What To Do When Your Weber Grill Won’t Light: A Troubleshooting Guide
Grill won't light?
There’s nothing more frustrating than heading out back to fire up your Weber and throw some meat out on the grill only to find that it won’t light. Whether you’re prepping for a weekend cookout or just dinner for the family,a grill that won’t light can seriously dampen the mood. Weber has some of the most reliable grills on the market, but even they are not immune to needing repairs from time to time. Not to worry; we’re here to help. Most common problems with grills can be easily fixed with a little troubleshooting. This guide will walk you through the same steps our technicians take when troubleshooting. Keep reading to learn how to diagnose and resolve your Weber grill when it won’t light.
How to Diagnose and Repair your Weber Grill
These steps will walk you through the process of troubleshooting your grill when it won’t light. We will cover gas flow, ignition, and a surprising culprit you may not have considered. Keep reading for the step by step guide to diagnosing and solving ignition problems on your grill.
Step 1: Check the Fuel Supply
First thing to check is going to be your fuel supply. Is your propane tank empty? Is the valve closed?
- Check your propane levels: use a propane gauge or simply lift the tank to feel its weight. If the tank is close to empty, it may not have enough left for a proper flow. When in doubt, you can always get a trade it in for a full one.
- Reset the tank: try disconnecting the propane hose and regulator and removing it, then connecting it again. Be sure to close the valve first to avoid any leaks. (Righty tighty lefty loosey!) Once reinstalled, the regulator may be able to restart the gas flow again as long as you remember to open the valve back up.
Step Two: Check the Igniter
If your fuel supply is okay, then the next culprit to rule out is going to be the igniter. Although Weber grills have some very reliable igniters, sometimes they just won’t light. These steps will help diagnose why.
- Listen for the click: When you try to light your grill, you should hear a clicking sound. This is the spark that ignites the fuel. If there is no sound, the igniter may be faulty or the battery may be dead.
- Replace the battery: If you didn’t know your grill igniter has a battery, then it is probably time to replace it. (Not all igniters use a battery, so if you can’t find it, maybe fish that dusty manual out from under there and check.)
- Manual ignition: If the igniter still does not work after replacing the battery, it’s time to break out the long lighter. Tried and true for many grillers who didn’t know their igniters need batteries. Or you can use a match if you’re old school. If it lights, congratulations! you have a faulty or disconnected igniter. An easy repair job. If it doesn’t light, it’s time to check the burners.
Step 3: Clear Any Clogs
As grease and debris fall through the grates of your grill, they can sometimes clog up the holes and block the gas flow. This build-up can easily be cleared with a drill bit, but you might want to remove the burners first. This will give you access to otherwise unreachable areas of your grill.
- Clean the burners: Remove the grill grates and Flavorizer bars to inspect the burners. You can brush away any debris with your grill brush and unclog them with anything that will fit, really. Our technicians drill out any stubborn clogs with drill bits on a power drill.
- Unclog the orifices: Now that your burners are removed, you’ll have access to a part of your grill you’ve probably never seen before: the orifices. These tiny holes are what supplies the fuel at the correct pressure for the grill. They also are a wonderful home for spiders. When an otherwise perfectly functional grill is receiving no gas flow, spiders are usually the culprit. Taking anything small enough to fit, like a paperclip, and swirling it around in the orifice will be enough to clear it. If you pull it out and see a little white puff that looks like cotton, you’ve found it.
Step 4: Replace the Regulator
If none of the above have revealed the problem, it may be time to replace some parts. The first one to try is the regulator, which you have already learned how to uninstall and reinstall if you have been following this guide. Why not try that first? Because it could have been spiders. Regulators can be found at just about any hardware store or bbq store. Or you can try this handy affiliate link and have it conveniently delivered to you.
Step 5: Call the Professionals
If absolutely nothing will ignite your grill, it may be time to call in the cavalry. There’s no shame in asking for help after all, and these burgers aren’t going to cook themselves. Professionals have the training and experience for advanced troubleshooting. If these steps haven’t fixed your Weber grill that won’t light, then it may be past the DIY limit.
Service With A Smile
Here at SoCal Grill Cleaning, our deep cleaning services include troubleshooting your grill’s ignition and gas flow. So you’ll not only have a solution to your grilling problems, but also have a shiny clean grill again too! We service Los Angeles and the surrounding areas and have technicians scattered throughout Southern California. If you’re not sure if we service your area, feel free to call and ask!
