Imagine buying a new Blackstone griddle, then when you are all set to prepare your barbeque, it refuses to light. It can be one of the most annoying experiences for any foodie.
I researched and came up with several reasons why your flat-top grill may not light. I also found the possible solutions to each of the causes. Read on for more.
Blackstone Griddle Will Not Light
A Blackstone griddle may fail to light if the piezo ignitor valve has underlying issues. Some wires may also move from their correct positions, or the grill requires new batteries.
Here are some of the reasons why your griddle might not light up and some tips on how to solve them.
Piezo Ignitor Valve Issues
Your Blackstone griddle may not light if there has been an interference with the piezo ignitor valve.
If you have a griddle with a piezo ignitor valve, it’s essential to ensure that all the parts are in order. Sometimes during shipping, it is likely that some grill parts will move from their positions.
This movement might hinder your griddle from lighting. Identifying and correcting the issue early enough prevents future long-term problems.
You will also need to pay close attention to the igniter needles.
Usually, the needles and the burner should be a quarter of an inch apart. The distance ensures that your flat-top grill burns effectively.
Check to ensure that the needles are L-shaped, for this is their standard shape. If they are de-formed, it could hinder your griddle from lighting.
Ensure also that the needles face towards one hole in the burner tube. If they are out of position, you can disconnect the fuel and push them to position using your fingers.
Pushing the needles back to the position should be able to solve any ignition problem.
If you realize that the igniter is faulty, you can opt to replace it with a new one. However, ensure that the igniter module is utterly dead before thinking of a replacement.
A properly functional igniter will produce a clicking sound immediately after pressing it. However, if you install it wrongly or the batteries are dead, you may not hear this sound.
To replace an igniter, you will require the following:
- Rubber gloves
- A Philips head screwdriver
- Igniter replacement wires
- Flathead screwdriver
- Ignition module
Follow the following simple steps:
- First, turn off the grill and give it time to cool down, then turn the ignitor cover anti-clockwise to remove the ignitor button.
- Using the rubber gloves, remove the griddle’s cooking grates, followed by the deflectors.
- Unscrew the igniter retention nut and the wind deflector and remove them.
- Reach underneath the control panel and remove the igniter module. Check the wires at the back of the module and note where each is connected.
- Remove the control panel by unscrewing it.
- Unplug the wires on the igniter module, then remove the three control knobs on the control panel.
- Unplug the igniter wires from their clips and remove the heat shield.
- Carefully unplug the old igniter from the burners and replace it with the new one.
- Screw back the heat shield, and push the wires into the clips and the igniter into the module.
- Place back the control panel and the control knobs, then push the igniter module back to position. Attach the igniter button retention nut back.
- Place back the igniter button cover, the wind deflector, the heat deflectors, and the grates. After this, you can try lighting your grill.
Wiring Issues
The other cause of lighting problems in your flat-top grill is if there are issues with the wiring.
Sometimes a wire might fall out of place, affecting the griddle heating process. This mostly happens during shipping or when moving your griddle to its position.
Plugging it back using your hands will help to solve the problem.
Always ensure you observe safety rules by first disconnecting the fuel source.
Sometimes, you may not know how or where to fix the wire. My advice would be to consult the specific product manual for further information.
Immediately you plug the wire back, reconnect your fuel and attempt to ignite the grill again. If there isn’t any other major problem, it should be able to light right away.
However, if fixing the wire does not solve the problem, there could be a more significant underlying issue.
So, what do you do now?
I recommend that you get in touch with Blackstone. It could be that your product is faulty and requires their attention. Moreover, they could also give you some additional tips for handling the issue.
Battery Issues
Battery issues are another common cause of the griddle lighting problem. Your flat-top grill requires batteries to fire up.
It could be that it does not have batteries, or they are out of position.
The issue of wrongly positioned batteries is easy to deal with. You only need to push them to the correct position, which should fix the problem.
How do you achieve this?
Position the batteries in such a way that the positive side faces you. The batteries usually have labels; thus, you can quickly tell the positive and the negative sides.
Again, your new griddle does not come with batteries.
If you have to buy new or replace old batteries, a pair of AA-sized batteries would be ideal. Replacing them should provide enough energy to light your grill within a short time.
Lighting your grill becomes seamless when the batteries have sufficient energy.
Blackstone Griddle Will Not Stay Lit: Troubleshooting Guide
Another common and frustrating issue with your griddle is not staying lit.
The ignitor may work perfectly well, but after a few seconds, the flame goes out. In such cases, the propane regulator could be the problem.
The regulator is vital in ensuring that too much propane is not rushing to the burners all at once. It can sometimes be temperamental, thus disrupting the regular running of a Blackstone griddle.
At other times, the regulator’s safety feature can be too overcautious. In this case, it lights up the grill, but the flames die after a short while.
If this happens, use these troubleshooting guidelines:
- Shut everything off, including the propane tank or fuel source
- Disconnect the gas hose from the regulator
- Turn on your dials to high
- Wait for a few minutes for everything to reset completely
- Switch off the dials
- Reconnect the hose to the regulator
The above steps help to reset your regulator. So if your griddle will not burn longer than a few seconds, try resetting the regulator.
If this method does not work, the problem could be how fast you are opening the propane tank valve. Try opening the valve slowly to prevent the regulator from overreacting.
Slow-release of the valve alerts the regulator that a reasonable and safe amount of propane is moving to the burner. As a result, the regulator will not shut off abruptly in panic.
If this method, too, turns futile, consider replacing your regulator. An old flat-top grill is likely to encounter such issues.
Use a wrench where the regulator attaches to the griddle to remove it. You can take it to your local hardware store to find a suitable replacement or contact Blackstone customer service for a replacement part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Blackstone griddle not turning on?
If a brand-new Blackstone griddle does not turn on for the first use, the problem could be improper assembly or failure to follow the set instructions for use.
Does the Blackstone igniter need a battery?
The igniter kit requires an AA battery. The igniter is compatible with the Blackstone 36-inch griddle and does not come with the purchase package.
How do I reset my regulator?
First, turn off all the burners, turn off the propane valve and disconnect the hose. Remove the regulator, wait a few minutes and then re-attach it.
Wrapping it up
When your griddle fails to light up, it’s advisable to scrutinize it to determine the actual cause.
Some of the causes, as discussed above, are pretty easy to handle. For those, you can comfortably sort them out yourself.
However, if you feel that an issue is beyond you, it is recommendable that you consult a professional. You can also check out the specific manual from Blackstone.