Check your natural gas BBQ hose before every use to prevent a BBQ fire!
It is very important you inspect your BBQ before every use. If you smell natural gas and the burner knobs are off, there is a good chance you have a damaged natural gas hose. Run your fingers along the hose to see if it has been damaged or frayed at any point. The most common point of failure is where the hose enters the BBQ. Often manufacturers provide you with a plastic grommet. It is important to ensure this stays in place and does not pop out. Other manufacturers round this hole to avoid any sharp edges. Another common culprit for BBQ hose damage are rodents. They smell the grease in your grease trap and try to get into the BBQ cavity. Chewing the hose and gnawing away thinking they can cut through the stainless corrugations.
This hose has rodent damage to the rubber sheathing which acts as a seal for the corrugated hose. You can see the clean claw or tooth marks to the left. The metal corrugations are there to prevent kinking.
Gas escaped and eventually caused a mini ‘boom’ the hose caught on fire like a torch. Thankfully no one was hurt at this home. You can see the door magnet melted from the heat.
Even though this BBQ manufacturer has done all they can to round the entry point of the hose into the cabinet, we cannot control nature.
Check your natural gas BBQ hose before every use. Even if it your use the BBQ on a daily basis. You can never be too safe. If you smell gas, turn your shut off valve in the off position.
