Keep your grill parts functioning well: regulator

We repair BBQ grills with high quality grill parts.  Trained technicians assist clients on site or via e-mail and telephone calls.  Of all the gas barbeque grill parts we service, the lp regulator is the grill parts that cannot be estimated, replaced with something else and truly effects the performance of the barbecue.  The LP gas regulator is the heart of the installation.  A gas grill regulator must compensate for variations in tank pressure from as low as 8 psig to 200 psig — and still deliver a steady flow of propane at eleven inches water column to every appliance on the line.  The regulator must deliver this pressure despite a variable load from intermittant use of the appliances.

For instance, weather and temperature will affect the propane tank pressure but a regulator still must send 11″ water column to the grill, fireplace, oven, water heater, house heater and any others as they turn on and off.

Solaire Infrared grills often come standard with a two stage propane regulator

Regulator problems can be caused by foreign material on the regulator seat disc.  Foreign material can prevent the inlet nipple from properly seating on the seat disc.  The inlet can be removed — by a qualified technician — inspected and wiped clean so re-assembly properly seats the inlet.  The copper pigtail should be inspected and usually replaced and the assembly leak-tested before using the gas lone again.

I had a grill for awhile that pulled a lot of gas and the regulator would freeze during long cooking sessions.  The use of a two-stage regulator will fix this problem.  Two stage regulation also allows for varied pressure in the line that steps down at the appliance.  When many gas appliances are on the same gas line, a second stage regulator will bring water column pressure low for the appliance while the line has a higher pressure to send gas to more appliances.  The two stage regulator installation will keep gas flow from causing the regulator to freeze.  Some gas grill manufacturers ship two-stage regulators as a standard part for the grill.  Others attach an appliance regulator at the manifold and a hose and regulator to attach to the gas line or gas container.

An appliance regulator can be used with a standard gas grill regulator

gas bbq grill lp regulator

Elements like freezing rain, snow, mud and ice can obstruct the vent and prevent the regulator from operating properly.  This can result in too much pressure at the appliance and can result in fire or explosion.  Regulators should be installed with the vent facing down and below a protective cover.  If anything gets into the vent or the screen is missing, the regulator must be replaced.

lp barbeque regulator with two hoses for sideburner

Often a customer will call for technical service because their gas grill will not get hot enough to cook or the heat stays so low cooking time is extended.  A lot.  A typical grill regulator should last approximately five years.  If the regulator needs to be replaced, it will generally allow too much gas pressure or no pressure at all.  The reason the gas grill will not get hot is more frequently a check valve problem with the lp gas tank.

Homeowners with a natural gas line or a large propane container buried in the yard have less control over the grill parts that regulate pressure and a gas company is needed.  If you find you are replacing grill parts frequently, the gas company should check the water column and leak check the system.  I recently had a client who kept ordering control knobs and ignition modules.  After a few orders, I contacted them to see what the problem could be.  The client thought the gas grill was defective and was involved in a lengthy argument with the retailer and manufacturer.  I advised a visit from the gas company and it was discovered the water column pressure was almost triple what was needed for the barbeque grill appliance. The higher pressure was necessary to push the gas flow to the various places where gas appliances were installed.  The flames were under too much pressure and the burners, cooking grates, electrode wires and control knobs all showed the effect of enormous heat.

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