# How do I clean the burners on my gas BBQ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822 "2011-08-07T13:23:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822/1 "2011-08-07T13:23:24Z")
I’ve noticed that the burners on my gas BBQ are starting to burn orange flames rather than blue. Isn’t that a sign of incomplete combustion and lower heat? How do I clean them? Do I dissassemble the burners and take them out? Then what? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822/2 "2011-08-07T13:29:09Z")
I recently had the same issue with my BBQ. I tried brushing them off with a steel brush, but on closer inspection I noticed some holes in the burners that weren’t supposed to be there, which meant the burners were starting to rust out. I ended up having to replace all 3 of my burners, which wasn’t cheap. Taking them out allows you to inspect them for damage, and it makes it easier to scrub them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822/3 "2011-08-07T14:09:44Z")
I’ve taken the burners to my shop and used compressed air to back blow through all the little hole and clear the rust and crap inside. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822/4 "2011-08-07T14:10:23Z")
You could have spider webs, or other insect debris in the venturi of your burners. The gas passes through an orifice then through a venturi where it’s mixed with air. This mixture than travels to the burners themselves. If the air inlet is partly obstructed the gas/air mix will be off and will not burn properly. Sometimes there’s a sliding shutter that is used to adjust the gas/air mix. It’s possible that this needs adjustment. Some grills don’t have an adjustment. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822/5 "2011-08-07T19:32:31Z")
All the above posts are great. There can also be a gas supply problem if non of the above are your problem. The regulator can malfunction, but the most common supply problem is a partially blocked orifice. I run Humphry gas lights in my hunting shack and i have to clean the orifice. One time two lights were acting up the same weekend. I use a short piece of automotive electric wire like 14 gauge and fold back all but one strand after stripping insulation back about 1/2 inch. This also works well on clogged window wash nozzles on the pickup. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-the-burners-on-my-gas-bbq/591822/6 "2011-08-07T21:41:50Z")
You can brush them off with a wire brush but be aware that cast burners my be corroded and will disintegrate upon handling. Then it’s a trip to Lowes for universal replacements at $15 apiece. Just went through this with a buddy of mine. Could not believe that they fell apart like they did. If you don’t have cast iron burners then disregard this warning.