As a gas barbecue grill technician, I get to see thousands of BBQs in various states of use. Although we only sell American made grills with available replacement parts and reliable warranties, we provide technical service and cleanings for any barbecue. Whether a grilling customer has a great grill or a cheap import, one thing I frequently is: “the igniter on the barbeque grill stopped working within the first year”. Sometimes “the first year” was ten years ago!! While the perception of a customer is always true, the statement is generally not true. Ignition systems generally work reliably for many years but may need replacement grill parts inside the firebox of the barbeque.
Of course, you could point out the obvious confusion in that statement which is that if the grill stopped igniting, what does it matter if you say the igniter is not broken?! If it does not ignite the grill, it is not working. I have been shocked by ignition modules off grills when the owner claimed the ignitor hadn’t worked in ten years.
A Gas Grill Igniter Is Made Up Of Several Parts.
A gas barbeque grill ignition system consists of several replaceable parts. The module, the electrode wire and the electrode are the primary parts although sometimes the module will be split into a spark generator, a connection switch (button) and a power source (battery). The electrode is like the spark plug in your car, the part that mounts on or near the gas grill burner and sparks to light the grill. The electrode is usually the culprit when you cannot light your grill.
The gas BBQ ignition module, or spark generator, is the part that creates the juice. Many older gas barbeque grills used a piezo electric module. These simple ignition modules would last forever. However, most gas grills today use a battery-powered module. A battery module consists of a switch (button) that makes a connection and engages the battery in the power supply. The electric current travels along an electrode wire to the electrode (spark plug). An electrode looks like a piece of small steel rod in a porcelain housing. Sometimes the electrode will have another rod as a ground, others ground to (spark against) the stainless steel burner. When the current travels to the steel rod and finds a ground, a spark arcs across the two steel rods. If the gas is on, this arc should ignite your gas grill burner.
Troubleshooting
If your gas grill will not ignite, there could be a few different reasons. Low gas flow is often caused by the check valve in the lp tank. To correct this issue read: Why won’t my gas grill get hot? Rarely a gas regulator may need to be replaced. If you have been grilling on this gas BBQ for over five years, have a professional test your regulator. However, the most common problem we see is in the ignition system.
What is wrong with the BBQ Grill Ignitor?
As you cook on your gas barbeque grill, the heat trapped in the hood causes the food to “sweat” and grease drips into the grill. When most people clean the grill parts, they clean cooking grates, the outer hood, control panel and things they can see or have to touch. When the grease, pieces of food, rust, rain water, dust and dirt get in to the firebox the electrode gets too dirty to spark. I’ve seen grills that looked immaculate because the owner cleaned the parts they could see or had to eat off of but never even looked at the electrode.
Make the gas grill ignite.
To keep your gas barbeque grill starting reliably and safely, keep the electrodes clean. When you find it, clean it gently and do not break the porcelain sleeve or it will have to be replaced. Many electrodes have a “collector box” which is a small stainless steel box that protects the electrode. The arc may jump between dual electrode posts or from a single electrode post to either the collector box or the gas burner. The electrode has to be clean to spark. The module, battery and switch are still functioning to send the spark to the gas but the failure is at the electrode. The module, battery pack, etc can all be functioning at full efficiency but if the electrode is dirty you do not get a spark.
Gas barbecue grill manufacturers make these products to be outside in the weather. Grill parts are manufactured to withstand harsh weather but like any other machine they will need some maintenance. When you clean your gas grill, simply knowing the parts of the igniter should give you the ability to ensure the electrode stays clean and your gas grill ignition will last much longer.
