The main reasons behind your Charbroil grill not getting hot are:
- An empty gas tank or gas leakage.
- A clogged burner.
- Air intake issues.
- Bad thermometer readings.
- Gas regulator issues.
Don’t worry, none of these problems is too hard to solve. By following the right steps, I am sure that you can get your grill to start working properly again. So, let’s get right into it.
Charbroil Grill Not Getting Hot [7 Easy Fixes]
If you turn on the grill’s control knobs before opening the propane tank, your grill won’t get hot. Make sure you don’t make that basic mistake and start up the grill correctly. With that said, here are the most common reasons why your Charboril grill doesn’t get hot.
1. Almost Empty or Empty Gas Tank
It’s an obvious one, but I have to start here. You won’t believe the number of calls I get without people not even checking this. Yes, your Charbroil grill not getting gas will lead to it not getting to high temperatures.
Sometimes, the grill won’t even turn on. That’s good in some cases, as you’ll have a clear idea that there’s no gas. But in most cases, before the gas runs out, it’ll only get to low temperatures.
It happens frequently when the demand for gas changes between the cooks. But you don’t want to leave out to guesswork. So, how can you be sure whether you’re low on gas or not?
I’ll tell you the easiest way to test this. All you’ll need is some hot water. It has to be just warm but not boiling or crazy hot. Once you have that, follow these steps:
- Pour the warm water down the side of the tank.
- Run your hand down the side of the tank.
- You’ll feel a cooler spot – that’s where the propane level is.
The tank stays cool below the gas level because propane absorbs heat as it evaporates. Keep in mind that this doesn’t tell you exactly the percentage of propane remaining in the tank. But for the rough idea that you need, this should be more than enough.
Solution:
If the test reveals that you’re running low on propane, that’s good. Because now you know, the problem can be easily fixed. You have two options: you can either refill the propane tank or swap it out with a new one.
If you want to refill, you can take your tank to propane refill stations. There are many hardware stores, garden centers, gas stations, etc., where you can get this done.
Refilling the tank is usually cheaper than exchanging, and you get to keep your own tank. If you decide to go with refilling, make sure to check your tank for rust, dents, or damage. If you see any signs of that, it’s better to not refill it.
Your second option is to swap it for a brand-new one. You can do this at tank exchange locations like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, etc. Although it’s a little more expensive, it’s a quick and easy way of solving this issue.
Then, connect it safely to your grill and make sure that nothing is leaking. Open the tank valve slowly to avoid triggering the safety mechanism. Then, light your grill, and everything should be working normally.
Pro Tip: If you cook out frequently, keep a spare full tank so you’re never caught mid-BBQ without fuel.
2. Gas Leakage
Still wondering why my Charbroil grill is not getting hot enough? If it frequently happens to you, there’s the possibility of a gas leak. There are many potential areas where the gas can leak from.
It can be leaking out of the regulator, hose, or connections. When that happens, the burner will get less gas to work with. So, it’s obvious that your grill will run at a low heat in that scenario and result in your Charbroil grill not being hot enough.
The horrible thing about gas leaks is that they’re not just limited to bad cooks. It’s a recipe for disaster—no pun intended. A gas leak is bad for the environment and can cause accidents.
However, you don’t have to be confused about whether you’re facing this issue or not. You can run a leak test to find out what’s going on with your grill. Here’s how you can easily check the gas lines for leakage:
- Turn off the grill and propane tank completely. Make sure all burner knobs are off and the tank valve is fully closed.
- Make a soapy water solution. Mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a spray bottle or bowl.
- Apply the soapy water to all connections.
- Spray or brush the solution onto the regulator, hose, and all connection points (where the hose connects to the tank and the grill).
- Turn the propane tank valve back on slowly. Do not light the grill. Just allow gas to flow to the hose and connections.
Now, it’s time to wait and see what happens. Look for bubbles. If you see bubbles forming anywhere, it means gas is leaking from that spot. If so, turn off the gas immediately and stop using the grill.
Solution:
When a gas leakage is confirmed, your first option is to tighten the loose connection. Sometimes, that can solve the issue. Especially if the problem occurred due to a poor or loose connection.
