How many of you have to recall the old poem to figure out which way to turn off the propane tank?  Hands up, please, don’t be shy.  A lot more people than you can imagine have to recite those words (in their head, hopefully) to open or close the valve.  But is that all there is to it, really?

Propane tanks (at least those manufactured over the past 14 years) have a safety mechanism - a regulator - that can easily be triggered if you don’t turn off your propane properly.  The regulator is there to prevent gas leakage; if the propane system stays pressurized, it won’t trigger.  If the regulator is triggered, though, you’ll find that your gas grill won’t burn as hot as it usually does.  Here’s how to be sure that your grill reaches the right temperature, every time.

1. Ensure that the control knobs are set to the “OFF” position.
2. Turn ON your propane tank (here’s where the “lefty loosy” part comes in).
3. Turn ON your control knobs.
4. Cook.

Now, when you’re done cooking, it’s the reverse.

1.      Turn OFF your control knobs.

2.      Turn OFF your propane tank (”righty tighty” time).

3.      Bask in the afterglow of a successful barbecue.

If you think you might have triggered the regulator, because your grill is not getting hot despite a high flame setting, you need to reset it.  Every grill is different, so refer to your owner’s manual for instructions.