5 Safety Tips for Propane Grilling

Nothing compares to the delicious flavor of grilled food. When cover over the direct heat of an open-flame grill, meats and veggies develop a light char. If you're planning to use a propane grill, though, you should take precautions to protect yourself, as well as others, from injury. Propane grills are convenient, but because they use a tank of pressurized propane, they require some extra steps to ensure a safe cooking experience.

#1) Open the Lid

Before turning the valve on the propane tank and releasing the gas, go ahead and open the lid to your propane grill. Why is this necessary? If the lid is closed, propane gas will build up inside of it. Therefore, when you light your propane grill, it may create a sudden fireball. As long as the lid is open, though, propane gas will be able to escape.

#2) Inspect for Leaks

You should get into the habit of inspecting your propane tanks for leaks on a regular basis. If a tank has a leak, you shouldn't use it in your propane grill. An easy way to tell if and where a propane tank is leaking is to use soapy water. Spraying the exterior of a propane tank with soapy water will cause it to bubble up in the area where it's leaking.

#3) Tighten the Hose

Another safety tip to follow when using a propane grill is to tighten the hose. The propane tank should be connected to your grill with a rubber or polymer hose. If it's loose, propane gas will leak, thereby creating a fire hazard. By tightening the hose, however, propane gas shouldn't escape. Rather, it will remain either in the tank or your propane grill.

#4) Turn Off the Propane Tank When Finished

Don't forget to turn off the propane tank when you are finished grilling. Simply turning off the grill won't cut it. Even if you turn off the burners on your propane grill, the propane tank may still release its flammable gas. The only way to stop gas from leaking out the propane tank is to turn it off at the valve.

#5) Store Propane Tanks Outdoors

Never store propane tanks inside your home or any other enclosed structure. Propane tanks, of course, contain pressurized propane. The propane remains in a liquid state while stored in the tank. When released into a grill -- or the air for that matter -- it turns into a gas state. Regardless, because propane tanks are pressurized, they can explode if cracked or otherwise breached. This is why it's important to always store propane tanks outdoors.