ASK ROY

Why is our gas braai so hard to light? First, find out whether it’s a gas-flow problem or a spark problem. Try to light the gas as you would normally, but instead of pressing the piezo igniter button, try using a long match or a long-reach lighter. If the gas lights and burns properly, yo you probably have an ignition problem. pro It could be a worn-out spark sp module, a loose wire or other othe connection, a dead battery, corrosion corr or dirt on the igniter igni tip, or even cracked porcelain on the igniter element.

If the braai doesn’t light using the match, check for low or no gas flow. Your problem could be as simple as a low gas tank. Or it could be worse: gas plumbing clogged by insect nests, burners clogged up by rust or spilled food, a malfunctioning gas regulator, or a tripped excess-flow valve inside the regulator (that disc-shaped thing clamped on the gas hose). This valve valv can often be troublesome. Designed Des to prevent the fire risk associated with excessive flow caused by a gas leak, these valves v are easily tripped. People do this all the time, accidentally, by opening a burner valve before opening the tank valve. When they then open the tank, the valve interprets the outrush of gas as a leak. This trips the valve, which can be located inside the gas regulator.

Fortunately, you can easily reset the valve by shutting the braai down, disconnecting d the gas tank, opening all the burner ner valves to drain all the trapped gas, reconnecting the tank, and then going through the normal and correct rrect lighting procedure dure to get it going. g. A neighbour our sets off fireworks s every Guy Fawkes Day that land in our garden. den. Should I be worried d about possible fires? Well, yes. s. Every year, fireworks are a source ource of house fires. I had a close e call with this several years ago, when I found a handful of charred red leaves in a gutter. Probing deeper per into the mess, I found the remains mains of a bottle rocket. But it could uld have been worse: Another neighbour eighbour found a copper-jacketed .45-calibre libre bullet lodged in his roof.

One option is to go see your neighbour about the problem. oblem. You might even leave them with some e printouts from the web. Search phrases such as ‘ bottle rocket lands on roof, sparking house fire’. There’s no shortage of these. The other editors here tell me that this approach has one small drawback: Apparently it makes you look like a fun-smothering killjoy.

Maybe try this instead: As late as possible on the day of festivities, wet down all your yard and garden areas with a sprinkler – water restrictions notwithstanding. Take in any materials such as outdoor cushions and close your patio umbrellas and awnings. Use a hose to soak your firewood pile, if you have one. Finally, clean dry debris like leaves, pine needles, and seed pods out of gutters and off roof valleys and flat roofs. It’s especially easy if you have a leaf blower. Then, all you have to do is try to enjoy the show.