Barbecue season is finally here! To avoid any incident, we better learn more about using this great apparatus. Safety guidelines, propane cylinders use, barbecue maintenance and emergency measures: leave nothing aside in order to enjoy your grilling to the fullest!
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Your barbecue is assembled according to the instructions manual? You read the lighting procedure? Then it’s time to learn about the 3 safety advice to follow in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. You can also watch the video opposite for a summary.
To avoid gas leaks, you must perform a leak test as soon as you connect a propane cylinder to your appliance or to the natural gas valve fixed to the building. All it takes is a few seconds and a little bit of soapy water.
The line that connects the barbecue to the propane cylinder or to the natural gas valve fixed to the building might not be leak-proof. Be careful!
Beware: Do not smoke, do not use flames to detect leaks, and extinguish all flames or ignition sources.
If you use your barbecue in enclosed areas, you risk carbon monoxide poisoning; this gas is colourless and odourless and can be fatal.
Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to learn about the clearance to maintain between your appliance and any combustible material.
Once lit, never let your barbecue unattended, do not move it and do not let anyone play nearby to avoid burns.
Turn the gas controls to the closed (OFF) position and let the appliance ventilate itself thoroughly by following the instructions in this regard from the user manual before making any new firing attempt. Do not exceed the critical firing delay that is indicated in the instructions from the user manual.
Even though propane and natural gas barbecues are basically very safe appliances, neglectful acts or omissions can cause accidents. In such a case, please follow these safety measures:
To learn how to prepare, store and transport your propane cylinders safely, refer to the page entitled Propane cylinders.
Even though your propane or natural gas barbecue is designed to withstand all weather conditions, it will nevertheless require a minimum of yearly maintenance. Do read the maintenance instructions printed inside the user manual, and observe the following tips:
The burner: Inspect the condition of the burner. If it is in good condition, clean it delicately with a steel wire brush recommended by the manufacturer. The colour of the flame produced by the combustion of propane gas should be of an unaltered blue. If the flame is constantly yellow or bright, it is probably an indication of a poorly adjusted or dirty burner.
If you notice that it is punctured in a number of places (other than the burner holes), call upon any specialized barbecue centre or your barbecue salesman to have your burner verified and replaced.
Chamber: Clean the inside of the chamber with an oven cleaner, or a barbecue degreaser, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you wish to give back some lustre to the outside of your appliance’s chamber, use a paint designed for high temperatures.
Gas controls, line and couplings: To check if your propane or natural gas installation is leak-free, turn the controls to the closed (OFF) position, and make sure that the couplings are tight.
Volcanic rock briquettes: A single layer of briquettes is sufficient to give maximum cooking efficiency. Therefore, do not overload the bottom grill with briquettes; make sure that you see the flame of the burner here and there.
Grills: It is recommended after each use to wash the grills according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cylinders: Do not use any cylinder that is defective or of more than 10 years old. Hand them instead to your propane retailer for safe disposal. You should never discard a propane cylinder to waste. A cylinder might feel empty while still containing enough gas to explode.
Be it summer or winter, a propane cylinder should always be stored outdoors, its valve in the closed position and be out of the reach of children.
