You want a solution for the gas grill getting too hot on a low setting because the gas grill is causing such a problem. You can get away from such a problem now but it will definitely happen in the future. But why gas grill gets too hot on low setting?
Gas Grill (Natural & Propane) is great for indoor, outdoor, camping, tailgate grilling, and cooking. The gas grill is America’s most preferred appliance for cooking. It is allowing a fast way of cooking.
The main question on your mind is why is my gas grill getting very hot on a low setting. There is no one reason for this, there are many factors, some of them being a bad regulator, wrong orifice, gas tube, faulty valve, spider nest, oil coughing fire, clogged burner, and more.
Some people believe that the high temperature is caused by a bright yellow flame, but your assumption is completely wrong. Both problems are completely different. Read below how you can solve a problem like a yellow flame.
Cause Lowest Temperature on Gas Grill
Often we have seen that the cause of problems like low temperature depends on the number of burners of a gas grill. You should always only use one burner when working in a low-heat setting. Since the most preferred is the weber gas grill, let’s take this as an example.
The minimum starting temperature for a Weber gas grill is 200°F and the highest temperature reaches up to 550°F at which all burners are set. So if the temperature of your gas grill rises above 350°F, you need to check that the burners are set correctly.
If you want to grill below 200°F temperature then you need the best and most advanced pellet grill that fits your budget.
I believe a gas grill can cook food at a higher heat than all types of grills on the market. Often with the help of their burners, you can find out how hot they can get. In our view, the Weber Genesis E-325S does a better job at three heating levels.
- Low Heat
- Medium Heat
- High Heat
Cause Highest Temperature on Gas Grill
We need your attention here on the major reasons why a gas grill gets too hot at the low settings:
- Wrong type or not using a regulator
- Regulator is faulty
- The wrong type of orifice
- Venturi tubes have spider webs
- A leaking propane tank
- The gas propane valve is not opened all the way
If we compare a gas grill with an offset grill smoker or a charcoal grill then it is more technical. So when the component in a gas grill malfunctions, it doesn’t function properly, providing abnormal heat that increases hot spots and the chances of food going bad.
Also, if the propane gas tank and natural gas pipeline are marked as high PSI, this could be a reason for your gas grill getting too hot on the low setting.
A gas grill consists of the following main parts that control the flow of gas to the burner and adjust the gas and air mixture for temperature regulation.
- Burner tubes
- Hose connection
- Pressure Regulator
- Gas shutter/venturi tubes
Why Gas Grill Gets Too Hot On Low Setting
Let us analyze why gas grills get very hot in low temperatures. You will find possible solutions to fix the problem of the hot gas grill.
Gas Grill Pressure Regulator Issues
A gas grill regulator can cause very high temperatures at low settings, here are some of the following problems.
- The diaphragm is broken.
- Wrong selection of pressure regulator i.e. replacement of low-pressure regulator with the high-pressure regulator.
- The spring has decreased stiffness due to temperature changes or gas pressure fluctuations.
It is recommended to completely disconnect the propane tank, a pressure regulator is needed to control the gas flow rate, which serves to control the heat of the gas grill.
Propane gas grills have a propane tank attached to the regulator to control the pressure. If you have a natural gas grill you will need to make sure the regulator is properly installed in the gas line (the grill regulator should be below)
Notable things about propane and natural gas, the two are not interchangeable. Propane gas is denser than natural gas. If we compare the two, then 2.5 times more heat is generated by the propane gas.
If you use a natural gas pressure regulator on a propane line, it will not work because the natural gas regulator is not designed to be controlled propane flow, resulting in a large flame and high-temperature output in a gas grill on a low setting.
Also, note that a standard 20-pound propane tank must be connected to a low-pressure QCC1 style regulator. Most Weber propane grills come with a standard non-adjustable pressure regulator that is only suitable for connecting to a 20lb propane tank and generating an outlet pressure of 11″.
So, if you want to replace a 20-pound propane gas grill for more, use the standard pressure regulator provided by Weber. If you don’t, the propane pressure from the outlet will be high and your propane gas grill will overheat on low settings.
We have often seen that when people convert a propane gas grill to a natural gas grill, the diaphragm breaks. Due to this the pressure regulator is not able to reduce the pressure of the gas due to which the temperature of the gas grill will increase to a great extent.
Also, note here, that a faulty pressure regulator can be the cause of many problems. It is important to check the pressure regulator for damage and cleanliness. If the pressure regulator becomes clogged with dirt or grease, it will not function properly and can result in an uncontrolled flow of gas, creating a dangerous situation.
In addition, heat or cold can also affect the performance of the pressure regulator. So, if you find that your propane grill’s regulator is damaged, it’s time to buy a high-quality low-pressure regulator designed to connect to a 20lb propane tank.
The Improper Orifice On Burner Valve
A hole is made on the burner control valve of a gas grill, which serves to increase the velocity of the gas. It mixes air with gas for combustion in the Venturi tube to start a fire.
Propane and natural gas orifices have different sizes for releasing air, see the difference below.
