find out your grill won’t start? We’ll show you how to tackle a few common problems to keep your gas grill cooking all season long.

Preparation

Regular cleaning and maintenance on your gas grill will help keep it working properly every year, for many years. The following instructions cover checking parts for condition, checking for leaks, lighting the grill and cleaning the grill’s exterior. For additional maintenance, watch the video and read the printable instructions on How to Clean a Grill, available online at Lowes.com/Videos.

01 Refer to the grill manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance information on your gas, electric or charcoal grill. Typically, the owner’s manual also includes information on replacement parts.

02 At least once a year, visually inspect the grill’s burners, cooking grates, igniter and fuel line hoses. Look for rusted, loose, worn or damaged components. Clean the grill and components as needed.

03 Visit Lowe’s for needed replacement parts. If possible, take the part(s) with you to ensure an exact match. If the parts are not easy to transport, such as the grill shell or kettle, take a photograph of it and write down the measurements.

TIP: Many grill manufacturers have websites with owner’s manuals and parts
information on recent models.

Checking for Leaks

For safety, perform a leak test on the grill’s fuel line and connections every month.

01 Apply a solution of soapy water (dish soap and water) on all fuel lines and connections
with a clean brush.

TIP: You can use a clean basting brush from your grill, just be sure to thoroughly rinse
the brush before basting food.

02 Turn on the gas.

03 Coat the lines with soap again.

04 Visually inspect all lines and connections for bubbles caused by fuel leaks disturbing the soapy water. Identify and note the location of any potential leaks.
Recheck as needed.

05 Turn off the fuel.

06 Tighten or replace loose fittings or replace the hose as needed.

Lighting the Grill

01 Check the fuel source.

If hooked up to a propane tank, check the tank gauge to verify that it has fuel. Weight-gauges (indicating fuel level by the weight of the tank) must move freely
to be accurate.
Another way to check the level is turn on the propane and slowly pour warm water down the side of the tank. Slide your hand down the tank and where the
water gets cold marks the level of propane.
You can exchange your empty propane tanks at Lowe’s.

02 Inspect the pressure regulator. Make sure it is firmly attached to the tank and that the valve is turned on, typically counter-clockwise.

03 If that seems to be in working order, try manually lighting your grill. Use a grill lighter to keep your hand a safe distance away from the burner.

If the grill lights, proceed to Step 04.
If the grill does NOT light, proceed to Step 06.

05 If fresh batteries don’t fix it, the problem might be the igniter electrodes.

Visually inspect the tips to ensure that they are clean and not broken. You can clean
the electrodes with rubbing alcohol.
Or they might not be aligned correctly.

06 If the grill won’t manually light, make sure the burner(s) is installed correctly.

If applicable, verify that the valve is inside the burner housing. If not, loosen the burner and insert the valve inside.

07 If the grill still won’t light, consider cleaning or replacing the burners. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific parts and procedures.

08 If the grill fails to light, contact the grill manufacturer for additional recommendations.

Cleaning Exterior

For health, safety and aesthetics, make sure that the exterior of your grill is clean and protected.

For stainless steel grill exteriors, ask a Lowe’s associate for the appropriate stainless steel
grill finish restoration products and apply following the manufacturer’s directions.

For painted or enameled grill exteriors, use sandpaper and high-temperature paint:

1. Sand off any corrosion and scrape any flaked paint.
2. Wash the grill surface and allow it to air dry.
3. Apply high-temperature paint either as a spray or with a paintbrush following the manufacturer’s instructions.

TIP: With your grill clean, you’ll also want to consider a grill cover. It’s the best way to keep your grill safe from the elements.

A little of your time and effort once or twice a year will prolong the life of your grill. For more information on cleaning your grill, grill safety and grill cooking tips, check out
our how-to videos and printable instructions at Lowes.com/Videos.

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