1) What gas grill regulator do I need to power my grill?
a. This all depends on how big of grill you have. We recommend any BBQ grill that has an output rating of 60K BTU’s or less use our 90? regulator and hose assembly (see p/n 106044). Any BBQ grill that has a BTU output in the 60K to 99K BTU range we recommend our single stage, 180″ BBQ grill regulator and hose assembly (see p/n 106195). And for any BBQ grill with the BTU output at 100K or above should go with a two stage regulator and hose assembly (see p/n 106238).
2) What is a BTU?
a. A BTU, short for British Thermal Unit, is a basic measure of thermal (heat) energy. One BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, measured at its heaviest point. In other words, if you placed 16 ounces of water at 59F into a stovetop pan and turned on the gas burner, it would take one BTU to raise the temperature of the water to 60F. As more BTU’s continue to flow from the gas flame, the water will eventually reach the boiling point of 212F. Since BBQ Grills output are rated by BTU’s, the components that make up the BBQ grill including the BBQ Grill Regulator, Burners, Quick Connects, etc are also all rated by BTU to ensure the BBQ Grill gets the optimal equipment in order to work the grill at its maximum capacity.
3) Do I need a 90″, 180″ or two stage propane regulator for my gas BBQ grill?
a. As noted earlier, this will be based off of the amount of BTU?s required by the grill. In terms of our offering, we purposely have the three different regulators to make it easy to determine which one is best for each BBQ Grill BTU output rating.
4) Why do some BBQ grill regulators have a black knob and some have a green knob?
a. As the regulators are made for varying BTU requirements, so are the tank connection Type 1 knobs. The Black knob will allow up to 100K BTUs of flow and the green know will allow up to 200k BTU’s of gas flow. In an effort to ensure the Type 1 tank connection never goes into by-pass mode, we include a green knob on any BBQ Grill Regulator we sell over 60K BTU’s.
5) How do I take my old regulator off my gas grill? a. This process is much simpler than you would expect. The vast majority of BBQ Grill regulator hose assemblies terminate at the grill with a 3/8″ F Flare swivel. Follow the hose of the regulator assembly to where it connects to the inlet of the burner. Using a 3/4″ wrench, unscrew the old propane BBQ grill regulator from the inlet and then screw on the new regulator. Ensure you tighten to at least 18 foot pounds.
6) Can I buy a gas grill regulator that is protected from squirrels eating the hose?
a. We offer all of our regulators with the option of adding stainless steel overbraid that protects the hose and keeps small animals or varmints from eating through the hose creating a gas leak.
7) My propane cylinder has a quick disconnect female. Can I purchase a BBQ grill regulator with a male quick disconnect plug to fit my tank valve? a. Yes, we offer our 90? regulator with a 5LPN male quick disconnect. See part number 106076. If you need a male quick disconnect plug on a 180? or two-stage propane regulator, please contact us at (314) 598-5067.
8) Can I use a high-pressure regulator on my gas grill to get it hotter?
a. Absolutely not. If a BBQ grill comes with a low pressure regulator, you MUST use a low pressure regulator dialed in at 11″ W.C. pressure.