Getting Started with a Cal Flame Grill

Your Cal Flame grill has arrived, your fuel line is connected and you're getting ready to start grilling. Here's a quick step-by-step instruction on how to make sure your Cal Flame grill is operating with the most efficiency.

Using your Cal Flame Grill Controls

The controls shown below are for the P4, P5, and P6 drop-in grills. Familiarize yourself with these controls before lighting your grill. The push button ON / OFF switch controlling the halogen light is located on the control panel at the front left side.

How to Electronically Light Cal Flame Grill Burners

1. Make sure the drip tray is in place.

2. Open the hood.

3. Press and rotate the burner knob counter clockwise past the light position to HIGH. You will hear a loud click as the electronic lighter produces a spark.

4. Listen for the sound of the gas igniting. If the burner does not light on the first try, repeat immediately.

5. If the burner does not light after three attempts, turn the control knobs to the OFF position. Wait five minutes until the gas clears before attempting to light it again.

6. Repeat the procedure or try the manual lighting procedure below.

7. Upon successful lighting, repeat the process on the other burners you wish to light.

8. To shut off the burners, rotate the knob and turn to OFF. It is normal to hear a popping sound when the burners are turned off.

How to Manually Light Cal Flame Grill Burners

1. Slide out the drip tray from the grill.

2. Open the hood. If you have just attempted to light the burner, allow five minutes for any accumulated gas to dissipate.

3. Keep your face as far away from the burners as possible.

4. Light and insert a long stem match, holding it near the burner ports.

5. Push in and turn the control knob just past the LIGHT position to HIGH.

6. Listen for the sound of the gas igniting. If the burner does not light after five seconds, turn the control knobs to the OFF position. Wait five minutes until the gas clears before attempting to light it again.

Quick Tip: Cal Flame Grill Heat Distribution

When you place food on your Cal Flame grill, remember that the back of the grill tends to be hotter than the front. As your food cooks, you should periodically shift it to different spots on the cooking grates to ensure everything cooks evenly without burning.

How to check your Cal Flame Grill Burner for Flame Color and Height

The burner flame has been set in the factory and should already be adjusted for proper height and intensity. Periodically, you may wish to check each burner’s flame for color, height, and intensity.

1. Remove the grill rack and the flame tamer over the burner you want to inspect.

2. When the burner is operating properly, the flame will appear between light to dark blue, with occasional yellow bursts (due to impurities in propane -- this is normal).

3. Turn the burner to high. The flame should spread out about ½” away from the side of the burner. (See below photo left.)

4. Turn the burner down to low. The flame should be just slightly visible when viewed from the side. (See below photo right.)

Note: Flame that is mostly yellow or golden in color is often due to foreign matter in the burner. You may need to clean your burners. See here on removing, cleaning or replacing your burners.