Q:I don’t know what type of gas bottle to use?
A:There are two types of gas bottle – one is butane (usually blue in colour) the other is propane (usually red or green in colour). The majority of gas barbecues now use propane. Your barbecue should be fitted with either a red regulator (propane) or a blue regulator (butane). The regulator fitted to your barbecue should be a ‘clip-on’ regulator which connects easily and safely to the gas bottle. If your barbecue has not got a regulator fitted then call 0800 662663 for your nearest Calor Gas stockist who will be able to supply you with the regulator and a ‘Patio Gas’ bottle available in either 5Kg propane or 13Kg propane sizes
Q:Where can I get a gas bottle?
A:There are several different suppliers of gas bottles, the largest being Calor Gas (Patio Gas), BP (Gas Lite) and Flo-Gas (Leisure Gas). There are over 2,000 retailers of gas bottles in the UK. All of the major DIY chains retail gas bottles as do most independent garage forecourts and garden centres. However, if you have trouble finding a stockist you can call Calor Gas Direct on 0800 662663 which provide a nationwide home delivery service.
Q:Why does my barbecue keeping flaring up?
A:First of all it's important that you understand that flare-ups are not as big a problem as you might think. Controlled flare-ups are okay, it's when the fire gets out of control that you have a problem. There are several ways to deal with flare-ups and a spray bottle full of water isn't the best way.
First of all you need to plan on flare-ups and prepare for them. The first step is to reduce the risk of a flare-up by trimming any and all unnecessary fat from the foods you grill. For the sake of flavor, meats should be left with a little fat on them. This prevents meat from drying out while grilling. Fat just doesn’t mean fat on the meat but any fat you have added like oils in marinades or sauces. Marinades should be allowed to sink in and marinated meat should be dripping in oil when it hits the grill.
It is always important to remember to clean your barbecue after use. You can do this in one of two ways. Firstly, for gas barbecues, the easiest method is to ‘burn off’ the excess fat by turning up all the burners to maximum heat (close the lid / hood if you have one) and leave for 10 – 15 minutes. The second method, which is the best way to prevent flare ups, is to use a wire brush and thoroughly clean the cooking grates and vaporizer / flavoriser bars. This also should extend the life and use of your barbecue.
Q:My gas barbecue won’t ignite, what shall I do?
A:Firstly, ALWAYS ensure that the barbecue hood / lid is up to prevent a gas build up. NEVER attempt to light your gas barbecue with the hood / lid down.
There are two types of ignition, one is piezo the other is electronic. The piezo ignition system is the most common but can overtime malfunction due to exposure to the elements, that’s why it is recommended that you always use a barbecue cover to reduce the effects of weathering. The electronic system uses a small battery which again after time will need replacing. If in doubt please refer to the barbecue instruction manual for further advice.
Q:Can I use charcoal in my gas barbecue?
A:No, gas barbecues are designed to handle the heat created by burners and not the heat created by burning charcoal. Aside from the fact that you would be filling your gas barbecue with ash and quite likely have hot burning coals falling out of your barbecue the heat from burning charcoal can be very damaging to components of a gas barbecue. Throw charcoal in a gas barbecue and you will probably end up having to replace several parts, if not the entire barbecue itself.
If your grill is having trouble reaching a good temperature then there is probably something wrong with it. You should look into repairing your grill and not try boosting the heat with charcoal.
Q:Why is the flame in my gas barbecue yellow?
A:The flame on a gas barbecue should be blue. If you have a yellow flame it could be caused by a couple of different problems. First of all the burner might be worn out. If you have an older barbecue then you should inspect the burner to make sure that there are no cracks or holes and that all the burner holes are the same size.
If you have a new barbecue or burner, or your burner appears to be fine then the problem might be with the regulator. The regulator is usually a round metal object near the connector to your gas supply. Sometimes regulators get stuck. This can reduce the gas flow, make a yellow flame and keep your barbecue from getting hot. To solve a stuck regulator, turn off the fuel supply to your grill. Disconnect the main connector and open the barbecue control value. This will eliminate any pressure on the regulator. Sometimes this will reset the regulator, but sometimes they stay stuck. Take a small hard object like the handle of a screwdriver and give the regulator a gentle tap.
Now you can reconnect everything and see how your barbecue works now. If you still have a yellow flame your propane gas bottle might be low, the regulator may need replacing or you could have a blockage in the venturi tubes. So first check your gas bottle content.
If you have plenty of fuel, locate the venturi tubes. The venturi tubes are located along fuel lines right behind the control valves. These allow air to mix with the fuel before reaching the burners so they have a small open space. If that space is blocked it will restrict the fuel flow to the burner. Make sure it is clear of obstruction.
