Propane Grilling Safety Tips

Stay Safe and Healthy This Summer Grilling Season

July is a great month for grilling along the South Shore, whether it’s a pot of steamers or burgers and hot dogs. But, it’s also the month for grill fires that can cause serious property damages and injuries.

Put safety first and learn about safely grilling with propane. We have tips so you can keep the Massachusetts Fire Department from crashing your next cookout.

Safety Starts with Maintenance

Taking proper care of your propane grill can help it not only operate more safely, but will help it last longer and work better. Here’s what you need to do when it comes to regular maintenance of your propane grill.

• Thoroughly clean the grill inside and out. Repetitive uses without good cleaning can start to rust and break down the metals of your equipment. In addition to that, the gas released from the burned food may stick to the meat onto your next use making it toxic for your health
• Using a quality degreaser from brands like Weber or Easy-Off will allow you to penetrate the grease and sticky/burnt-on meat on burners and food racks, after which, you can take a wet towel and start wiping them clean with ease
• Inspect the burner for clogs, which can cause uneven flames and burner failure; use a pipe cleaner or a thin wire to remove any clogs. Clean the burner with a damp cloth and towel-dry before reattaching it and the gas tubes
• Make sure the grill and all the parts are towel-dried before putting parts back and reattaching the gas tubes and burner
• Protect your grill from the elements by using a vinyl grill cover
• Check your propane cylinder. Are there signs of corrosion or rust? If so, come to our Canton, MA, facility to exchange for a new propane cylinder!

Keep Your Cookout Safe

Propane grill maintenance is a good start. Now we’ve got some best practices for grilling with propane:

• Keep propane grills and propane cylinders outdoors at all times; never store or use either indoors or in a garage, shed or covered carport. Not only is this a fire hazard, it can also create a buildup of carbon monoxide, an odorless and potentially harmful gas
• Use your grill on a level surface and at least five feet away from the house or anything that could catch fire like overhead branches or outdoor furniture
• Open the grill lid before you ignite the grill, and keep it open until you’ve confirmed that the grill has been lit. A closed grill can cause propane gas to build up and create an explosion risk
• Once the grill is lit, don’t wander off to chat with your guests or get a drink. Unattended grills are the cause of half of cooking fire-related injuries, according to the National Fire Prevention Association
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill
• Keep one part of your grill surface empty so you can easily move food to there if a flare-up occurs. After the food is moved, keep the grill lid up to burn off the flare-up
• If the flare-up spreads, remove all the food from the grill and turn off the burners and gas
• When you’re done grilling, turn off all the burners and close the cylinder valve before you leave the grill to go eat

We care about our customers and encourage you to learn more about propane safety. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the propane experts at Frank Lamparelli, today!