Propane Check Valve

Hello friends,

This week’s video is a full basics refresher for new griddle owners. I did it mainly because a lot of people probably got a griddle for Christmas and are still figuring things out.

Since you’re already subscribed here, I’m guessing you don’t need all the beginner stuff. So I wanted to call out one specific thing that trips people up all the time: the propane tank flow check valve.

I worked at a grill shop for about two years before doing this full time. We refilled propane tanks, and honestly, about 90% of the time someone said their grill or griddle “wouldn’t get hot,” this was the issue.

Here’s what it looks like:

• Very small, weak flame
• Food goes down and just kind of sits there
• Everything takes forever to cook

What’s happening is the tank thinks there’s a gas leak, so it limits the flow. Most often this happens if:

• A burner was left on when you hooked up the tank, or
• The propane valve was opened too fast

The good news is it’s easy to fix.

Here’s what I do:

1. Turn all the burner knobs off
2. Unscrew the propane tank
3. Wait about 30 seconds to let the pressure reset
4. Reconnect the hose and make sure it’s tight
5. Slowly open the propane tank (about one turn per second)
6. Light the griddle like normal

If the flame looks normal again, you’re good to go.

I cover this (and the rest of the basics) in this week’s video if you want to watch it through. Just wanted to flag this one thing since it causes a lot of frustration and usually has a simple fix.

Watch My Video:

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​Cheers,
Johnny

$20.00 Griddle 101: The Complete Beginners Guide to Griddling This e-book has everything you need to know to master the griddle. It's everything I wish someone told me when I first... Read more Get it now!

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