We strive to provide you with authoritative, trustworthy, and expert advice. In doing so, the staff at bbqdropout.com performs extensive research, editing, and fact checking to every post on this webiste. If you feel that this article can improve, please feel free to reach us at staff@bbqdropout.com
Before continuing this article, I wanted to let you know that I have a YouTube channel where I showcase all sorts of video content related to BBQ. Subscribing would mean a lot to me, and I very much appreicate all the support!
Blackstone Griddle Valve
Components like the valves and the regulator on a Blackstone griddle play a critical role in safely distributing the propane to the various burner elements.
While they are designed to be durable, these components sometimes need to be reset or cleaned to optimize the propane burner’s performance.
This might call for doing things like resetting the regulator, as well as cleaning and lubricating the valves. It’s also possible for wear and tear to affect a valve to the point that it needs to be replaced entirely.
Fortunately, most of these procedures are easy enough to do on your own, with minimal cost, and without having to call in a professional.
What Do the Valves on a Griddle Do?
The valves on a gas griddle both supply and evenly distribute the propane alone the stainless steel burner element. They are not only critical for supplying the flame but ensuring that the flame of the burner elements spreads out safely and evenly to heat the griddle top.
Propane valves work a little bit like a water faucet. They are made up of a small handwheel that controls the propane gas flow.
When you turn the wheel a specially engineered Stem and Seat mechanism inside the valve opens or closes to prevent or allow gas flow from the tank.
Turning it reduces the amount of gas that passes through the Stem & Seat, whereas turning it up opens the gap, which allows more gas to pour through to produce a hotter, more vigorous blue flame.
Blackstone Griddle Valve Maintenance
As the years go by, your Blackstone gas griddle’s valves might need to be cleaned and lubricated as part of general grill maintenance. Especially if you store your griddle is stored outside in the elements. You can use the following steps when you get your gas griddle ready each spring.
Tools & Materials
#1 Phillips head hand screwdriver
Clean paper towels
Cotton swabs
Penetrating lubricant like WD40
Automotive brake grease
Step One: Turn off the gas supply by closing the valve on the liquid propane tank or removing the propane cylinder.
Step Two: Carefully remove the burner control knobs to gain direct access to the griddle’s gas valves. Depending on your model, you might also need to remove the faceplate of the Blackstone griddle.
Step Three: Gently remove the small silicone disc that sits on the top of the valve. Look for any dust, dirt, or pollen and carefully wipe it away before setting it aside. If you do see a fair amount of debris on this protective disk, chances are good some has worked its way into the stem & seat mechanism.
Step Four: Use a hand screwdriver to take off the valve cover. This is usually two screws that hold it in place and might require a #1 Phillips head to keep from stripping it.
Step Five: Take the valve cover off the valve body. The top of the valve cover will have a stem that turns to affect the volume of gas. Below you will see the valve seat, which should have a small spring.
Step Six: Take out the spring and set it aside. The cone-shaped valve should then pull directly out of the valve body. Then use a clean shop rag or paper towel to gently clean the cone-shaped piece of brass. Then apply a very thin layer of automotive brake grease.
Step Seven: Clean the valve body with a clean cotton swab. Once you remove any dust, apply a few drops of automotive brake cleaner or a penetrating lubricant like WD40 to the other end of the cotton swab and gently wipe it around the interior of the valve body. This will help keep the valve moving smoothly in the future.
Step Eight: Place the cone and the spring back in the valve body with the notch in the cone facing the same way it was when you removed it.
Step Nine: Take the valve cover and gently push the valve stem out. Then gently wipe it with a clean rag and a little penetrating lubricant. Then use a cotton swab with a few drops of penetrating lubricant to clean the inside of the valve cover.
When thoroughly clean, apply a very thin layer of brake grease to the valve stem. Insert it back into the valve cover with the pin aligned with the notch as it was when you first removed it.
Step Ten: Put the valve cover back on top of the valve body, making sure that the stem once again aligns with the notch in the seat. Then cover it with the silicone disk and reassemble the rest of the valve and griddle like it was when you started.
Replacement Valve for Blackstone Griddle
Sometimes an older griddle that has lived its life outdoors will suffer from so much wear and tear or built-up debris that it needs to be replaced.
While Blackstone typically only warrants their models for one to three years, they do offer a wide range of replacement parts, including a replacement valve. If you do have one malfunctioning valve to replace, you might as well replace them all.
You can use the following steps to replace a malfunctioning valve on a Blackstone gas griddle.
Tools & Materials You Will Need
Phillips’s screwdriver with #1 and #2 heads
Adjustable wrench
Step One: Turn off the valve on the liquid propane tank, and carefully remove the hose from the gas rail.
Step Two: Carefully remove the griddle top to access the main firebox.
Step Three: Unscrew the stainless steel burner tubes. In some models this might also involve removing the knobs on the front and removing the screws connecting them to the burner tubes.
Step Four: Completely remove the knobs and bezel components. This should also release the gas rail.
Step Five: Remove the malfunctioning valve or valves to be replaced.
Step Six: Insert the replacement valve into the slot and hole that you removed the old, malfunctioning valve from. Make sure that the gasket is seated firmly to prevent any potential leaks later. Then carefully tighten the screw with the correct size of Phillip’s head. Be careful not to strip the head of the screw.
Step Seven: After replacing all the necessary valves, insert the gas rail back into the firebox and reassemble your Blackstone griddle, reversing the same procedures you used to take it apart.
Does a Blackstone Griddle Have a Regulator?
One of the great things about Blackstone griddles is that all the models that have a propane hose come with a regulator. This spares you the extra expense of having to purchase an aftermarket hose that has one.
How Do You Repair a Blackstone Regulator?
You might need to reset the regulator on your Blackstone griddle if you notice a low or non-existent flame on all the burners, yet you know the tank still contains a good volume of liquid propane. This is usually due to a pressure variance that triggers the internal safety mechanism in the regulator. If so, you can do it using the following steps.
Step One: Turn all the burner element knobs to the Off position.
Step Two: Turn off the propane supply valve at the tank.
Step Three: Carefully remove the regulator from the tank connection. Wait 30 seconds for the pressure inside the regulator to normalize.
Step Four: Reattach the regulator to the tank
Step Five: Reopen the propane valve again very slowly. This will help repressurize the regulator without triggering the internal safety mechanism.
Step Six: Fire up all your burners to full flame to make sure all of them are receiving a full and equally distributed flow of propane.
How Do I Make Blackstone Hotter?
If the Blackstone’s griddle top isn’t hot enough due to the burner elements underperforming, you might need to reset the regulator to maximize the gas flow.
It could also be that your gas valves are dirty or stuck in a low position, despite what the knobs on the firebox face are telling you.
If you have properly preheated the griddle top on high, but strong winds and cold temperatures are making it hard to keep your Blackstone’s griddle top hot enough, you should try repositioning it out of the wind or closing the hood. If your model doesn’t come with a hood, you can improvise one by tenting the food with heavy-duty aluminum foil, or a domed pot lid from the kitchen.
Final Thoughts
Blackstone griddles are designed to be durable and easy to fix. If you have a problem with your griddle top not getting hot enough, and the flame is low, or otherwise underperforming, you might want to start by resetting the regulator that connects the propane tank to the gas hose.
If this quick fix doesn’t work, then you might need to clean or replace the valves.
If strong winds or cold temperatures are making it hard to heat up the cold-rolled steel griddle top, you should try repositioning the griddle out of the wind.
You can then close the hood to trap more heat or tent the food with sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.