Propane Grilling Safety Tips

If you’re an expert with cooking on a propane grill, you already know about how terrific its precise control of heat can be. By just turning the dial, you can instantly add or reduce heat. When you want to go from medium heat for corn on the cob to high heat for a quick-searing steak, you’re fully in control. Propane can do that–charcoal can’t!

But before you get down to some serious grilling this spring, we urge you to read the safety tips below so you can prevent fires, burns, and other accidents. Nothing ruins a cookout like a trip to the emergency room or having to ask the fire department to come to your rescue.

Inspect Your Grill

While cleaning your grill at the start of the season, give your grill a thorough inspection. If you suspect a leak, do the following:

• make sure the gas is shut off
• mix equal parts of water and liquid detergent in a container
• spray some of this soapy solution on your propane cylinder and hose connections
• turn the gas on slowly
• if bubbles appear where you sprayed the solution, you probably have a gas leak.
• make sure the tank’s connections are tight and repeat the test.

Reasons for leaks include damaged or rusted grill hoses or gas cylinders. Any of these situations require service by a propane grill expert. You should never try to fix a gas leak—on your grill or anywhere else—by yourself.

Keep Your Grill In A Safe Location

You most likely know that a propane grill is for outdoor use only. But here’s a reminder. Using your grill indoors, even in the garage, is not only a fire risk but it can create a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide.

Additionally, your grill needs to be on a flat, level surface to prevent it from tipping over.
Give your grill a wide clearance from anything combustible, including the house, siding, rails, and furniture. Also, don’t place it near windows. Once you have started your grill, don’t move it. You could get burned and moving it could dislodge a burner tube or other parts in the grill.

More Safety Tips For Your Grill

• Keep the lid open when starting the grill to prevent gas from building up under the closed lid and causing a flash burn.
• Never leave your grill unattended when using it. Use the social distancing rule when it comes to your grill and children or pets: keep them at least six feet from your grill.
• Clean your grill regularly to keep grease from building up on the burners or base of the grill, as that will create a fire hazard.
• Once you are finished grilling, turn off the all the burners on the grill and turn off the propane supply at the propane cylinder.

If you have any questions about safety for your propane grill, or if you want to learn more about your options in new outdoor grills, please contact your local propane company and they will be glad to provide advice.

You can read more propane safety tips here. Here’s to a happy and safe grilling season!