I was at a backyard BBQ recently and the gas grill cooking all the food was constantly making a low humming noise that sometimes developed into a whistle. This got me thinking about why gas grills make these noises and how I should go about preventing mine from doing the same.
Gas grills can hum, whistle, and even sound like a jet engine. It’s likely that many gas grills will develop their own individual noises over their lifetime, but over the years we’ve seen a few key reasons that you should check first. Whistling or humming noises can be the result of air displacement, regulator noise, moisture escaping, improper gas connections, or defects in the grill itself. The best way to prevent these noises is to buy a quality grill, clean it regularly, replace gas hoses and regulators regularly, and place sound dampeners for vibrations. Let’s take a look at all these factors and see why gas grills make these noises and what you should do about it.
Why Does My Gas Grill Whistle?
If you’ve owned an outdoor grill, you’re probably well aware that as the temperature rises and cooking becomes more intense, that strange noises can often arise. These noises are often in the form of a low hum or whistle and can become extremely annoying. Let’s take a look at why gas grills start making these noises and how you can go about preventing them.
Top 5 Reasons Why Gas Grills Make a Whistling or Humming Noise
- Air Displacement
- Regulator Noise
- Moisture Escaping
- Improper Gas or Propane Connection
- Defects in the Regulator or Grill
Air Displacement Causes Whistling Noises
One of the most common reasons why gas grills make whistling noises is the escape of air due to displacement from cooking. Gas grills can have 4 or more burners running simultaneously which causes the rapid release of vapors.
These vapors are searching for the most convenient exits points which often are small crevices and the lip of the grill hood. The fast moving air through small spaces often contributes to whistling noises from grills.
Gas Regulator Causes a Humming Noise
Every gas grill has a regulator whose sole purpose is to restrict the flow of propane or natural gas which feed the burners. Gas flows through valves in the regulator and this movement of fuel can cause noises such as humming and whistling.
Typical Gas Grill Regulator
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Regulator noise is often a sign that it needs to be replaced or removed from service. A noisy regulator can be diagnosed by simply by opening and closing the valve to see if the noise increase or decreases as the fuel level fluctuates.
Moisture Escapes and Causes Whistling Noises
Environmental variances can cause gas grills to make strange noises that are hard to pinpoint. Whether it’s hot or cold out, extremes on both ends can affect the moisture build up both inside and outside your grill.
Moisture escaping a grill works hand and hand with air displacement. It can cause water to buildup in the natural escape vents causing whistling and other noises to occur. This happens most often when grilling in extremely cold environments.
Gas or Propane Connection is Not Secure
Why does my gas grill sound like a jet engine? This is a common question people have when there is a bad connection with propane hoses or gas is escaping from a faulty regulator. A hissing sound is another good indicator that fuel is leaking and faulty equipment should be replaced.
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Other telltale signs of insecure connections might be propane tanks that give off a high pitched or clicking noise. Unsecured propane and natural gas connections are usually easy to identify by the smell alone.
Defective Gas Grill or Regulator
Defective equipment can cause a wide range of noises that include popping, hissing, humming, and whistling. Grilling equipment stored outside exposed to the elements will need to be replaced more frequently.
Common grill equipment that develops noises over time includes regulators, burners, propane tanks, hoses, and hoods. Buying quality grilling equipment and taking good care of it is usually the best preventative measure to prevent unwanted noises from developing.
How Do I Stop My Gas Grill From Whistling or Humming?
In order to prevent your gas grill from whistling or humming, there are several things you can do to make it quieter. Here are some tips and ideas that should be addressed if your grill is making hissing humming, or whistling noises.
Tips for Stopping Your Gas Grill from Making Whistling Noises:
- Buy Quality
- Clean and Maintain Your Grill
- Replace Gas Connection Hoses and Regulator Routinely
- Make Sure Inside Flame is Evenly Distributed
- Place Sound Dampeners to Reduce Vibration
- Drown it Out With Music
Buy a Quality Grill, They are Usually Less Noisy
We’ve noticed that when it comes to reducing little annoyances such as irritating noises, the higher quality grills tend to do a better job. Manufacturers like Napoleon and some of the high end Weber grills have given us years of use without any noise whatsoever.
The other option is to buy a quality regulator or change it out routinely to prevent it from developing whistling or humming sounds. These are usually inexpensive and the peace of mind of a new regulator is usually worth it.
Clean and Maintain Your Gas Grill Frequently
Grill maintenance is often overlooked, but extremely important to maintain a noise free environment. This includes washing dirt and grime build up from vent openings and crevices which can cause the redirection or channeling of air flow to unwanted areas.
Gas hoses should be checked for cracking and leaks on a routine basis to prevent hazardous situations. Any recently developed noises from your gas grill should be inspected as soon as possible. It could be a sign of a large problem down the road.
Replace Your Gas Hoses and Regulator Regularly
Gas hoses and regulators usually last 1-2 years, but some of the cheaper brands have been known to fail way before then. Inspect all gas hoses and regulators before use to make sure they are working properly. Replace any equipment that is damaged or not working properly.
Troubleshoot your regulator by slowly opening the valve. If the noise increases with the gas flow, the source of the noise is probably your regulator and it should be replaced.
Inspect Gas Grill Burner and Flame for Even Distribution
Another common source of noise from grilling is uneven distribution of burners and sporadic ignition of fuel. This can result in popping and whistling noises as unspent fuel is burned at an uneven rate.
Clean or Replace Gas Burner Tubes
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Uneven fuel burn can be caused by clogged burners or insufficient fuel pressure. Inspect your burners to insure even distribution of flames and clean as necessary. If fuel pressure is insufficient, your regulator likely needs to be replaced or you’re running low on propane or natural gas.
Place Sound Dampeners to Reduce Vibration
Sound dampening is a proven way to reduce noise induced by vibration. Vibration usually occurs at the regulator or due to convection of heat from the grill itself.
To counteract noise from vibration, a rubber dampener can be installed under the wheels of the grill, under the propane tank, and any place the regulator makes contact with the grill itself. These dampeners will absorb the vibration and cut down on unwanted noise.
Cover Up the Humming or Whistling With the Radio!
If the source of your noisy grill is not one of the above common issues, then the chances are that it’s probably not that big of a deal. The simple solution is to just drown it out with your favorite tunes.
Odds are you may even by having a backyard get together so music is probably already on the menu. This solution is the quickest and your friends probably won’t even notice.
Bottom Line
The most common noises gas grills make are whistles, hums, popping, or hissing. Troubleshooting these noises can be difficult and are often hard to replicate. Environmental extremes can cause expansion in propane tanks and change the way they operate. Some of the most common noises that gas grills make can be related to faulty equipment such as regulators, gas hoses, or the gas tanks themselves.
Other noises center on air displacement of the grill itself and vibration. The best luck we’ve had with reducing noise that grills make is to buy quality right off the bat. The higher end Napoleon Grills and Weber Grills tend to create less noise over their lifespan than others we’ve tested.
Other good practices for reducing whistling and other noises include replacing your regulator and gas hoses on a routine basis. Gas regulators should be replaced at a maximum of 2 years and sooner if exposed to elements. Keeping up with routine maintenance of your gas grill is the best way to insure that it remains quiet and all aspects work as efficiently as possible.
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