Whether you are experiencing trouble with your BBQ getting up to temperature or would like to perform a necessary leak check after installing a gas bottle, this guide will inform you how to troubleshoot any problems and get your BBQ back up and running as well as ensuring you are completing the necessary steps to keep you and your family safe around your BBQ.

Before troubleshooting whether there is a problem with your gas, it is important to understand the reasons why your gas grill may not be reaching your desired temperatures. Weber propane hose and regulators are designed to identify gas leaks using a safety device inside the regulator and therefore steps should be followed to ensure you are getting the most from your BBQ.

A misconception is that you can light your grill however you please but it is important to ignite your barbecue in a particular way. If you skip any steps, your BBQ will go into a bypass. A bypass suggests that the gas flow will be reduced to around 10% or maybe less of its normal volume. If your grill goes into a bypass, you will find it terribly difficult to heat the grill up to its normal temperature range or possibly not be able to light the grill at all.

The first thing to do when your BBQ begins to ‘act up’ is to carry out a gas leak test. This is the first step to rule out why your BBQ is not performing at its fullest potential. To safely use a bottle of gas, a correct and secure connection between the regulator and the tank valve is required. A leak test is a reliable way to determine if any gas is escaping after you are connecting your gas bottle. This test should be completed each and every time your gas bottle is refilled and refitted. Please follow the steps below:

STEP 1) Take some soapy water and using a spray bottle or a brush/ sponge, wet all of the fittings whilst your regulator is attached. You soap solution can be made by mixing 20% soap with 80% water.

STEP 2) Very slowly turn the tank valve anti-clockwise to open the gas supply. During this step, check for any bubbles around the fittings.

STEP 3) If bubbles appear, this is a sign that you do have a gas leak or a faulty regulator.

STEP 4) If bubbles do not appear the leak check is complete. Turn off the gas supply and rinse all connections with water as some soap and water may be slightly corrosive.

PLEASE NOTE: If your gas cylinder has a leak (bubbles appearing as per figure H) turn off the gas and do not use the BBQ. Disconnect the cylinder and return the bottle to your local retailer. Bottle fittings can become warped or damaged over time. After receiving a replacement bottle take a look and ensure that the tank valve gasket is perfectly round and free of any cracks or splits.

If your regulator has a leak (bubbles appearing as per figure I) please do not use the grill and contact Weber on 02036301500.

So what to do next? If you have completed the gas leak test and you do not have a leak, the steps outlined below will get you and your grill out of a bypass and will help prevent future bypasses from occurring.

STEP 1) Ensure that your BBQ lid is open and all control knobs are in the OFF position (including your side burner if you have one).

STEP 2) Turn on your gas supply by opening the valve on top of the bottle.

STEP 3) Wait for a few seconds for pressure to build up in the hose before moving on to the next step. The pressure will push the safety device into place and ensure that gas will run as normal. This is one of the most important parts of this process, ensuring the pressure has built up.

STEP 4) After you have waited several seconds, you can now light your grill as you normally would by turning the appropriate burner to start/high and igniting.

STEP 5) Light all the main burners and set them to high, then close the BBQ lid. Give your grill 10-15 minutes and it should be in the 500 –550 F range, which means your grill is now operating how it should be.

It is important to understand that cold weather can delay the time that it takes to equalize the pressure, so if it is cold outside give the hose and regulator a little bit of extra time to pressurize before turning a control knob to light the grill.

If this guide has not helped you, you may like to consider some other options as to why you are having trouble which includes:

- The start position that you use to light the grill is also the highest temperature position. So, the further you turn the control knob, the lower you are setting the grill temperature. Could you be accidentally setting the grill to low as opposed to high?

- Could your thermometer be faulty and therefore reading incorrectly?

- Do you have gas in the bottle? It is very common for gas bottle gauge’s to read incorrectly as they may be faulty or broken, so you may wonder how you can determine how much gas is actually in your bottle. There is a simple trick you are able to use. Boil your kettle of water and pour this hot water down the side of the bottle. This will create condensation at your gas level which allows you to see whether a new bottle is required.

- Is the hose/ regulator secured correctly to the cylinder?

- Are your burner tubes dirty/blocked? Remove them and give them a clean. If you are unsure as to whether they are blocked, try and run a small ball bearing inside and see if you are able to get it at the other end.

If you are still having problems, please contact us here at Riverside or Weber directly for further advice or help.