Wondering why a gas grill won’t light? It happens, and sometimes at the worst possible moment—when your food is prepped, and hungry guests are showing up eager to enjoy a day of good times and great food. We’ve been there.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue and (hopefully) fix it before guests start throwing chairs and tables!
Of course, like any appliance, sometimes gas grills just stop working. You may need to replace a malfunctioning part or even get a new grill. First, try to identify the problem. You might be cooking with gas in no time!
Here’s what to do when your gas grill won’t light.
1. Read the Manual
If you’ve successfully lit the grill in the past, you can skip this step. However, if a new grill isn’t igniting for the first time, there’s a good chance that you’re not lighting it properly.
Some gas grills have unique lighting methods, so take a moment to check the instructions before you bother troubleshooting any further.
2. Check Gas Levels
The two most common reasons why a gas grill won’t light is because there’s either not enough fuel or there’s a bad connection somewhere.
If you’re using a propane grill, check the tank’s current level. If you don’t have enough gas, your gas grill won’t light.
The easiest way to check how much gas you have is by pouring warm water on the side of the tank and feeling where it’s cool—the top of the cool area is where the gas stops.
You can also weigh the tank and subtract the tare weight (TW) listed on the handle. The remaining weight is how much gas is left.
For example, a typical propane tank holds 20 pounds of propane and has a TW of 17 pounds, weighing a total of 37 pounds when full. So, if that tank only weighs 17 pounds (the TW) now, that means there’s no gas left.
3. Examine Connections
If there’s a loose or broken connection somewhere, your gas grill won’t light. Make sure all components are securely fastened.
Next, look for visible kinks in the hose. If there are no kinks, pour soapy water on the hose and the connections. If you notice bubbles anywhere, that’s a leak. Damaged hoses must be replaced.
If you’re getting fuel from your home’s natural gas line and you don’t detect any obvious problems, you may need to contact a professional. There could be a problem with the connection between your utility gas tank and your grill.
4. Clean Gunk and Grime
In many cases, the reason why a gas grill won’t light is because there’s old food clogging components, preventing gas from flowing. If your gas grill won’t light, it might just need to be cleaned out.
First, turn off the valve and disconnect the fuel supply. Never work on an active grill. Next, remove the grill’s grate.
Scrub any visible gunk with an old toothbrush and a solution of water and baking soda. If there’s stubborn gunk, you can try using a pipe cleaner, pin, needle, or thin wire to work it out.
Usually, a thorough cleaning from the outside will remove the obstruction. However, extremely dirty grills may need to be disassembled to reach the inner components.
5. Inspect Igniter Electrodes
Igniter electrodes play a pivotal role in sparking the burner and igniting the fuel. If your gas grill won’t light, there could be rust, corrosion, or other buildup preventing them from working. A loose or broken wire could also be to blame.
Remove the grate, flame tamer, and igniter mounting screw. Visually inspect the igniter electrodes—they’re usually thin, tubular metal pieces with ceramic bases that connect to the igniter module.
Mild buildup can usually be scrubbed off with a paper towel or cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Severely corroded electrodes may need to be replaced.
After cleaning the electrodes, wait until they’re completely dry before attempting to light the grill again.
6. Replace the Ignition Module Battery
Some gas grills use batteries to power the ignition modules—the component that sends an electrical current to the igniter electrodes. If your gas grill won’t light, you might simply need to locate and replace an expired battery.
7. Listen for the Click
Another reason why a gas grill won’t light could be that the spark generator (the part with the red button) is too worn out to produce a spark.
If a battery-operated park generator is working properly, it should make a continuous clicking sound when activated. Piezo spark generators (typically found on older grills) should make a sharp snapping sound.
If there’s no sound, and all wires and connections seem to be in good shape, the spark generator has probably reached the end of its lifespan and will need to be replaced.
8. Don’t Overlook the Weather
Sometimes a gas grill won’t light if it’s rainy or especially humid, as the moisture will prevent the igniter from sparking or the gas from catching fire. Or, if you’re trying to grill in extremely cold winter conditions, the gas line or tank could be frozen.
9. Reset the Regulator
The regulator is a circular mechanism between the gas tank and the hose. It controls how much gas is released from the tank. Turn it clockwise to release more gas. If this doesn’t solve the problem, it could be stuck and will need to be reset.
- Turn off the gas at the tank, disconnect the hose from the grill, and open the grill’s lid.
- Wait at least five minutes.
- Turn all knobs to high.
- Wait one minute.
- Return the knobs to the off position.
- Reconnect the fuel supply.
- Turn the gas on very slowly.
- Try lighting the grill again.
10. Unlock a Safety Feature
When a gas grill won’t light, sometimes the culprit is an active safety feature that prevents gas from flowing at its usual levels (or shuts it off entirely).
In some cases, the reason why a gas grill won’t light is because the user made an error lighting it the first time, or left the gas on for too long, causing a safety feature to automatically reduce or lock gas flow.
It’s not always the user’s fault, however. A damaged component could also trigger the safety mechanism.
Check your grill’s manual to see if there are any safety features that may have been activated without you realizing it.
Grill Like the Pros With FlavrQ
These ten troubleshooting tips should help most people find a solution when their gas grill won’t light. If it’s still not working, it might just be time for a new grill.
For more tips on troubleshooting gas grills, check this blog: 10 Fixes if Your Gas Grill Is Not Getting Hot Enough.
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