Have You Burped Your Grill's Propane Tank This Year?

Although gas grills are pretty easy to cook with, sometimes things just aren't working right. If you've got a propane tank attached to the grill but it won't start up when you light it, there's a chance you may need to burp the propane tank. Luckily, the process is simple and doesn't require any extra tools.

To burp a propane tank, first twist the knob until the release valve is fully closed, then unscrew the grill's hose from the tank. As you do this, you'll hear a noise as the gas is released into the air — this little hissing sound is what's known as the burp. When the tank is done hissing, attach the grill back to the propane as usual and slowly turn the knobs open again. If this was your issue, the grill should light right up. Just make sure to give the gas grill enough time to heat up before you start cooking.

Because this trick is so simple, it's a great first option when troubleshooting a non-functioning propane tank, but it can also be helpful to know the reason why something works. Propane tanks have what's called a regulator on them. The tank is under an immense amount of pressure when full, and the regulator keeps it from exploding the second you open the release valve.

Under certain conditions, the regulator will shut off the flow of air entirely even if the gas valve is open. This is an important safety feature, so please do not try to remove the regulator. But if you aren't aware that the propane tank is capable of doing this, it can be confusing when you turn it on, and nothing happens.

Essentially, burping a propane tank is the same thing as resetting the gas regulator. By removing the grill's gas hose (after the propane tank has been shut off, mind you), you are allowing the regulator to return to its normal state. Once it has reset, it's as simple as hooking the tank back up to the grill and letting it rip. Does this make a gas grill better than charcoal? Not really, but as far as troubleshooting goes, it doesn't get much simpler.