When we custom design and build fire pits for customers we use a fire pit kit because we are in Florida where most of our clients use propane gas.  The fire pit kits we have been using are limited to 65K BTU’s because that is the limit to how fast a 20lb 5 gallon liquid propane tank is capable of vaporizing the liquid to gas.

However, when we install the same fire pit for a customer with natural gas or with an in-line large LP cylinder they do not love the flame patterns so we have started using a different fire pit kit.

double ring 24 inch burner on 30" fire pit

New Fire pit kit control box with safety valve and ignition module

fire pit pilot improvement

The new features that I love about this new fire pit kit is that the burner is very heavy American made 304 stainless.  Although we have always used 304 stainless materials the gauge of these materials are heavier.

The control valve is in a sealed box whereas the old kit we used was open in the back.  The front was sealed so it looked “finished” when we built the control panlel into a fire pit or a column but inside the structure it was open to the elements and the critters we try not to think about who live in these sealed damp, dank areas… who will sometimes chew through wires.

Also the burner sits low so we are able to pour  lava rock and fire glass on top of the burner.  On this new kit the pilot assembly sits higher so we can pour more media on the burner.  As gas leaves the burner we want it to have to push its way through the media so there is a better flame pattern and an accumulation of gas before ignition so there are not only better flame patterns but better flames.  Also the pilot is mounted easily to allow us to raise it higher if necessary.

Finally the orifice in the safety valve is set for 90K BTU’s and the module is a 9v battery module.  The sealed box protects these controls but the controls themselves are a lot stronger with higher settings so pragmatic day-t0-day use of the custom firepit is more enjoyable with less opportunity for failure.

Electric control valve for outdoor fire pit and fireplace

Tweet This Post

giant infrared rotisserie burner

We get a lot of calls for this particular problem.  The barbecue grill rotisserie burner is the only infrared burner on a lot of barbecues and it is often the only burner that is not a part of the convection burners inside the fire box.  The rotisserie burner valve is not the same valve used on the regular barbecue burners inside the firebox.

Typically the barbecue valve is a simple ball valve with an orifice attached to determine BTU capacity.  The rotisserie burner will have what is called a safety valve because if the vertical position and ability for flames to be blown out.

There are a few different versions of the safety valve.  The most common safety valve is the valve used on gas fireplaces that burner liquid propane gas.  LP must have a pilot and the pilot is used to allow gas to keep flowing.  Most people know the pilot keeps the gas flow safe but we do not always understand how that works.  On a barbecue the same valve is used but the “pilot” flame is the entire rotisserie burner.

All barbecue grills that have a rotisserie will have similar instructions to tells us to push and hold the knob of the valve.  Because the gas flow has to move up and around to the rotisserie burner the instructions will ask is to hold this knob “in” for 10 to 30 seconds.  After that the burner will ignite if the gas has made its way around to come through the burner.

Once the burner is burning the instructions will advise up to continue holding the knob “in” for an additional 30 seconds before we allow the knob to release and use the knob to dial the heat high or low.

Solaire rotisserie control valve

viking bbq grill rotisserie valve

When a customer contacts us at Grill-Repair.com to complain about a problem with their barbeque rotisserie the problem is almost always that the burner is going out when they release the knob.  By holding the knob in the “in” position the gas is flowing but when the knob is released the gas no longer flows.  I have seen all kings of contraption people have created to keep the rotisserie knob depressed while they are barbecuing.  Recently a client suggested that Alfresco distribute a stainless steel 2×4 because he had been using a block of wood so long he needed to replace the 2×4 he left leaning against the grill to hold the knob “in” while using the rotisserie.

The safety valve — or pilot valve — is used as a safety precaution and using clamps, wood, bricks to hold the knob in so gas will flow is dangerous.  Aside from the obvious problem of a block of wood around open flames, aside from the problem of impediments lying around the barbecue to trip us up the original reason for the pilot valve is to turn the gas off if the flames are extinguished for any reason.

