Memorial Day Safety Tips for Your Portable Propane Grill

Memorial Day is fast approaching, unofficially kicking off the start of summer for lots of folks in and around Rochester and Buffalo.

If you plans to feed some of them as part of your annual grilling extravaganza, that’s great – just don’t be the guy that runs out of propane halfway through the day’s festivities (we can help you with that – just stop into one of our convenient locations for a propane cylinder refill)!

More importantly, DO be the guy who grills safely. Here are some tips for how to do it:

1. Keep your grill at least six feet away from your home on sturdy and level ground.
2. Always keep an eye on children and pets, and never leave the grill unattended.
3. Check all hoses and connections for leaks before operating the grill.
4. To light, open the lid of the grill, then turn on the gas at the tank. Never light a gas grill with the lid closed – it could cause an explosion. If the grill doesn’t light after a couple of clicks, turn off the burner, turn the gas off at the tank, and wait 5 or 10 minutes before attempting to light it again.
5. Make sure to keep your grill lid accessible to extinguish small flare-ups. It’s also a good idea to portable fire extinguisher on-hand.
6. Always practice food safety:
   • If you can’t wash your hands, use antibacterial wipes before eating or handling food – especially raw meat, poultry, or fish.
   • Separate raw meats from cooked and prepared foods. Store raw meats in a separate cooler, place raw meat on its own plate, and use different utensils to handle uncooked and cooked food.
7. Never attach or disconnect an LP tank or fiddle with fittings while the grill is operating. If you run out of gas while grilling, turn off all the burners, reconnect the new tank, and re-light. When you finish grilling, shut the gas valve and disconnect the LP couplings before storing the grill.

Don’t be THAT guy – come in today for your propane BBQ refill in time for the holiday weekend! Call or stop by our Buffalo or Rochester location today to learn more.