Working on gas barbeque grills gives me a great view of the cooking, cleaning and maintenance habits of outdoor grillers. Most technicians provide technical service and cleanings for any barbecue even if they only stock and sell particular brands. “The igniter on the barbeque grill stopped working within the first year” is a phrase I hear frequently regardless of the price or quality of the barbeque. Sometimes “the first year” was ten years ago!! Although the grill may not ignite at the push of a button, the cause is rarely a broken barbeque ignitor. Barbeque grill igniters usually work long after they have stopped igniting the gas grill.

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 spark that ignites your gas grill is produced at the electrode but created in the module. 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. Ignition modules with batteries can corrode from moisture but it is not as common as most of us assume and it can usually be cleaned off. 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. The power from the battery ends as a spark at the tip of this steel rod. 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. Reset the check valve if you are using a propane 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. Most gas barbecue grills have some version of grease management system but you know you get a mess in the firebox. When the grease, pieces of food, rust, rain water, dust and dirt get in to the firebox the electrode gets too dirty to spark. When you wipe down the grill, wipe the electrodes gently without bending or cracking the porcelain.

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. They expect you to treat them poorly, to leave them in the rain and the snow. 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.

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