DCS rotisserie button and control valve

When we decide to use the rotisserie the first thing we do is turn on the gas to the barbecue.  When we turn on the gas the gas flow stops at the control valves because the control valves are in the Off position.  On a normal BBQ valve we simply turn the knob to open the control valve and allow gas through.  The safety valve also has a ball valve but the safety valve also has a solenoid that continues to keep gas from flowing even when the ball valve is all the way open.  When we hold in the knob we are pushing the solenoid pin to allow gas to flow through the ball valve.  Most barbeque grill safety valves incorporate the safety valve and the solenoid into one process.  DCS uses a ball valve like the other control valves in the barbecue but instead of the valve connecting the flow of gas to the rotisserie burner the DCS valve connects to a button that allows the cook to push the button and hold the solenoid open for gas to flow.

The solenoid inside the rotisserie valve is always going to be in the closed position so gas cannot flow unless something causes the solenoid to open.  When lighting the burner that something is us pushing the knob “in” so gas flows but after 30 seconds from ignition what happens?

Next to the infrared rotisserie burner is the electrode that arcs when lighting the burner.  Next to the rotisserie igniter electrode is another piece of metal that sticks out in the flames.  This is a thermocouple.  A thermocouple is a way of generating a small millivolt charge without using a battery or any conventional means of power.  When specific kinds of metals conduct heat against one another a millivolt charge is created.  The millivolt charge travels through a wire inside a copper sleeve from the tip in the flames all the way down to the solenoid — whether the solenoid is in the ball valve control or in a button that connects to the control valve the thermocouple ends with a piece of steel like a bolt attached to the copper tubing.

Just like in high school physics electrical charge plus copper plus steel equals an electro-magnet.  The threaded bolt that screws into the end of the safety valve magnetizes and pulls the safety valve open.  The flames at the rotisserie burner create a charge and the charge creates a magnet and the magnet pulls the valve open so gas can flow.  Now we can take our hand off the button, off the valve without the flames going out.

When this does not work there are a few things that may need attention.  Initially it is important to check the tip of the thermocouple because carbon deposits generated by burning gas could coat the tip and make it less able to create its millivolt charge.  Also check the copper line for kinks and breaks that stop the millivolt from creating a magnet at the steel tip.  Finally check the threading that screws into the safety valve.  Sometimes it is possible for the heating and cooling to cause expansion and contraction that can slowly unscrew the steel so the magnetic tip is less effective.

If something is damaged or broken and proper maintenance as mentioned above does not help it may be possible to exchange the thermocouple.  It is rare the thermocouple is damaged as the thermocouple has no moving parts.  Without moving parts there is nothing to get damaged or wear out.  However, kinks, bends, dirt and carbon can make the thermocouple less effective.  Also the solenoid can get stuck inside the control valve so that a weaker thermocouple cannot pull it free.  For these reasons sometimes replacing the thermocouple will repair the rotisserie burner.

If the thermocouple is not the problem the safety valve needs to be exchanged.  Like the control valves the safety valve has lubrication in the valve body.  Sometimes over-heating while grilling and grease firs cause the valves to over heat and the lubrication becomes fricive.  In this case the valve has to be replaced.  The safety valve can also slowly become less lubricated or get a little dirt in the body so the solenoid becomes stuck.  If a stronger thermocouple or new item can pull the solenoid free the rotisserie will function.  However, most of the time the rotisserie burner will not stay lit it is because the safety valve itself needs to be exchanged.

As you will see from the images above each barbecue is different and each valve connects differently.  As mentioned the DCS safety valve is a button that connects to the control valve connecting the the gas manifold.  The Viking barbeque grill bolts through the manifold and the Solaire safety valve includes the control valve that screws into threading in the manifold.

Always use high quality replacement parts when repairing your barbecue grill and use certified technical assistance.

http://www.grill-repair.com

954.247.4552

Service@Grill-Repair.com

dcs rotisserie button

Tweet This Post

Precisely what defines organic gardening? Really only one factor. A lack of chemicals. Natural gardens do not use just about any synthetic fertilizers, only those which are natural; animal or vegetable. The same goes for pesticides. Absolutely no nasty chemicals made in a factory, natural and organic pesticides only. So what are the advantages of gardening like this? Let’s look at this for a moment. Are you willing to eat pesticides? Of course not, they are poisonous. So why would you wish to eat food that was sprayed with it? Growing your individual food organically is more preferable for your health. It is also a great way to save money. And nothing tastes so good and is as satisfying as biting into a fruit or vegetable that you just grew yourself naturally.

