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Gas Grill Burner Cleaning and Repair

Courtesy Appliance Factory Parts

This article should help you through the majority of possible gas grill burner problems. At any time if these cleaning procedures did not work, replacement is necessary.

The burner is the guts of the grill. It is also subject to a number of conditions that can damage the burner. Because of the very high heat the burner is exposed to; the salts, fats, and basting solutions that fall on it will wear it out.

Now you must perform the dirty job of removing the cooking grids, briquettes/rocks, grate, and finally the burner from the grill. So lets get to it!

Setting up...

Spread some newspaper down to lay the gas grill parts on
Remove and set the cooking grids on this paper
Move the briquettes towards the center and away from the edges of the coal grate. This way you can lift the grate and lava rock or briquettes out together and set it on the newspaper
Remove the burner
- The burner may or may not be locked to the bottom housing. If not, simply pull the venturi tubes away from the valves and gas jets (also called orifices) and lift out.
If the burner is secured, look for a spring dip, cotter pin, or a stud with a wing nut holding the burner to the bottom
-If your grill is equipped with an ignitor and collector box attached to the burner, the wire must be also disconnected before burner removal

Cleaning and troubleshooting your Venturi...

It is extremely important to clean the venturi tubes of any obstructions such as spider webs, etc. This is most important at the start of the grilling season or any other time the grill has not been used for a while. A small web can block the gas flow and cause poor burner performance for a flash back fire.

A venturi brush should be used to clean the venturi tubes.
- Special care should be taken to make sure the brush passes through any curve in the venturi tube.
You may also flush out the tubes with a strong flow of water from a garden hose
- Pay attention to how the water exits the burner port holes as clogged holes are easily spotted
If they are rusted and broken up, then you will need new tubes or a new burner depending on the assembly of the two

Cleaning and Troubleshooting Your Burner...

Clogged holes can cause a grill to have hot and cold spots, which not only make it difficult to cook evenly, but also increases the chance of a shattering your glass window.

Check out the burner's gas outlet ports around it's perimeter for splits or separations of the top and bottom halves. A burner damaged this bad needs replacement, if no obvious external damage is present you can continue to clean the grill
Brush the outer parts of the burner with a wire brush, especially the ports
Using a flexible wire, an open paper clip, or a drill bit, probe each port to clear it of grime and rust
- Caution: Do not use anything larger in diameter that the port itself, this will cause damage to the burning operations of your grill
Now, lightly tap the burner, this will help cause any of the residue to fall out of the ports and tubes

Too many excessively obstructed ports that you cannot clear is a sign to replace the burner. If you can clear the ports and the previous inspection and cleaning processes did not indicate burner failure, we can continue:

Check the gas jets at the end of the valves for spider webs, dirt, or dust. Clean them if necessary
Assuming that the valves are turning and you have gas, the burner should be reinstalled into your grill and tested to see if the cleaning process helped.
While you have the bottom of the aluminum casting exposed, take the opportunity to clean it the best you can by removing any gunk out with a putty knife, garden tool, etc.

Replacing your burner...

Before you junk your burner you need to do a few things:

Measure it from left to right, front to back
Look for the label that is required by the American Gas Association that will list the model number, manufacturer, and the type of gas specified for use
- This label should be near the controls, or on the cart.
The venturi tubes should also be measured if you cannot find the label information.
- If the venturi tube has a bent mixer or a slope in it, then measure from the top to the center line of the tube, after the bend, and from the end to the center line of the tube. If dealing with a straight tube, just measure from top to bottom

In addition to stainless steel burners, you should consider buying "better than original" cast iron burners. Cast iron burners heat up and become their own heat radiant source, cooking your food better. They also have a longer life span than stainless steel burners because of their heavy construction.

Specific questions? You can contact Appliance Factory Parts at any time.

Browse the Appliance Factory Parts gas grill parts catalog

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