Gas grill service?

[Chazz]

Can anyone recommend someone who can provide service for a TEC infrared gas barbeque grill? Having problems getting this thing to start. Tried all the recommended easy fixes (fresh igniter batteries, clean venturi tubes, etc.), but it's still giving me problems.:cryin2:

[BarryDC]

Hi Chazz-
I had the same problem with my Patio II TEC grill. The system to ignite these grills has a design defect. I spent hours on the phone with TEC and never got a satisfactory resolution. The problem is the gas comes out toward the back of the grill while the igniter is in the front. I used to worry every time a tried to light mine because the gas would build up and eventually cause a mini explosion that would blow out the burner. The solution, I finally found, was to use a handheld butane gas pilot igniter. Turn the gas on and hold the lit igniter at the opening just behind the back of the grate in the middle of the burner (left to right) you want to start. The burner should start easily and dependably. It's a shame the company didn't do a better job with this. As you know, it's not a cheap grill.
Hope this helps.

[Chazz]

Barry,

Thanks very much for your tip, which I will definitely try. I, too, spent hours on the phone with the company's tech "expert" and my dealer in South Carolina. Sometimes I could get it to start and sometimes not. I'm fed up with it, even though it cooks great, when it will start. I'm eager to try your solution. FYI, I have a Sterling III, which, in hindsight, I would not spend the exorbitant amount of money that I did for it.

[BarryDC]

Chazz-
I hope this way of lighting the grill will work for you. Best of luck and please let me know how you do with it.

[Peggy D]

Hi Chazz-
I had the same problem with my Patio II TEC grill. The system to ignite these grills has a design defect. I spent hours on the phone with TEC and never got a satisfactory resolution. The problem is the gas comes out toward the back of the grill while the igniter is in the front. I used to worry every time a tried to light mine because the gas would build up and eventually cause a mini explosion that would blow out the burner. The solution, I finally found, was to use a handheld butane gas pilot igniter. Turn the gas on and hold the lit igniter at the opening just behind the back of the grate in the middle of the burner (left to right) you want to start. The burner should start easily and dependably. It's a shame the company didn't do a better job with this. As you know, it's not a cheap grill.
Hope this helps.

Funny, we had the same problem with our new Weber grill. Hubby on the phone several times with them. They even sent a new ignition thingy--still
didn't work. Lights the grill like you do.

[Chazz]

Chazz-
I hope this way of lighting the grill will work for you. Best of luck and please let me know how you do with it.

Barry,

I found that my model Tec has the gas fed through the front of the grill, near the igniter devices. I bought a flexible Bernzomatic lighter and it seems to work with a little finagling. For the huge expense of these grills (~$4000) it should not be so difficult to start!

[BarryDC]

Hi Chazz-
I guess my unit is a little older than yours and they must have changed the gas feed to the front. That should have corrected the hard start problem, but I guess it didn't. I had one of their very early grills that used ceramic elements that weren't covered with glass. On those their was a piezoelectric starter button that ignited a pilot light which in turn ignited the gas. Those started without a hitch........and they were at full heat in only 2 minutes. At that time the company bent over backwards to please......replacing broken elements free and even rusted burners with newer stainless steel ones. Now I don't like their attitude. Too bad.

Best of luck.

[Chazz]

Hi Chazz-
I guess my unit is a little older than yours and they must have changed the gas feed to the front. That should have corrected the hard start problem, but I guess it didn't. I had one of their very early grills that used ceramic elements that weren't covered with glass. On those their was a piezoelectric starter button that ignited a pilot light which in turn ignited the gas. Those started without a hitch........and they were at full heat in only 2 minutes. At that time the company bent over backwards to please......replacing broken elements free and even rusted burners with newer stainless steel ones. Now I don't like their attitude. Too bad.

Best of luck.

Barry,

Originally, I had the Patio II model with ceramic brickets, etc. Never had a problem with it. It started like a champ and cooked way hotter than the newer glass model. I lost mine in the Feb. 2007 tornado. The insurance company replaced it with the current model which was more than double the price of the earlier one.

[BarryDC]

Chazz-
I guess the lessons are....."Newer isn't always better," and "Everything changes." We're living in Mexico now and looking to move to TV. When we sell our house I'm just going to leave the TEC grill and get something else in Florida. I'll have to do some research and see if I can find something better.