Fix my gas barbeque grill ignitor.

I am a gas grill technician and your barbeque ignitor is fine. Most technicians provide technical service and cleanings for any barbecue even if they only stock and sell particular brands. The igniter on the barbeque grill stopped working within the first year is a phrase I hear frequently regardless of the price or quality of the barbeque. Sometimes the first year was ten years ago!! Although the grill may not ignite at the push of a button, the cause is rarely a broken barbeque ignitor. Ignition systems generally work reliably for many years but may need replacement grill parts inside the firebox of the barbeque.

Of course, you could point out the obvious confusion in that statement which is that if the grill stopped igniting, what does it matter if you say the igniter is not broken?! If it does not ignite the grill, it is not working. A gas grill ignition system usually works for many years but has become too dirty to spark when it reaches the gas escaping your barbeque burner.

A Gas Grill Igniter Is Made Up Of Several Parts.

A gas barbeque grill ignition system consists of several replaceable parts. The module, the electrode wire and the electrode are the primary parts although sometimes the module will be split into a spark generator, a connection switch (button) and a power source (battery). The electrode is like the spark plug in your car, the part that mounts on or near the gas grill burner and sparks to light the grill. The electrode is usually the culprit when you cannot light your grill.

The gas BBQ ignition module, or spark generator, is the part that creates the juice. Many older gas barbeque grills used a piezo electric module. These simple ignition modules would last forever. However, most gas grills today use a battery-powered module. Ignition modules with batteries can corrode from moisture but it is not as common as most of us assume and it can usually be cleaned off. An electrode wire connecting the ignition to the module delivers the spark to light your gas grill. You should be able to see the steel running through porcelain in the front of the firebox just above or beside the gas grill burner. The electrode will consist of the steel rod in porcelain that receive the current and another piece of steel to spark against as a ground. The power from the battery ends as a spark at the tip of this steel rod. If the gas is on, this arc should ignite your gas grill burner.

Troubleshooting

If your gas grill will not ignite, there could be a few different reasons. Reset the check valve if you are using a propane tank. To correct this issue read: Why wont my gas grill get hot? Also a typical gas regulator should last approximately five years. If you have been grilling on this gas BBQ for over five years, have a professional test your regulator. The most common problem is lighting the grill.

What is wrong with the BBQ Grill Ignitor?

As you cook on your gas barbeque grill, the heat trapped in the hood causes the food to sweat and grease drips into the grill. When most people clean the grill parts, they clean cooking grates, the outer hood, control panel and things they can see or have to touch. When the grease, pieces of food, rust, rain water, dust and dirt get in to the firebox the electrode gets too dirty to spark. Ive seen grills that looked immaculate because the owner cleaned the parts they could see or had to eat off of but never even looked at the electrode.

Make the gas grill ignite.

As part of your maintenance, look for the electrode inside the firebox of your gas barbeque. When you find it, clean it gently and do not break the porcelain sleeve or it will have to be replaced. A stainless collector box may cover the electrode to protect the electrode from grease and weather and to protect the spark from too much wind. Gas grill igniters that use a collector box often use the box to spark against the electrode and act as the ground. The electrode has to be clean to spark. The module, battery and switch are still functioning to send the spark to the gas but the failure is at the electrode. If the electrode or collector box is too dirty to get a clear spark, the gas will not ignite.

Gas barbecue grill manufacturers make these products to be outside in the weather. Grill parts are manufactured to withstand harsh weather but like any other machine they will need some maintenance. When you clean your gas grill, simply knowing the parts of the igniter should give you the ability to ensure the electrode stays clean and your gas grill ignition will last much longer.

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