Composting is the starting point when planting natural garden beds. It is much easier to start and keep a compost heap than you may think. The basics of it are throw garbage in a pile and let it decompose. Of course there is more than that to it. You need to know precisely what garbage is good to throw in your compost pile and which should never go anywhere near it. Furthermore knowing how you can help it decompose quickly can benefit you greatly. Virtually all organic material from your home can be composted. Vegetable peelings. Corn cobs. Even eggshells can go in your pile. Several things to avoid are meat and dairy products. All these examples are considered green ingredients. You should blend one part eco-friendly with three parts brown. Illustrations of brown ingredients would include yard trimmings, leaves, sawdust, and straw. Your pile should be a minimum of three feet in each direction. Maintenance includes ensuring the stack is moist, but not soaking wet, and turning the pile. Get a pitchfork or spade and mix it up well, this lets oxygen in and your pile will decompose faster.

There are many methods to control unwanted pests in your garden without using pesticide sprays. The initial step would be to discover which insects are actually pests. Some bugs are quite beneficial to your garden. Researching pests can help you discover how best to deal with that individual insect. Types of ways to control insects without pesticides include; adjusting the ph of the soil, altering your watering habits, bringing in certain insects which will only affect the unwanted pests, or using tools created for dealing with that pest.

Those are the essentials of organic gardening. You can find much more information on gardening out there, with regards to seeds and planting techniques. What actually makes your garden organic and natural is not using fertilizers as well as pesticides.

Lora Lee is the author of books such as “Organic Gardening For Beginners” and “Introducing Your Children To Organic Gardening”. She have been planting organic gardens and using companion planting method since she was just ten years old.

To help avoid experiencing any troubles with the funeral, following a brief look at those common pitfalls to watch for whenever selecting a funeral home.

The initial objective to take is to realize that not all funeral parlors are the same. Competing funeral prlors will offer various other types of services and will offer different approaches to client services. Presuming that all funeral homes are the very same can lead you to arriving at an uneducated choice and this is really not what you need to do when deciding on a Houston area funeral parlor.

In a similar way, you have no wish to choose a funeral parlor just because it is really close to your neighborhood. Yes, there are all type of logistical problems that could come up if you select a funeral parlor that is exceptionally far away from your area. However , just opting for a selected funeral parlor just because it is nearby signifies you are paying little heed to all of the other endowments or flaws associated with it. You do not need your Houston funeral service to be problematical for anyone that attends. You definitely don’t want it to be a strain for you and your family. That's why contemplation on your choice is so crucial. A decision based solely on your convenience wouldn’t be well thought out by any means.

You would really like to budget a Houston funeral correctly and that means you will need to be fully mindful of what a particular funeral parlor will bill you for its funeral services. A defective bit of logic emerges whenever you assume that the most costly funeral facility will instantly be the best one to select. This may or may not be the situation so you should go a little further than choosing a selected funeral facility predicated just on what it is charging for their services. Be sure to always look over what you will be receiving for the services you would be responsible for and then making a comparison with various other funeral facilities in your region.

Additionally , do not assume that you might ever be limited with any selections you will have when it comes to organizing your very own funeral. Regardless of how large you wish your own funeral service to be, you could have your requirements met if you have chosen the appropriate Houston area funeral parlor to handle the services.

Sometimes, it’s not feasible to plan in advance any funeral arrangements. However , if you’re anticipating that a family member may pass onin the somewhat near future, it might be smart to make arrangements with the funeral parlor as far in advance as practicable. When you try and select a funeral parlor in the immediate initial days after somebody passes away, you will find yourself far too distressed to effectively make the correct selection.

Carnes Funeral Homes provides funeral services and cremations to the Houston area in their difficult time

This is a video we just uploaded to Facebook.  We have not used Facebook in the past for disseminating gas grill replacement parts information but we are beginning to put some content on there now.

