gas grill burns in the wrong place
 

I've just tried using my gas grill for the first time in a few months,
but the flame starts burning down around the venturi, as well as up on
the burner where it's supposed to. This has been an occasional problem
in the past, but now it's at the point where I don't want to use the
grill. Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem?

I've tried adjusting the air/fuel mixture and the length of the venturi
tube, but neither makes any difference. The problem seemed to get
better when I removed the lava rocks and the grate that holds them, but
it didn't go away completely. Besides, it won't grill very well that
way.

The grill is an ancient post-mounted Charmglow burning natural gas.
The burner and venturi are only a couple of years old.

--
Ray Heindl
(remove the Xs to reply to: )

"Ray Heindl" wrote in message
...
I've just tried using my gas grill for the first time in a few months,
but the flame starts burning down around the venturi, as well as up on
the burner where it's supposed to. This has been an occasional problem
in the past, but now it's at the point where I don't want to use the
grill. Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem?

Be sure the venturi tubes are completely clear. Cold be a little spider web
in them.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Ray Heindl" wrote in message
...
I've just tried using my gas grill for the first time in a few months,
but the flame starts burning down around the venturi, as well as up on
the burner where it's supposed to. This has been an occasional problem
in the past, but now it's at the point where I don't want to use the
grill. Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem?

Be sure the venturi tubes are completely clear. Cold be a little spider
web in them.


Wasps and mud dobbers are bad about plugging up little spots too. =Dan

On 12/5/2004 5:30 PM US(ET), Ray Heindl took fingers to keys, and typed
the following:

I've just tried using my gas grill for the first time in a few months,
but the flame starts burning down around the venturi, as well as up on
the burner where it's supposed to. This has been an occasional problem
in the past, but now it's at the point where I don't want to use the
grill. Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem?

I've tried adjusting the air/fuel mixture and the length of the venturi
tube, but neither makes any difference. The problem seemed to get
better when I removed the lava rocks and the grate that holds them, but
it didn't go away completely. Besides, it won't grill very well that
way.

The grill is an ancient post-mounted Charmglow burning natural gas.
The burner and venturi are only a couple of years old.

I had a similar problem with my not as old BBQ. One of the problems is
that critters build homes in the tubes, be they spiders or wasps.
Another problem I had was that my burners are cast iron and the little
holes had rusted over to where they clogged the holes. The holes were
not that round to begin with. I drilled out every hole using a small
drill bit.

Ray Heindl wrote in news:Xns95B6B21402DD8amfmssb@
130.133.1.4:

I've just tried using my gas grill for the first time in a few months,
but the flame starts burning down around the venturi, as well as up on
the burner where it's supposed to. This has been an occasional problem
in the past, but now it's at the point where I don't want to use the
grill. Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem?


When you shut off your BBQ, turn the tank off first and then the burners
after they go out from lack of gas from the tank. This way, the excess gas
is not in the line and the spiders won't seek out that spot for their
homes. There is something in the gas that attracts them.
Home Depot and others sell a flexible brush that will clean out the pipe.

Good luck.

"Brian M." wrote:

When you shut off your BBQ, turn the tank off first and then the
burners after they go out from lack of gas from the tank.

Unfortunately that's not an option for me, as the grill is hooked up to
a natural gas line. I'll suggest it to the relatives with tank-gas
grills, though.

This
way, the excess gas is not in the line and the spiders won't seek
out that spot for their homes. There is something in the gas that
attracts them. Home Depot and others sell a flexible brush that
will clean out the pipe.

I've wondered about that. The spiders love to nest in the top of the
valve, where the gas comes out. In fact, I just cleaned one out of
there yesterday. Maybe they like the smell of the odorant in the gas.

--
Ray Heindl
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"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:


"Ray Heindl" wrote in message
...
I've just tried using my gas grill for the first time in a few
months, but the flame starts burning down around the venturi, as
well as up on the burner where it's supposed to. This has been
an occasional problem in the past, but now it's at the point
where I don't want to use the grill. Any suggestions on what
might be causing the problem?

Be sure the venturi tubes are completely clear. Cold be a little
spider web in them.

There was a tiny bit of web in the venturi, but clearing that out
didn't fix the problem. But I did get motivated to remove the
valve/regulator assembly, and there was some web way down inside the
valve. I cleaned that out, and it seems to be working now -- 15
minutes of burning without flashback. And it seems to be a lot hotter
than it used to be.

I'm wondering if I've got the wrong venturi, though. Even with the air
supply all the way open, the flame is really yellow when it's on high.
Is that normal? Does natural gas require a different venturi than
propane?

On a related note, can anyone recommend a good source of replacement
burners? The thin stainless ones don't seem to last very long; does
anyone make good cast-iron ones, or heavy-gauge stainless?

Thanks for the help, everyone.

--
Ray Heindl
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There are different orifices for natural gas and for propane, you need to
change them to get it working correctly. Check with whomever made your grill
if you converted it from propane to natural gas and didn't change them at
the time.

--

Mikey S.
http://www.mike721.com


"Ray Heindl" wrote in message
...

I'm wondering if I've got the wrong venturi, though. Even with the air
supply all the way open, the flame is really yellow when it's on high.
Is that normal? Does natural gas require a different venturi than
propane?

"Mikey S." wrote:

There are different orifices for natural gas and for propane, you
need to change them to get it working correctly. Check with
whomever made your grill if you converted it from propane to
natural gas and didn't change them at the time.

As far as I know the grill has always been run on natural gas, so I
presume the regulator and valve were designed for that. Where is the
orifice located -- in the valve/regulator somewhere?

When I've bought replacement burners and venturis I've always
specified that it was for natural gas, but the sellers have always
assured me it doesn't matter. I wonder if that's true, though.
Natural gas would need less air than propane (if my chemistry
teachers are to be believed) so maybe that's not the problem.

--
Ray Heindl
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"Ray Heindl" wrote in message

As far as I know the grill has always been run on natural gas, so I
presume the regulator and valve were designed for that. Where is the
orifice located -- in the valve/regulator somewhere?

Valves


When I've bought replacement burners and venturis I've always
specified that it was for natural gas, but the sellers have always
assured me it doesn't matter.

True. The burner is the same, the orifice takes care of the mix along with
the venturi adjustment.

The orifice is at the end of the valve, the little precisely drilled hole
that lets the gas into the venturi. Since it's always been on natural gas
though I guess that's not the problem..maybe the burners just need a good
cleaning, my grill gets nasty every year and burns yellow till the burners
get wire brushed and all the little rusty holes in them poked open again.

--

Mikey S.
http://www.mike721.com


"Ray Heindl" wrote in message
...
As far as I know the grill has always been run on natural gas, so I
presume the regulator and valve were designed for that. Where is the
orifice located -- in the valve/regulator somewhere?

"Mikey S." wrote:

The orifice is at the end of the valve, the little precisely
drilled hole that lets the gas into the venturi. Since it's always
been on natural gas though I guess that's not the problem.

Mine has nothing that looks like a precisely-drilled hole; the gas
comes out of the valve, turns a couple corners, and squirts up into the
bottom of the venturi. The only holes involved that look at all
precise are in the body of the valve, and they do the high/medium/low
selection. Maybe that's why it likes to flash back.

maybe
the burners just need a good cleaning, my grill gets nasty every
year and burns yellow till the burners get wire brushed and all
the little rusty holes in them poked open again.

Could be. There seemed to be a lot of rust on the burner, flaking off
quite a bit. I tried to knock off as much as I could without wrecking
it, but I didn't brush it or poke anything in the holes. I'll give it
a shot.

--
Ray Heindl
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