How to Fix Low Flame on LPG Gas Burners

HOW TO FIX LOW FLAME, LOW HEAT ON A GAS BURNER

It can happen to anyone using LPG gas in their BBQ or fire table. You just changed the tank and you’re ready to go, the next time you open the valve and turn up the knobs, you get these pathetic and guttering flames and next to no heat. What happened?! Low heat and low flames on a gas burner are usually the effects of a safety feature built into your gas regulator and in this article; we’ll show you how to fix it.

GAS BURNERS IN A NUTSHELL

How does the gas get from the tank and into your burners? When you open the valve on the tank from the top, gas flows up and out of the tank into the gas line, and up to the manifold where it is divided between the burners, and out the control valves managed by the awesome light-up knobs on your burner. From the control valves, gas is mixed with oxygen for optimal burn, pressing button ignition system lights the gas and oxygen mixture which has flowed into the burners and flames come out the burner ports.

WHY DOES LOW FLOW HAPPEN?

It can seem like an arbitrary and frustrating thing to happen when there may be nothing wrong at all, however, it is a necessary safety precaution. In case there is a leak, you don’t want excess amounts of gas hovering in your burner when you go to light it. Your eyebrows wouldn’t be very happy, to say the least. When your regulator detects excess flow of gas, abnormal to usual flow, it will reduce the amount of gas released. This leads to weak flames and low heat.


REASONS FOR LOW GAS FLOW:

1. This sometimes happens when the LPG valve is opened too quickly.
2. This sometimes happens when the burners are turned on before the LPG tank is opened.
3. This sometimes happens when the LPG tank is shut off before the knobs are turned off.
4. This sometimes happens when the control knobs are left on after use.

HOW TO FIX LOW FLAME/HEAT ON A GAS BURNER

You can fix low heat and low flame on your burner easily by performing a regulator reset. Follow the easy steps below to reset your regulator.

1. Start by turning everything off, including your gas flow at the tank.
2. Disconnect the regulator from the tank and allow everything to sit for about 5 minutes.
3. Reconnect the regulator to the tank and slowly open the valve all the way.
4. Wait for 30 seconds before trying to light the burner again.

FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING

If you’re still experiencing trouble with your flame height and heat output after performing a regulator reset or two, try these troubleshooting tricks.

1. Checking your LPG bottle. Is your tank empty?
2. Cleaning out your burner ports and the burner tubes with a venturi brush.
3. Checked for a leak in your fuel supply? Use soapy water and a brush to check your fuel lines for a gas leak that may not be tripping the sensor in the tank.
4. Checking your LPG tank for the expiration date, dents, and rust, it may be time to replace it. 

To avoid tripping the safety on the regulator of your LPG tank, remember to turn off the burners before the gas tank when you’re done, and when you’re turning on your gas to begin, to turn the gas on slowly, all the way, then back it off about half a turn so that it won’t get stuck on.