Glow plugs are becoming popular again after going out of production 10 years ago.  As a previous blog post discussed Lynx just discontinued the glow plug repair kits in favor of forcing customers to buy hot-surface kits.  The technology os the same but the glow plugs are mounted differently so they do not get bumped around at all.  The glow plug monofilament is fragile when it is hot and can be easily damaged when in use or just following ignition.  Take a look:

glow plug video

The glow plug lights up like a light bulb without the glass bulb so the ignition is a constant instead of the momentary arcing of a traditional ignition electrode.  The Lynx glow plugs look like this:

Lynx Glow Plug ignition electrode

there is a bend just like the double prong arcing electrode Lynx used in 2006.  The mounting bracket is the same as the lynx electrodes sine their 1998 inception.  Instead of purchasing glow plugs — which are becoming more expensive now that Lynx discontinued them — many clients are using the battery powered module kit with the extra glow plugs and many Lynx users are also going back to the 2006 Lynx ignition system.  In 2006 Lynx used a double prong electrode without a collector box which is the same electrode used by Solaire, Alfresco, TEC and Viking.  These are perfect for infrared grills especially because the electrode is kept clean by the intense heat and there is no collector box to warp or rust.

Glow Plug module uses "D" batteries for extra strength.

Moving back to the older ignition system can be used with the 110v transformer and can be used with the “D” battery module or an all-in-one module that is one part that has the battery, button and module together.  These all-in-one modules have never been a stock grill part for Lynx but the same idea can work by mounting in the control panel like the pre2002 Lynx barbecue models that had rotary knob modules.

Many people believe the igniter is always the first thing to break in any barbecue grill.  Not true.  However, batteries have to be changed and it is possible to get some grease and dirt to the electrode because it must be inside the grilling area.  If we get inside the barbecue once or twice a year and clean off the steel posts of the igniter electrodes they will possibly last forever so long as we remember one well-placed drop of grease can foul the plug so it needs to be sprayed with a de-greaser.

Have fun!

http://www.grill-repair.com

Tweet This Post

Gardening strategies for pruning
As we spoke about in the introduction, pruning plays an important role in the garden upkeep. If you commit any error though pruning, don’t shed your heart because of the fact it's like a bad haircut, it is going to grow once again.
Avoid watering in the evening

During summer, you may perhaps experience heavy humidity, which may well result in lot of issues in your garden. To get your plants great and dry, tuck them in for night. As well as this watering in the evening may possibly be evaded to stop damage to the plants.

Lose Powder-like mildew
Powdered mildew is the commonplace fungus typically impacts your ornamental plants. This could create white film on the leaves of the plants in your garden. Even other ornamental plants such as Sand cherry and Dogwoods are also finding influenced with this fungus. Effective gardening is needed to halt the expansion of this fungus. You can easily prevent this by spraying common fungicide in the garden centre.

Impedance of Pythium Blight
If you are in the north and also having perennial Rye grass, then you ought to be intensely cautious not to leave your grass wet at night. A dreadful fungus called Pythium Blight may presumably take its higher hand, if you leave your grass wet in the night thanks to the fact this fungus truly like to develop in high humid condition largely, in the night. Pythium blight can easily be observed in the early morning. You can quite easily appreciate the fungus on the best of the turf as white cotton candy. You can conveniently notice this fungus essentially along driveways and walks, where the soil is wet. Watering in the day at the earliest attainable time can easily control Pythium blight.

Fire Blight
Fire Blight, however a different culprit would rather develop well through summer than any other season. This fungus would prefer to attack Pyracantha, cotoneasters, crabapple trees, and Apple trees. The presence of Fire Blight can easily be visualised once the any 1 of the branches of the plant turns red and dies. This Fire Blight can be forestalled small by pruning the concerned branch and removing it from the most significant plant as far as is possible.
It's also urgent that the cut branches should actually be burnt considering the incontrovertible fact that Fire Blight is contagious and also wash or dip the projected shears by employing alcohol in order to forestall the spread of the perilous fungus to other parts of the branch.