But sometimes, it can also happen due to faulty or broken parts. In that case, you’ll have to replace that component. In this case, it’ll most likely be the hose. When you replace it, your problem should be resolved.
Before you go back to using your grill after implementing the fixes, run the leak test once again. Make sure that this is no longer an issue. If you do that, you can rule out this issue with 100% certainty.
3. Clogged Burner
Another common culprit behind your Charbroil gas grill not getting hot enough is clogged burners. Throughout your many cooks, a lot of dirt accumulates in the burners. This leftover food can clog the burners.
To make matters worse, cobwebs could also be built up there if you haven’t used it for a long time. That can also clog the burner. In extreme cases, these things can lead to a fire. But for that to happen, the gas flow between the valves and the burner ports will have to be blocked.
The easy way to check this is to just use your eyes. Take apart the grates of your grill, and soon, you’ll have a clear view of the burner ports. If they are clogged or dirty, there’s a strong chance that a clogged burner is the issue.
Related to the burner, you should also check the heat tents. It’s the triangle-shaped things that are on top of your burner. It makes sure that the heat from the burner is spread evenly. It also makes sure that the fat and gravy don’t fall into the burner.
A benefit of having such heat tents is that they improve the flavor of your cooks by heating and smoking the gravy when it dips down. However, it can get dirty with time. If there’s a severe buildup of fat on it, there’s a possibility of it catching on fire and resulting in uneven heat.
Solution:
The good news is that this problem isn’t something that a thorough cleaning can’t fix. So, you have to clean the burner using a grill brush and remove as much dirt as you can. Here are the steps you can follow to do this:
- Remove the burners from your grill. Most burners slide or lift out easily once the grates and flame shields are removed.
- Clean the exterior of the burners with a grill brush to remove grease and debris.
- Use a bottle brush to clean inside the burners. This helps dislodge buildup that you can’t reach from the outside.
- Check that all burner holes are clear by running water through the burner. You should see water flowing evenly from all the openings.
- Let the burners dry completely before reinstalling them in the grill.
Once you’ve made sure that the burners are dry, you can reinstall them. Start your grill and see if the flame gets stronger. If that’s what happens, congrats – you’ve solved the problem.
Next, I would check the heat tents on the burner. If they’re too dirty, I would clean them as well. It’s a relatively easy job. If they’re rusty and too filled with dirt to clean up, you’d have to replace them.
In rare cases, the issue may be too severe to solve by cleaning alone. That most likely happens when the burner itself is damaged. In that case, you’ll have to replace it completely. But to be honest, that’s not something I’ve seen a lot. But if cleaning doesn’t fix it and you’ve tried the other fixes, this is worth a shot.
4. Air Intake Issues
The air intakes need to be clean so that the burners have enough oxygen to get the heater to a high flame. But when the air intakes are blocked by dirt or grime, it can cause issues like your Charbroil gas grill not getting hot.
Start by checking the air intake holes. Make sure that there’s nothing blocking it. Because that obstruction could actually be the main cause behind this issue. Normally, it’s located where the burner rests on the gas tubing.
It’s also common to see the flame flicker when the air vents are not clean all the way. Another sign of having a dirty air intake is that the flames will be yellow instead of blue. That’s a clear indication of a bad air-gas ratio.
Solution:
If you’ve identified that this is the issue from the symptoms, the good news is that you can easily fix it. Remove any visible obstructions if you see them. Clean out the venturi dupes as well and make sure there’s nothing blocking the airflow. If you did that, you’re good to go.
5. Bad Thermometer Readings
Let me clear up a common misconception that a lot of you have. The reading on the thermometer—a lot of people think that it shows the grilling temperature. That’s not always correct. The thermometer actually measures and shows the air temperature under the lid and not necessarily the grilling temperature itself.
So, it doesn’t always show the temperature that is directly on the grill. The actual temperature on the grate can sometimes be higher than what’s shown to you. Especially when the day is windy or there are bad weather conditions.
You can do a quick test to see whether the thermometer you have is reliable. Place a thermometer probe one inch above the grill and prop it up there. Try to get its position as close to the food cooking on the grilling grate as possible.
