As summer winds down, the BBQs keep heating up. Grilling with family and friends is a great way to spend a summer day, but we must also keep in mind safe grilling techniques. Each year, about 600 fires/explosions occur with gas grills resulting in about 30 injuries.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has developed safety standards to help prevent deaths and injuries.
Here are some safety tips to reduce the risk of fire or explosion with gas grills:
- Newer propane gas tanks have "over-fill prevention" devices installed on them. If you are unsure if yours is up to standards, the new tanks have valve handles with three "lobes" (prongs) while older tanks have valve handles with five prongs.
- Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
- Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.
- Always keep propane gas containers upright. Never bring one into the house.
- Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors.
- Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near the grill.
- Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, which may open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.
- Make sure your spark ignitor is consistently generating a spark to create a flame and burn the propane gas. If the flame is not visible, the heavier-than-air propane gas may be escaping and could explode.
- Position your grill at least 2 feet away from wood siding, deck railings, awnings, and low-slung tree branches
Here are more Tips for charcoal grill safety:
- Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. Charcoal produces carbon monoxide that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed environments.
- Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
- Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.
Always keep an extinguisher handy outside to quickly douse a fire should it get out of hand. For other safety information visit: www.cpsc.gov.
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Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
1-949-753-7900
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