| Why is the BBQ ignition the first part to break? | | | | on, this arc should ignite your gas grill burner. |
| I am a gas grill technician and your barbeque ignitor is | | | | Troubleshooting |
| fine. Most technicians provide technical service and | | | | If your gas grill will not ignite, there could be a few |
| cleanings for any barbecue even if they only stock | | | | different reasons. Low gas flow is often caused by |
| and sell particular brands. Whether a grilling customer | | | | the check valve in the lp tank. To correct this issue |
| has a great grill or a cheap import, one thing I | | | | read: Why won’t my gas grill get hot? Rarely a |
| frequently is: “the igniter on the barbeque grill | | | | gas regulator may need to be replaced. If you have |
| stopped working within the first year”. | | | | been grilling on this gas BBQ for over five years, |
| Sometimes “the first year” was ten years | | | | have a professional test your regulator. The most |
| ago!! While the perception of a customer is always | | | | common problem is lighting the grill. |
| true, the statement is generally not true. Ignition | | | | What is wrong with the BBQ Grill Ignitor? |
| systems generally work reliably for many years but | | | | As you cook on your gas barbeque grill, the heat |
| may need replacement grill parts inside the firebox of | | | | trapped in the hood causes the food to |
| the barbeque. | | | | “sweat” and grease drips into the grill. Most |
| Of course, you could point out the obvious confusion | | | | gas barbecue grills have some version of grease |
| in that statement which is that if the grill stopped | | | | management system but you know you get a mess |
| igniting, what does it matter if you say the igniter is | | | | in the firebox. When the grease, pieces of food, rust, |
| not broken?! If it does not ignite the grill, it is not | | | | rain water, dust and dirt get in to the firebox the |
| working. I have been shocked by ignition modules off | | | | electrode gets too dirty to spark. If you take away |
| grills when the owner claimed the ignitor hadn't | | | | one bit of advice from this message: if you do not |
| worked in ten years. | | | | hire a professional to clean your grill, don't just clean |
| Grill Ignition Parts. | | | | the parts you can see or eat off. |
| A gas barbeque grill ignition system consists of | | | | Make the gas grill ignite. |
| several replaceable parts. The module, the electrode | | | | To keep your gas barbeque grill starting reliably and |
| wire and the electrode are the primary parts although | | | | safely, keep the electrodes clean. When you find it, |
| sometimes the module will be split into a spark | | | | clean it gently and do not break the porcelain sleeve |
| generator, a connection switch (button) and a power | | | | or it will have to be replaced. A stainless collector box |
| source (battery). The spark that ignites your gas grill | | | | may cover the electrode to protect the electrode |
| is produced at the electrode but created in the | | | | from grease and weather and to protect the spark |
| module. The electrode is usually the culprit when you | | | | from too much wind. The arc may jump between |
| cannot light your grill. | | | | dual electrode posts or from a single electrode post |
| The gas BBQ ignition module, or spark generator, is | | | | to either the collector box or the gas burner. You grill |
| the part that creates the juice. Many older gas | | | | starter will not light if the electrode cannot spark |
| barbeque grills used a piezo electric module. These | | | | against a clean piece of steel. The module, battery |
| simple ignition modules would last forever. However, | | | | and switch are still functioning to send the spark to |
| most gas grills today use a battery-powered module. | | | | the gas but the failure is at the electrode. The |
| A battery module consists of a switch (button) that | | | | module, battery pack, etc can all be functioning at full |
| makes a connection and engages the battery in the | | | | efficiency but if the electrode is dirty you do not get |
| power supply. The electric current travels along an | | | | a spark. |
| electrode wire to the electrode (spark plug). You | | | | Gas barbecue grill manufacturers make these |
| should be able to see the steel running through | | | | products to be outside in the weather. They expect |
| porcelain in the front of the firebox just above or | | | | you to treat them poorly, to leave them in the rain |
| beside the gas grill burner. Sometimes the electrode | | | | and the snow. When you clean your gas grill, simply |
| will have another rod as a ground, others ground to | | | | knowing the parts of the igniter should give you the |
| (spark against) the stainless steel burner. When the | | | | ability to ensure the electrode stays clean and your |
| current travels to the steel rod and finds a ground, a | | | | gas grill ignition will last much longer. |
| spark arcs across the two steel rods. If the gas is | | | | |