After seeing the picture you would have come to know the difference between the two. There is a big difference between the aperture of both on one pressure. If you use a propane orifice instead of a natural gas orifice, less heat will be generated. Same if using a natural orifice where the propane gas office is used the grill will too heat on the low setting.
We have written a post on how to convert propane to natural gas where you will find a chart of how to identify a natural gas orifice.
Even if you have the right size gas hole, your gas grill can still get very hot on the low setting. You will need to make sure that the carbon hasn’t accumulated. Carbon deposits will block the hole, causing the gas grill to fluctuate in temperature.
Hose Connection Issue
If you have installed a suitable pressure regulator in your gas grill line but still have problems with deregulation then you need to check the gas hose connection. The hose connection may not fit properly which can cause the temperature of your gas grill to rise uncontrollably.
The natural gas hose has a high diameter orifice, designed for natural gas. If you use the natural gas hose for a propane gas grill, more propane will flow through the hose connection.
Sometimes due to keeping it open, insects make their home in it, due to which uninterrupted gas flow can cause irregular flames. That’s why you should clean the inside of it as well.
Some factors that are often overlooked, such as whether or not hose insulation is damaged, are subject to investigation. Second, if you’re grilling on a sunny day, the ambient heat can cause the gas to expand through the drain. Due to this, the pressure of the gas will increase and as a result, this increased pressure will increase the combustion temperature of the gas.
Clogged Burners
As to why this happens, it is usually due to grease or food particles. It is very small in the beginning but increases over time which slows down the flow of gas causing irregular flames from your gas grill burner.
In this case, the flames from the burner tube will be intensified, or somewhere the flames will be limited or not at all. This uneven interruption of gas flow in a closed burner will lead to hot spots, indicating to us heat fluctuations in a gas grill.
We believe that the grill thermometer is located where there is a large flame coming out, so the grill will show you the higher temperature, but you will be disappointed in the end.
The main reason for the sky-high distribution of flame in a gas grill is that the burner tube is clogged with carbon or grease and another, which rarely happens, is that the hole in the burner tube is not properly machined.
On repeated checks, we found that the burner tubes were filled with grease or carbon soot. If the condition persists after cleaning, consider a new burner tube that should be the same size as all burner slots along the length.
To clean the burner slots, you can use a hard wire brush or even a screwdriver. Use carefully for cleaning the burner tube so as not to damage the burner hole.
Gas Grill on Direct Sunlight
We are telling from your experience that this problem mainly occurs with propane gas grills, 99% of propane gets this complaint and only 1% with natural gas. Expansion of gas due to propane tank exposure to the sun for a long time.
This increases the pressure of the propane, which increases the chances of a gas grill getting too hot on a low setting. So, when cooking with a propane gas grill, try to keep the tanks in the shade and take care not to be exposed to temperatures above 120F.
Venturi Tube and Air Shutter Issue
Air shutters are adjusted by the factory to allow a specific ratio required for efficient combustion. As everyone knows a mixture of gas and air will only start a fire for which there is a screw to adjust the opening on the shutter.
If you messed with the gas grill’s air shutter, it could also be causing the gas grill to overheat on the low setting. The opening in the air shutter for a natural gas grill is bigger than the shutter opening of a propane gas grill.
Tips to Prevent Food from Too High Temperature of Gas Grill
Here are some important tips based on experience. You can do the following to eliminate the high-temperature problem of your gas grill.
Indirect Heating
Indirect heat that can protect your food from the scorching heat of a gas grill. But it depends on what kind of gas grill you are using. For indirect heating facilities, the burner should operate independently only when this is possible. Check out this list of some of the best 2-burner gas grills.
In indirect heating, turn on all burners on the low setting for about 15 minutes. Then, finally, turn off the 1-burner if you have a 2-burner gas grill (either left or right), and put the food there. This way the food will not be exposed to high temperatures.
Use Heat Diffuser
If your gas grill doesn’t have a heat diffuser, you should use one that is fitted somewhat above the burner tube. This prevents the food from being exposed to direct heat and also provides relief from the problem of high temperature in gas grills.
Do Not Turn On Sear Station
At the time most gas grills have a BBQ sear station, I believe your grill has a sear station/burner. These features only work at full temperature settings for applying grill marks to meat.
An acute heating zone with a sear burner or station is designed to allow the gas grill to generate high heat. That’s why you have to take care not to turn on the burner without the need, also keep in mind that while grilling it did not turn on by mistake.
Use Extra Thermometer
If you’re using an inexpensive gas grill, it’s more likely that your gas grill’s built-in thermometer is of lower quality. There is every possibility that it will not give you accurate temperature information.
We recommend that you buy a high-quality WiFi temperature probe with you. It’s dedicated to providing accurate temperature information that you can control from your phone.
Keep Grill Clean
Often our little carelessness gives rise to this kind of problem. You have to keep in mind that the cleanliness of the cooking grill is very important so that there is no problem in distributing the heat evenly over the cooking area.
If you don’t clean the grill, there will be some grease or residue that will start to burn during cooking and this will add extra heat, increasing the chances of the grill overheating. Also, it will affect the taste of your food. Check out the best cleaning brush.
