Gas Grills: Fire Hazard in Florida Heat?
 

I happened to see 2 brief videos recently of gas grill tanks exploding into fireballs due to high outside temps.. We are a year away from moving into our home in TV- I'm curious if outdoor gas grills are common here or if we should leave it behind when we move from Mass.

Thanks!

We leave ours out in the birdcage baking in the hot sun every summer, hasn’t exploded yet.

Propane grills are exceptionally safe unless they leak. The key is to close the valve at the tank. The tank's valve is certified by stamp placed on the tank. It must be recertified as leak proof after 12 years.

Fun fact: In other countries small propane tanks are kept inside the kitchen, below the range top. While arguably those countries have fewer consumer protection laws, there would be a natural process of people demanding that this practice end it was patently unsafe.

When in doubt ask Hank Hill !
I would be more concerned about falling in the shower… loose the worries and Enjoy your new lifestyle…

this ain't hot
 

We moved here from Lake Havasu City AZ, one of the hottest cities in the US. Not uncommon to have a few days in a row of 115 degrees and occasionally 120. Dry, intense sun. Most people have gas grills. I never heard of one just exploding on its own.

Your house literally has a better chance of being struck by lightning than the propane tanking spontaneously exploding.

I don't know, man. With all those exploding propane tanks, lighting strikes, hurricanes, and sinkholes you probably ought to just stay in Massachusetts. The experts all say we'll be under water in a few years, anyway, when the polar ice caps melt. If it saves just one life! Better safe than sorry!

As the guy said "shut off the tank when you are done".

If you happen to come across these stories (or the links to these), I would like to see as I believe that there were other circumstances involved, I agree with above comments that propane tanks are very safe if used properly and not abused.

have the NG line fitted for the grille to eliminate the tank. Propane is very expensive relatively speaking.
hopefully your house came with a natural gas extension line to the back of the house.

refitting the grille burners should be relatively easy.

May work if you have NG at your home. Not all do and this buyer is still a year away.

Thank you for pointing out the dangers. You'll be glad to know I'm gonna stay in Mass. Thanks again.

That’s definitely the way to go if you are fortunate enough to live in an area with natural gas. Many propane grills, but not all, can easily be converted to natural gas with a conversion kit that runs about $50. The only problem with using natural gas is that your grill is no longer portable for grilling in different areas since it needs to be hooked up to a gas line.

They are common here and boy to they explode.

They have a pressure relief valve to prevent this they must of been faulty. Mine sits outside never seems to be a problem.

Safe compared to what? Natural gas is safer, pellet grills are the safest.
Propane tanks can explode, a leaking hose/fitting can cause fires. I have seen a few propane grills on fire, it results in a big fire and since most people have them next to their house, it catches the roof on fire and the rest is history.
I moved away from propane over 20 years ago and went with pellet grills, food tastes better, more convenient, it’s a smoker too, dozen varieties of wood pellets like apple, pecan, and of course, these are safe

Never seen or heard of this in the 12 years I’ve been here. Probably caused by some other problem than just heat.

2 pages of the same answers. Why do people continue to post their comments over and over again. Not one person or statement that says that these tanks will explode. Why doesn't the original post let us know his "source"???

I’ve lived in the south for over 50 years. This is not a problem.

tanks have a pressure relief valve to eliminate extreme pressure build up . No worry about exploding

Maybe best for OP to go electric.

Have lived in FL for 43 years and never heard of one exploding like that. I do turn off on tank after using.

Fake news
 

Every propane tank on the market today has over-pressure protection. Unless you have a VERY old tank, which are not supposed to be refilled by commercial vendors, you shouldn’t worry about it. Video can be staged to get the desired effect but I know of NO instance in which a portable propane cylinder has exploded due to sun exposure. The pressure relief device could activate if you left a full cylinder in direct sunlight for an extended period of time but would not explode or even ignite unless an open flame was placed nearby and then only until the fuel was consumed. I hope this helps.

Can you post the videos.

If it was a problem I don't think big box stores would leave multiple tanks sitting in self-serve bins, in front of their stores, in the FL sun.

Search for gas grill fires in Massachusetts you’ll find the same usually OPERATOR ERROR same as here in The Villages/Florida.

I’m from NH been here for 4 years have a propane grill with no problems just make sure you bring Don’s steak tips and sausages with you. There’s nothing like them down here.

“Relatively” being the key word 😂

You have to buy new jets that fit your grill and completely disassemble the valves. It will only take you an hour the second time you do it. Much longer the first time.

Worth it when you’re done, not to save the pennies on propane, but to save the aggravation of running out of gas. …. If you’re a once a week griller, you could just buy a second tank or a fitting to hook up a disposable camping tank when you run out.

Avoid shooting your tank with a .50 caliber gun using incendiary rounds.
https://youtu.be/PWdgs9gstW8

Agree with you. Some people answer the ? without reading all of the previous posts. I am guilty of this myself.

Gas Grills
 

Actually propane gas grill tanks are very safe, close the service valve after each use. Back in the 90’s the federal government required all propane cylinders under 40# to have an over fill protective service valve. Each of these tanks are regulated by the DOT regarding years of service, a new tank can be refilled for 12 years, then one visual re-qualification that is good for another 5 years. A DOT cylinder has a working relief valve in the service valve of 375 psi the relief will pop off should the internal pressure reach that, propane at 60 degrees has a working pressure of 102.5 psi, at around 100 degrees it would be about 175 psi well below the relief valve psi. The only way a grill cylinder could have an issue would be if the tank were to be over filled, very unlikely with the Over Fill Protective Valves that are installed, but is has happened. The other would be user error, in the case of a gas grill catching on fire and burn the hose that connects to the grill cylinder the large nut used to connect to the tank would burn and pop out of the service valve shutting off the propane service from the tank. Sorry for the long reply, I’ve spent 25 years in the propane industry and wanted to share facts.

Same problem with gasoline tanks in vehicles. 130 degree asphalt heats up the fuel

and you have a shortages of learning time in retirement? :cryin2:

but in the end it is worth it, no propane tank fills, simple on and off valve, no back issues lifting and installing the full tank. . . .

everything good takes time, especially in retirement

future retiree

Natural gas does not burn as hot as propane.

I converted one BBQ grille to piped NG, would not do it again.

Look no further than your homeowners insurance policy. If grills propane tanks were any kind of significant explosion risk you could bet your bottom dollar there would be a carve out in your policy for coverage in that event.

what do you cook that requires that much more heat? I don't like hockey pucks for dinner . . .