Each year, thousands of people fire up their liquid propane (LP) or natural gas grills at the start of “barbecuing season.” But before starting the grill, there are several safety precautions to keep in mind.By following these guidelines, you’ll help prevent possible gas explosions or fires.
LP gas/liquid propane and natural gas are flammable. Many accidents occur after the grill has been unused over a period of time or after a grill’s LP gas container has been refilled and reattached.
TIPS FOR SAFE GRILL USE
✓ Make sure there are no lighted cigarettes, matches, or open flames near a leaking grill.
✓ Never use a grill indoors due to carbon monoxide (CO) and fire hazards. And use the grill at least 10 feet away from your house or any building. Do not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that will burn.
✓ Always follow the instructions that accompany the grill.
✓ Never leave a grill unattended.
✓ Keep children away from the grill. The outside surface of the grill can get hot and burn when touched.
✓ Keep a kitchen fire extinguisher nearby.
✓ If the grill’s flame goes out, turn off the gas supply at the propane tank. Propane gas can build up underneath the grill racks and pose a dangerous explosion hazard. Open the grill lid and wait at least 5 to 10 minutes for the gas to dissipate before restarting the grill.
LP GAS CONTAINER TIPS
When Storing:
✓ Always keep containers upright.
✓ Never store a spare LP gas container under or near the grill.
✓ Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near the grill.
✓ Never use or store an LP gas container indoors.
When Transporting:
✓ Transport the container in a secure, upright position.
✓ Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk.
When Refilling:
✓ Have the container refilled only by your LP gas dealer or by a qualified service station operator. DO NOT FILL THE CONTAINER YOURSELF. Consider using a cylinder exchange.
When Connecting:
✓ Remove the container valve plug from the container valve.
✓ Thread the container connector securely into the container valve outlet (turn counterclockwise).
✓ Tighten, but do not use excessive force.
✓ After connected, check for leaks.
When Disconnecting:
✓ Before disconnecting, turn off the grill’s burner and container valve.
✓ Disconnect the container (turn clockwise).
✓ Place the container valve plug securely into the container valve outlet.
TIPS FOR PURCHASING A GRILL OR LP GAS CONTAINER
✓ Buy grills and containers that bear the mark of a nationally-recognized testing laboratory.
SAFETY CHECKS FOR THE GRILL
✓ At least once every year, check the Venturi tube for blockage by insects, spiders, or food drippings. Clear any blockage, either with a pipe cleaner or with a wire. Push any blockages through the tube to the main part of the burner.
✓ Check the grill’s hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there aren’t sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
✓ Make sure hoses are as far away from the hot surface as possible. Make sure to keep hoses away from areas where grease could drip on them. If you can’t move hoses, have a heat shield installed.
✓ Check for LP gas leaks whenever you reconnect the grill to the LP gas container or if you smell gas. To check for leaks, open the LP gas supply valve fully, and apply a soapy solution (one part water, one part liquid detergent) with a brush at connection points. If bubbles appear, there is a leak. Turn off the LP gas and tighten the connection. If this does not stop the leak, close the container valve, and take the grill to your LP gas dealer or a qualified appliance repair person.
✓ If a leak is detected, don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak has been repaired. If you are using the grill, turn off the LP gas.
Charcoal Grill Safety Tips
Follow these important tips to help you and your family use charcoal grills the right way. Look at the New Safety Label on Charcoal Bags It is important to understand what the pictures mean.
Only use charcoal barbecues outside in the open air. Here is why: As charcoal burns, it can give off a gas called carbon monoxide. This gas is very dangerous. You can’t see it. You can’t smell it. And it can kill you.
Do not bring a charcoal grill into the house and use it for heating. Do not barbecue in the garage.
Charcoal grills are only for cooking outside with plenty of fresh air. Do not barbecue inside a tent. Do not use the charcoal grill for heating inside a tent.
Always keep the barbecue outside in the open air. After cooking, do not bring a warm grill into a camper. It takes coals a long time to burn out completely. Even with the grill lid on, fumes can quickly fill the air in a camper. It’s best to empty grills before storing in a camper.
Coals are out when they are cool to the touch.
About CPSC The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.
CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products — such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals — contributed to a significant decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell a recalled product.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. Fax CPSC (toll-free) at (855) 221-6466. Report Unsafe Products
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