7 suggestions for preparing your grill for spring grilling season.
1. Check for critters. If you grill has been hibernating and covered for a few months, there could be some unwant4ed guests lurking. Evict any spiders or other nesting critters and clear out the cobwebs or other debris from the manifolds, burner valves, connectors, etc. Compressed air (available canned if you don’t own an air compressor) is an efficient way to do this. 2. Clean it. Use a cleaning utensil and soapy water to remove any gunk that has accumulated on the inside or outside of your grill. If you have a wire brush, consider replacing it. The wire bristles can fall off and cause serious injury if ingested. To avoid a trip to the emergency room, use a nylon brush, wooden scraper or grill-cleaning cloth. If you remove the burners and gas tubes for cleaning, make sure to cover their connection points with aluminum foil so they don’t corrode. Once you’ve scrubbed sufficiently, use a towel to dry the grill. 3. Prevent rust. Don’t let April showers disintegrate your grill. Consider painting the exterior of the grill with a rustproof metal paint. If you find existing rust, you can gently scrub it off with steel wool. Parts like handles, knobs and wheels that are beyond saving are inexpensive to replace. 4. Inspect the tank. Run a leak test. Coat the regulator, valves, and hoses with soapy water, then turn on the tank to pressurize the system. Look for bubbles, which indicate escaping gas. Tighten connections and try again; if there’s still a leak, replace the hoses or the tank, if need be. Next, if your grill lacks spider guards, use a bottle brush to clear out debris or insect […]
11 winter weather hacks for your vehicle
Park vehicles with windshields facing east so the sun will melt snow on the windshield and warm the car. Keep a bag of kitty litter in the back of your car. A little extra weight in the rear is helpful, and if you get stuck on ice, litter thrown under the tires provides traction. Hand sanitizer can be used to melt ice on a frozen door A spray of WD-40 will keep keyholes from freezing. Spray car windows with a 3 to1 vinegar/water-mixture to keep ice from forming. Cover your windshield with a tarp, blanket or old area rug when ice or snow is expected. Hold it in place with your windshield wipers. You’ll have an instantly cleared windshield when you remove it. Pull old socks onto windshield wipers so snow won’t stick to them. If you don’t put socks on your wiper blades, pull them out straight and leave them standing away from the windshield so they won’t freeze onto it. Cover side mirrors with a freezer-sized Ziploc-type bags, zipped as far as possible or tie on grocery bags to prevent ice from forming. A wood or plastic kitchen spatula or credit card can be used to clear windows if you don’t have a scraper. To help clean mud and salt buildup from underneath your car, run a lawn sprinkler under it on a warm day.
10 tips for winter grilling
10 tips for winter grilling If you love grilling, you’ll do it in any weather, year-round. If you’re heading outside during winter month, here are some cold-weather tips from some of our experts. More Fuel in the Winter Any grill you use, whether it’s gas or charcoal, will have to work harder to maintain the heat level. Double check that you have a spare tank of propane as well. Check Your Parts Before using a gas grill in the winter check the hoses for any cracks. Keep Away from Wind Try to put your grill in an area that is screened from the wind as much as possible. Wind is your biggest enemy. Plan Ahead Have absolutely everything you need from brushes, sauces and trays ready well in advance. You do NOT want to be searching for anything in the cold. Make It Simple Use recipes that call for just a single flip. Standing out in the cold is no fun. Take More Time Food takes longer to cook in the winter and grills can take longer to warm up. Give yourself extra time for dinner. Light It Up It gets dark a lot earlier in the winter. Invest in a grill light, outdoor patio lantern or other light source. Keep the Lid Closed You’ll cut down on heat loss that happens when it’s cold. Clean Up Fast Frozen fat is much harder to clean off your grill. You can keep a bowl of warm cloths just inside the house for easy clean up. Winter Clothing: Be careful of anything dangling like scarves and hoodie strings that could catch on fire. Gloves are always better than mittens for tong handling.