Shotgun fungus
A little gem like fungus, which likes to develop in mulch and tends to swell, has been named as transient gun Fungus. This fungus can fly up to 8 feet in the air and will spatter your home with small brown specks and when they stick to your place or windows, they stick like glue. Most of us suspect the spiders and aliens for this miniscule brown speck. You can’t stop this fungus, but can do something by keeping the mulch loose so air can circulate inside to keep this fungus out. Though mulch is superb, don’t allow them to get packed, try to remove it at least when in a year and also rake it flat as if it will look like you've just mulched.

Carole Gray, Owner of Weed Puller .org.uk

An enthusiastic gardener and all round green-fingered person. I have always tried to make my garden into an additional room of my home and try and make it as stunning as practical which explains why getting rid of weeds became a very important part of my life!

First of all, when selecting cremation urns, it is essential to make a decision depending on in which you intend them to be kept right after the funeral service is done.  Do you wish to display it or simply bury it when the remains have already been scattered?  The decision you are making must be according to your needs and choices as well.

Keep in mind which kind of material and style will function best on the cremation urn you have picked for the departed. Typically, standard cremation urns are made of alloys, porcelain, pure stone, wood among others.  Select a material that amazes you. Since these cremation urns can be found in different sizes, be sure to find out if there are any size limits. Whenever it will be important to be placed at one specific location, you must figure out the size that the graveyard would accept.  Then again, in case you decide to put the same in your own home on a mantle, it is important to ensure that you understand the right width and height as well that will give a perfect fitting.

Select a cremation urn that fits the deceased personality or livelihood for instance if the deceased was actually a veteran then it would be patriotism made urn. Certainly, there are a variety of patriotism designed urns to be found in any funeral parlors or online. Be sure the dimensions of the urn is proper size for the departed. In many instances, it is needed to have an appraisal of one cubic inch for every pound of body weight.  Make sure you understand the original size of this coffin which is roughly 220 cubic inches.

Now you know more about cremation urns if you are loved one decide on cremation instead of the common caskets and funeral. One last idea, make an effort to conduct some study on the vendor of the cremation urn and read the previous customer’s rating on their product.

Many funeral parlors will offer you several services, in fact have at least several basics in common. They could usually give a collection of funeral caskets or urns, and may allow you to select what will satisfy your budget and the desires of the loved one. They often offer you a viewing area for everyone paying their respects to sit calmly with the casket. Some may offer added services, like writing and sending obituary and funeral updates to local newspapers, and offering notice cards to family and friends. Listed here are helpful details you must know about funeral shops to prevent yourself from additional fees.

Conduct your own private analysis on funeral shops, caskets, cremation urns or arranging a funeral service. So, you could avoid being cheated by funeral studios. You should plan your burial, but think one more time before you spend money beforehand. You risk losing everything if the funeral home goes out of business. Rather, keep your cash in a pay-on-death account at your bank.  Now, if you or your spouse is an honorably dismissed veteran, funeral is free at a Veterans Affairs National Cemetery. This includes the burial plot, box, opening and closing, marker, and setting fee. Some State Veterans Cemeteries provide free of charge burial for veterans and, often, spouses. Good information you should know!

Are you on a budget or concerned with the environment? Consider a rental casket. The body keeps inside the casket in a thick cardboard container, which is then removed for burial or cremation. Casket rental is the simplest and most cost-effective way to have a beautiful, high-end casket without having to pay inflated purchase prices.  Some would consider this a more eco-friendly alternative as well. A rented casket is mainly used for display of the body during the wake or visitation before the body is moved to a more economical casket if required for funeral. If your funeral manager doesn’t offer casket rental, you might consider looking into a different funeral director or try to find a casket rental service.  A good funeral home will not deny you this choice. In instances of direct burial or cremation, substitute or personalized funerals, a casket might not be an essential expense.

It is a typical misconception that cremations are considerably cheaper than common burials or buying cremation urns are less expensive than purchasing coffins. This is not normally true! Since the charges during funeral planning is completed on a piecemeal basis, there is a pretty good possibility that a cremation is still going to get fairly expensive based on the ancillary services you have chosen.

