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195 Lancaster Ave
Malvern, PA 19355

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1432 S West End Blvd
Quakertown, PA 18951

Maryland Office

Monkton, MD 21111

How to Use a Propane Grill

Summer is right around the corner, and what better way to enjoy the beautiful, warm sunshine in Pennsylvania and Maryland than barbequing with your friends and family! Using a propane grill to make tasty recipes is the perfect way to kick off the season. Knowing how to start and use the grill safely will allow you to make delicious meals for your loved ones.

How to Start a Propane Grill: 

 

It is crucial to start the propane grill correctly to keep you and your family safe. Many propane grills come with an automatic starter, making it easy for customers to start their grills while enjoying a pleasant conversation with their guests.  

Automatic Start Propane Grill:

 

The automatic method of starting a propane grill is one of the easiest ways to start a grill. We have outlined the steps of how to start a propane grill automatically below:

  1. Open the lid of your propane grill to prevent fume buildup and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before lighting the grill. If it is your first time starting your propane grill, you will most likely have to supply the grill with a gas connection. 
  2. Next, you can turn the gas on. 
  3. After you have turned the knobs, you should wait about 10-15 seconds before pushing the ignition button. Pressing the ignition emits a spark in the gas-inducing burner to light it.  

Manual Start Propane Grill:

 

The manual way to start a propane grill is a little more complicated. You can manually ignite a propane grill’s burner using the four steps listed below:

  1. There is usually (not always) a lighting hole located on the side of the grill.
  2. After you have located the lighting hole, fix the match on a curled holder. 
  3. Light your match and insert it into the lighting hole. Make sure your closest burner is turned on.
  4. After you ignite the single burner, switch the other knobs to turn them on and wait for the lighted burner to cross light them. 

Frequent Fill Up of Propane Tanks:

 

Propane tanks need to be refilled depending on how often you use the propane. For barbecue tanks, you can typically use the tank for 10 – 20 hours of grilling, depending on the size of your grill, before it needs to be refilled. You should refill your tank when there are about 2 pounds of fuel left in the tank.  There are numerous ways to check if your barbecue tank needs a refill. 

First, you can check by weight. To calculate the amount of propane left in your tank, you would subtract the tare weight from the tank’s weight.  The tare weight is referred to the tank’s weight when the tank is empty.  It is usually written directly on the tank or on the upper right corner of the tank collar.  The tare weight has the acronym TW next to it.

You can also do the water test, which is where you fill a mug with hot water and pour it into the side of the tank. Next, touch the side of the tank for the temperature. The tank will feel cold where there is propane. The top of the cold temperature indicates the start of your propane level. 

If you live in Malvern, PA, or the surrounding area, Great Valley Propane will regularly inspect, replace, or refill your propane tanks for you. 

Let’s Get Cookin’:

 

Now that you have started your brand new propane grill, it’s time to get cooking! Grilling with propane allows you to cook with both direct heat and indirect heat at the same time. For example, you can use direct heat to grill veggies, thin slices of meat, and more. The indirect heat is perfect for foods that require longer cooking items, such as meat. 

You can set up indirect heat by turning on all the burners so the grill can pre-heat. After that, you turn off the burners directly under the area you want to cook with indirect heat.   

Truly, propane grills are easy to use and are the perfect addition to your home if you love barbeque. So now that you know how to start and operate your propane grill, get ready to fire it up! 

Great Valley Propane Can Help! 

 

If you need propane for your new grill, we are here to help. Great Valley Propane offers high-quality propane tanks with built-in safety features.  

Don’t wait another minute. Give us a call today at 610-251-2203 to discuss your propane needs.  You can visit the Malvern office to have your barbecue tank refilled, exchanged, or to buy a new one.