Propane Safety and thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can pose a serious threat to people and property in all parts of the country. In the U.S., over 100,000 thunderstorms occur each year. These storms, which can be accompanied by high winds, hail, and tornadoes, can cause power outages, fires, and flooding. All thunderstorms produce lightning and should be considered dangerous. Lightning is responsible for over 80 fatalities and 300 injuries per year in the U.S. Things You Can Do to Keep Your Family Safe If your home uses propane, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep your family safe and avoid potential dangers. Create an emergency preparedness plan and review it with everyone in your family. Post a list with contact information for your propane retailer and emergency services (fire department, etc.) along with instructions for turning off propane, electricity, and water. If you do need to turn off your propane, contact a service technician to inspect your propane system prior to turning it back on. Consider installing uL-listed propane gas detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. These detectors provide you with an additional measure of security. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation, location, and maintenance. If you are outside and can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately. Metal objects such as propane tanks and equipment, tractors, and telephone lines can conduct electricity. Do not go near them. If you are caught outside and cannot get to a safe dwelling, find a low-lying, open place away from trees, poles, or metal objects. Make sure the place you choose is not subject to flooding. In the event that […]
Four Propane Home Heating Safety Tips
1) IF YOU SMELL GAS, TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS. Immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames. Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or cellphones. Get everyone away from the home or area where you suspect gas is leaking. If safe to do so, close or shut off the main gas supply valve by turning it to the right (clockwise). Call your propane provider immediately from a safe place to report the leak. If you cannot reach your propane provider, call 911. Do not return to the area until a propane provider, emergency responder, or qualified service technician gives the OK. 2) NEVER USE A STOVE OR BRING YOUR GAS GRILL INDOORS FOR SPACE HEATING, EVEN DURING A POWER OUTAGE. Only use appliances indoors that are designed and approved for that purpose. Never store, place, or use a propane cylinder indoors or in enclosed areas. Never use outdoor propane-powered appliances indoors or in enclosed areas. Without proper ventilation, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) fumes produced can build up. 3) GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR PROPANE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU RUN OUT OF PROPANE. A propane provider or qualified service technician must check your system for leaks before turning the gas back on. 4) STAY IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH YOUR PROVIDER. Doing so gives you both enough time to arrange a refill long before you run out of propane.
Tankless water heaters
Propane water heating options include technology that is on the cutting edge of energy efficiency, such as condensing tankless water heaters. By choosing energy-efficient propane water heating systems over standard electric water heaters, you can help your homeowner and building owner clients significantly reduce their energy costs. The Department of Energy estimates that approximately 20 percent of a home’s energy costs are spent heating water. That’s why helping your homeowner select an efficient water heater is critical — and propane fuels some of the most efficient tankless water heating technologies available. Propane tankless water heaters provide comfort, versatility, convenience, and efficiency. Here are a few facts you should know. Tankless water heaters deliver an endless supply of water. Their compact size saves roughly 12 square feet of floor space. These systems are on-demand, so they heat water only when it’s needed. That feature eliminates standby losses that occur in systems with hot water storage tanks — like the typical electric water heater. They save more than $150 per year in energy costs compared with typical electric storage water heaters. They have 50 to 60 percent lower CO2 emissions compared with electric storage tank systems. Propane tankless systems also qualify for tax credits and rebates, which can make them even more cost-effective. Tankless Water Heaters Fact Sheet
8 Small-Cylinder Safety tips
Small-Cylinder Safety What should I do if I smell gas? Immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames. If you are able to, safely turn off the cylinder valve. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise). Immediately leave the area and call 911 or your local fire department. Before you restart the appliance, have a qualified service technician inspect your cylinder and appliance. Some people may have difficulty smelling propane due to their age (older people may have a less sensitive sense of smell); a medical condition; or the effects of medication, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Consider purchasing a propane gas detector as an additional measure of security. Odor fade is an unintentional reduction in the concentration of the odor of propane, making it more difficult to smell. Although rare, this can be caused by the presence of air, water, or rust in the cylinder. New and reconditioned small cylinders that sit too long before being filled are prone to internal rust when moisture and air get inside. How should I store small cylinders? NEVER store or place a propane cylinder indoors or in an enclosed area such as a basement, garage, shed, or tent. NEVER store or place a propane cylinder in an area of excessive heat (120 degrees or higher) or near a stove, fireplace, or other heat source. The heat builds up pressure inside the cylinder, which may cause the pressure relief valve to release propane. Flash fires or explosions can result from exposing cylinders to heat. NEVER store or place a spare cylinder under or near a barbecue grill. DO NOT smoke or have any ignition sources such as flames […]
3 tips for grilling:
1) If you do not have a grill brush try this method for cleaning: Crumple a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil until it’s the size of a softball and pick it up between locking grill tongs. The tongs will serve as the handle. Holding the tongs onto the ball of foil, and brush away. 2) Burgers will puff up in the middle as they cook, making the tops rounded and awkward for keeping the toppings in place. To avoid this, press a little indentation into the top of each raw patty with your thumb or the back of a spoon. Then, when the center pushes up, the top of each burger will be relatively level. 3) Don’t use a water bottle to extinguish fire flare-ups. When water lands on the hot-cooking grates and flames, it could splatter, causing burns, or crack the porcelain-enamel finish of the grill. The quickest way to extinguish fire flare-ups is to close the lid on the grill. The lid will reduce the amount of oxygen that feeds the fire, thus limiting or snuffing out the flare-ups.