Get Your Grill On – Safely! Top safety tips for operating your propane grill

According to a 2015 report by the National Fire Protection Association, on average, home grills start 8,800 fires every year. This is a scary statistic, and as Memorial Day weekend approaches, HB Home Service Team wants to keep your home from becoming part of this number.

You can keep your home and family safe this holiday weekend by observing some basic grilling safety tips. Regardless of your role in your household, it’s important to be aware of these tips – after all, grilling is no longer just a man’s job. According to the Propane Education and Research Council, 37% of women are the primary griller in their home, but 31% of women surveyed said that they were not properly educated in grill safety.

Use these grilling safety tips to educate yourself and others on safe grilling practices so that you can have an enjoyable summer of delicious grilled meals.

• Always keep the lid open when lighting your propane grill.
• Keep your grill at least three feet away from your house to prevent any flare ups from spreading to your home.
• Never use a flame from a match or a lighter to check your propane tank for a leak.
• If your grill doesn’t light when you hit the ignition switch, turn off the gas and wait for at least five minutes before trying to ignite the grill again. Don’t keep using the switch; gas may be building up in your grill.
• If you smell gasoline while using your grill, turn off your burners and close the connection to the propane tank. If you can still smell gasoline after shutting your grill off, call the fire department and do not attempt to move or repair the grill.
• It’s never okay to leave your grill unattended while it is on.
• If your grill isn’t being used, you should place plastic bags or special caps over any exposed hose-ends.
• Always turn off the burner controls and the cylinder valve immediately after you are finished grilling.
• Extra propane cylinders should be stored outdoors in a well-ventilated area, but never near your grill. When in use, the grill produces too much heat to be around propane cylinders.
• Clean your grill regularly and remove grease and food build-up from its tray—it is much easier and safer to operate a clean grill than a dirty one.

Instances of grill fires spike in July, so remember to keep yourself and your family safe all summer long with these grill safety tips. HB Home Service Team wishes you a happy Memorial Day and a summer full of grilling!

If you have questions about propane and what it can do for your home (besides just grilling great burgers), request an appointment with an HB Home Service Team professional. We serve homes and businesses in Camp Hill, Carlisle, Dillsburg, Enola, Harrisburg, Hershey, Hummelstown, Mechanicsburg, Middletown, New Cumberland, York, and surrounding Central Pennsylvania areas. Call us today at 717 – 232 – 4328.

*These tips were compiled from the National Fire Protection Association, the Propane Education and Research Council, and Today News. HB Home Service Team is not responsible for any user errors.