A:There are two types of gas bottle – one is butane (usually blue in colour) the other is propane (usually red or green in colour). The majority of gas barbecues now use propane. Your barbecue should be fitted with either a red regulator (propane) or a blue regulator (butane). The regulator fitted to your barbecue should be a ‘clip-on’ regulator which connects easily and safely to the gas bottle. If your barbecue has not got a regulator fitted then call 0800 662663 for your nearest Calor Gas stockist who will be able to supply you with the regulator and a ‘Patio Gas’ bottle available in either 5Kg propane or 13Kg propane sizes
Q:Where can I get a gas bottle?
A:There are several different suppliers of gas bottles, the largest being Calor Gas (Patio Gas), BP (Gas Lite) and Flo-Gas (Leisure Gas). There are over 2,000 retailers of gas bottles in the UK. All of the major DIY chains retail gas bottles as do most independent garage forecourts and garden centres. However, if you have trouble finding a stockist you can call Calor Gas Direct on 0800 662663 which provide a nationwide home delivery service.
Q:Why does my barbecue keeping flaring up?
A:First of all it's important that you understand that flare-ups are not as big a problem as you might think. Controlled flare-ups are okay, it's when the fire gets out of control that you have a problem. There are several ways to deal with flare-ups and a spray bottle full of water isn't the best way.
First of all you need to plan on flare-ups and prepare for them. The first step is to reduce the risk of a flare-up by trimming any and all unnecessary fat from the foods you grill. For the sake of flavor, meats should be left with a little fat on them. This prevents meat from drying out while grilling. Fat just doesn’t mean fat on the meat but any fat you have added like oils in marinades or sauces. Marinades should be allowed to sink in and marinated meat should be dripping in oil when it hits the grill.
It is always important to remember to clean your barbecue after use. You can do this in one of two ways. Firstly, for gas barbecues, the easiest method is to ‘burn off’ the excess fat by turning up all the burners to maximum heat (close the lid / hood if you have one) and leave for 10 – 15 minutes. The second method, which is the best way to prevent flare ups, is to use a wire brush and thoroughly clean the cooking grates and vaporizer / flavoriser bars. This also should extend the life and use of your barbecue.
Q:My gas barbecue won’t ignite, what shall I do?
A:Firstly, ALWAYS ensure that the barbecue hood / lid is up to prevent a gas build up. NEVER attempt to light your gas barbecue with the hood / lid down.
There are two types of ignition, one is piezo the other is electronic. The piezo ignition system is the most common but can overtime malfunction due to exposure to the elements, that’s why it is recommended that you always use a barbecue cover to reduce the effects of weathering. The electronic system uses a small battery which again after time will need replacing. If in doubt please refer to the barbecue instruction manual for further advice.
Q:Can I use charcoal in my gas barbecue?
A:No, gas barbecues are designed to handle the heat created by burners and not the heat created by burning charcoal. Aside from the fact that you would be filling your gas barbecue with ash and quite likely have hot burning coals falling out of your barbecue the heat from burning charcoal can be very damaging to components of a gas barbecue. Throw charcoal in a gas barbecue and you will probably end up having to replace several parts, if not the entire barbecue itself.
If your grill is having trouble reaching a good temperature then there is probably something wrong with it. You should look into repairing your grill and not try boosting the heat with charcoal.
Q:Why is the flame in my gas barbecue yellow?
A:The flame on a gas barbecue should be blue. If you have a yellow flame it could be caused by a couple of different problems. First of all the burner might be worn out. If you have an older barbecue then you should inspect the burner to make sure that there are no cracks or holes and that all the burner holes are the same size.
If you have a new barbecue or burner, or your burner appears to be fine then the problem might be with the regulator. The regulator is usually a round metal object near the connector to your gas supply. Sometimes regulators get stuck. This can reduce the gas flow, make a yellow flame and keep your barbecue from getting hot. To solve a stuck regulator, turn off the fuel supply to your grill. Disconnect the main connector and open the barbecue control value. This will eliminate any pressure on the regulator. Sometimes this will reset the regulator, but sometimes they stay stuck. Take a small hard object like the handle of a screwdriver and give the regulator a gentle tap.
Now you can reconnect everything and see how your barbecue works now. If you still have a yellow flame your propane gas bottle might be low, the regulator may need replacing or you could have a blockage in the venturi tubes. So first check your gas bottle content.
If you have plenty of fuel, locate the venturi tubes. The venturi tubes are located along fuel lines right behind the control valves. These allow air to mix with the fuel before reaching the burners so they have a small open space. If that space is blocked it will restrict the fuel flow to the burner. Make sure it is clear of obstruction.
