OT - Outdoor Gas Grill Problem

[Pearl Diver]

I'm having a problem with my 6 month old, propane, "BBQ Grillware" grill. It worked fine until the cold weather set in. Here are the symptoms:

I have a spark from the ignitor and I can't light it with a match. So I figure it is a gas problem.

The first time it happened I thought I was out of gas, so I changed the tanks. With the new tank, the grill worked.

The next night, with that same new tank, it would not work again. I thought... hmmm... "Maybe it has something to do with a cold tank!" I switched the tank back to the original and it worked again!!! Boy... I thought I was a genius... until it stopped working with both tanks, warm or cold. :-(

What could be going on here? Regulator? Is there a way to check to see if it is the regulator?

I apologize for posting off topic... you folks just seem to know everything! ;-)

Thanks...

[BobK207]

Don't have a real great answer but the new propane tanks (last 5 years or so) have some sort of device in them that prevents "excessive flow" & shutoff automaticaly.

I think they're supposed to shutoff for a broken supply line but i've had problems with them just lighting up the BBQ; maybe I turned it on too high to start.

Usually just shutting everything off & starting over gets the whole thing working again.

IMO it's just another case of the gov't trying to save us from ourselves, I like the old style tanks just fine.

cheers Bob

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Solves 99.9% of the gas problems caused by the new tanks. Once the level is down, it is OK, but when near the top, open the gas valves slowly.

[Bob G.]

============= the regultor should have a vent (usually covered by a screen)...IF that vent is not facing the ground so rain water, or snow/ice can melt and drip off the vent it may be blocked....

Since most BBQ's use felxable hose to connect the regulator and the tank it is possible that the regulator is sitting upside down and could be closed by snow or ice...

Been there done that...