If the results are drastically different, then you know that your thermometer isn’t working correctly. And in reality, your grill actually gets hot, but you’re just left thinking that it doesn’t.
Solution:
A more sustainable solution will be to install the temperature probe such that you can get an accurate reading. You can find separate probes for this, and you can easily connect them to your grill. Once you do that, you’ll be able to monitor the temperature effectively for your cooks.
6. Faulty Regulator
One of the main reasons behind your Charbroil grill not getting hot enough is a bad regulator. Let’s be clear—by not getting hot enough, I mean that it usually caps out at somewhere around 300°F instead of going to the higher temperatures like 500°F.
If the other issues are in check—the propane tank is full and the burners are lighting properly—this could be the issue. Especially if you have an older unit. One of my customers faced this problem with his 3-burner Charbroil TRU Gourmet grill.
The regulator controls the flow of gas from the propane tank to the burners. When it malfunctions, the burners won’t have enough gas. Therefore, it’ll result in a low flame and a low heat.
Even with a full tank, you won’t get to high temperatures when your gas regulator is bad. A lot of people think that it’s rare for the regulator to go bad. But trust me when I say it—it happens more often than you think.
Solution:
The first thing you should try is to reset the regulator. If that works, you’ve solved this issue. Here are the steps you can follow to do this:
- Turn off the gas at the tank and disconnect the hose.
- Open the grill lid.
- Turn all burner knobs to high and wait for 2 minutes.
- Turn the burner knobs off and reconnect the hose.
- Slowly turn the gas back on at the tank and light the grill as you normally would.
If the grill goes close to 500°F, you can breathe a sigh of relief now. However, if the issue still isn’t fixed, then resetting the gas grill regulator isn’t enough. You’d have to replace it.
But don’t worry, they’re widely available in hardware stores. Plus, they’re easy to repair and also inexpensive. You’ve got this. When you replace the regulator, your problem of Char Broil grill not getting hot enough should be solved.
7. Regulator Safety Lockout
Is your Charbroil grill not heating up past 250 or 300? Yep, even this point has to do with the regulator. It has a really crucial role in these grills as it’s a very important safety device. So, what does the regulator safety lockout mean?
If you open the grill valves before the tank valve (or open the tank valve too fast), the system can restrict gas flow. This eventually leads to low flame and low heat. This safety feature is called triggering the OPD valve, and it’s common in propane tanks.
Solution:
Don’t worry, this is also a simple issue to fix. Here, you can follow these steps to get past the safety mechanism:
- Turn off the propane tank.
- Open the burner knobs to release pressure, then turn them off again.
- Open the tank valve slowly.
- Light one burner.
- Then open the tank valve fully and light more burners if needed.
Yes, the Charbroil grill regulator can cause some issues. But it’s for your own safety. As long as you follow these fixes, your grill should start operating normally again. Now, you can get it up to the high temperatures like you did when you got it for the first time.
FAQs
How often should you clean the burner to prevent heating issues?
Ideally, after every cook to keep it as clean as possible. But if that’s too much, then just do it as often as you can.
Can I use different gas types in the grill?
No, if the grill runs on natural gas, you’ll have to use that. And if it runs on liquid propane, you need to fuel it up with that along with the right settings. You can’t switch them around.
How do I start the grill correctly?
The grill and the propane tank should be in the off position at the start. Then, slowly twist the propane valve to the On position and turn on the grill.
How do I get the right replacement burner?
You can get the right part from Charbroil with the model number of your unit. If that’s difficult, you can get some universal ones, but you’d likely have to do some adjustments on them before you can use them.
Can overfilling the tank also cause this issue?
Yes, especially on a hot day. If the tank is filled up to the brim and it’s a hot day, the pressure can rise, and that can lock the tank internally. So, no gas will come out of it.
Conclusion
Now, you know the main reasons behind your Charbroil grill not getting hot and what to do about it. The most important thing is to be patient during your diagnosis. If you do that, everything will be fine.
Just get to the root cause of why you’re facing the problem. Once you do that, take the corrective steps, and you’ll be fine. I also have an article on fixing the Charbroil igniter when it fails. Check it out if you’re facing that issue.