When taking into consideration the concept, it’s good try using a theme that would be appropriate if there are going to be plenty of younger children attending. For instance, a style of teddy bears could be very recognizable by all of the young guests. That’s the reason it’s best if you keep the theme of the party relevant to the event, which is an infant’s first birthday.

There are two main choices when it comes to invitations. One of the biggest money saving 1st birthday party invitations is to send electronic invitations. This is an quick and easy way to send invitations for nearly zero cost. The electronic invitations themselves can be modified to match the theme of the party too. The electronic version also makes it quite easy for the recipients to RSVP, thus making it much easier to arrange for the right number of people.

However, electronic invitations seem very impersonal for some. That is why it may be worth it to stay old fashioned and traditional by creating paper invitations instead. This is going to require more materials plus more work on part of the party organizer; however many people will be happier with the final result by seeing the cute invitations in the postal mail.

This really is one area where it is best to cater to the guests that are going to be arriving. Definitely stick with homemade foods and snacks in order to save money and time. Many people like snacks included in the 1st birthday party ideas. A birthday celebration for an infant or a child is just not best served with a dinner. Instead, it should be a snack or a lunch. An ideal choice regarding meals are to have sandwiches. They are very easy to handle. Most people enjoy eating sandwiches. And they can be quite cheap to buy and make. Finally, guest can put their own condiments in order to make the sandwich taste the way they like it.

When it comes to decorations, one of the best 1st birthday party ideas is to stay with the overall theme that was originally chosen for the party. For instance, a theme that was going to include teddy bears should decorations that include stuffed animals. Don’t confuse people by buying football themed decorations instead. And don’t try to recycle Christmas decoration either.

It is also possible to include non-themed decorations in order to save money. Unfortunately, that can make it difficult for the guests to figure out what the main theme of the birthday party is about. That’s the reason it is best to match decorations with the intended theme of the party.

The actual numismatic market price of any two-dollar bill, much like any other note, lies in a short list of qualities depictive of the bill. These attributes include the bill’s age, where it was printed, what series, and the current state of the note in question. Certainly, a mint defectless note will fetch a more substantial price than one that is noticeably worn and ragged. There are two relatively reputable sources for information about paper money value that one could easily get a hold of. One is the internet, but then, you’ll have to be cautious to make certain you get a reliable site, and the other one is an official “Red Book” which can easily be purchased here (link here). In this author’s opinion, the printed book may be the preferable and more trustworthy option.

There are a variety of easily available sites on the web that have verified themselves as trustworthy, and those can ordinarily be relied upon too, but if you’re going to be referencing more than a couple of items, then a trusty reference book is definitely the way to go. Now to get down to the basic values of some of the most commonly traded two dollar bill. It seems the numismatic worth for most two-dollar bills is not greater than the note itself literally states; 2 bucks. But there are many particular examples that can bring considerably more.

For one case in point, if you are fortunate enough to happen across a 1928B Red Seal note, your ordinary range for a very fine, or extremely fine note could be $ 20 – $ 85. If that same bill is in uncirculated state it would bring skyward of $ 700, and if you by some means are fortunate enough to come into custody of a 1928B Red Seal that is both uncirculated condition, and a star note, well, that could bring as much as $ 13,500 or more! Now that’s pretty decent for a note that started at a pitiful two bucks, right?

The bottom line is, in order to accurately assess the honest value of your two-dollar bill, you will definitely want to have these two distinct things; the details about the bill so as to ascertain fair market value, and a trustworthy source by which to reference that important information. Oh yes, and in the case that you do choose to sell, you’ll also need to find someone that is willing to give you the sum you are entitled to. So good luck to you, and the next time you may happen to come across an uncommon bill, you’ll definitely want to ask yourself how much that note could be worth, you may sometime be surprised that it’s a whole lot more than you expected.

If you have been browsing for in-depth reviews of the very best 10 amendments, search no further. We’ve put in hours examining the value of 2 dollar bill on the world wide web and post it on our site so our visitors can benefit.