Well, friends and neighbors, it’s about that time of year again. Everyone can feel that it’s right around the corner. It stays lighter just a little bit longer every day. The birds are back in force and you’re starting to notice their chirp, chirp, chirp-ing in the morning when you wake up. That’s right, spring is here!

In many parts of the country, it feels like spring has been around for quite awhile and in others, it seems that winter’s here to stay. The good news is that no matter what the weather is like, you can buy a propane tank and start grilling out right away.

A little rain or snow never hurt anyone, right? Then again, there is just something about standing outside in a t-shirt, savoring the wonderful aroma that’s wafting off of your grill on a nice spring day, isn’t there?

Perhaps you’ve never owned a grill before. The first step is to pick out the grill that suits you best. There are a number of great options, but for most people, a gas grill with three of four burners should do the trick. Some gas grills even come with a side burner that’s perfect for warming up a side dish in a pot or pan.

Step two? Buy a propane tank.

If you’ve never grilled before, don’t worry. The thought of hooking up your new propane tank might sound intimidating, but with our help (and your grill’s instruction manual) you’ll be just fine. Keep reading for more tips!

Buy a Grill- Check. Buy a Propane Tank- Check.

There are a handful of things to keep in mind after you buy a propane tank. It shouldn’t be stored indoors. It shouldn’t be laying on its side. It shouldn’t be dropped. It shouldn’t be left in the “on” position when it’s not in use. It should be checked for leaks on a regular basis.

Looking for a propane tank exchange near you?

Once that’s all complete and you’ve picked out your gas grill and brought your propane tank, the next step is to get it all hooked up. Once again, this step can seem a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it, but when you’re armed with a bit of knowledge (and your grill’s instruction manual), it’s actually a piece of cake.

Step one, of course, is to read through your grill’s instruction manual. Be sure to do it thoroughly, rereading sections that are unclear and making sure you have a good general overview of how everything works. After that, it’s never a bad idea to read through everything again. Doing this allows you to cement ideas you have already have a firm grasp on and catch something that you may have missed the first time around.

How to Hook Up Your Propane Tank for BBQ Fun

When the time comes to actually hook everything up, it’s really quite simple. Make sure the valve on your propane tank is off. Remove the propane tank’s protective covering from the opening. Grab your grill’s regulator valve and insert it directly into your propane tank’s opening and turn until everything is nice and secure. From there, many grills require an extra half turn or more to become fully seated and safe to use.

One thing to note is that you should never use tools to tighten the regulator valve to your propane tank. Be sure that everything is attached securely and tightly, but don’t overdo it.

From there, all you have to do is make sure stickers and paperwork have been removed from the inside of your grill, turn the propane tank on, turn the burner attached to your ignitor to “high,” and hit the ignition switch.

Your grill should now be on and ready to cook!

All you have to do after that is adjust the heat of your additional burners to high, close the cover, and step away for fifteen or twenty minutes. This allows any oils that were left over from manufacturing to be burned off, ensuring that your grill is now ready to use.

Buy a Propane Tank and Start Cooking!

After you’ve done this preliminary work, you can actually start the fun part–cooking! Whether you decide you break your grill in with New York Strip steaks and baked potatoes or brats and burgers, you’ll be glad that you bought a Mighty Flame propane tank. A whole new world of culinary experimentation awaits you and with just a little bit of practice (and a few of the recipes from our “Buy a Propane Tank and Start Cooking” series), you’ll be an expert grill master in no time at all.

One more thing to note–when you’re done grilling, make sure you turn your burners to the “off” position and then close your propane tank’s flow of gas by turning the valve on top of the tank off as well.

Well, we hope you’ve enjoyed this article that takes you from grabbing a grill to buying a propane tank to getting everything assembled to enjoying your food. For more safety tips, check out Safe Grilling with Propane.

For more great tips, keep your eyes on our blog. We love sharing our favorite grilling recipes with you, so check back often!

And, as always, if you’re searching for a propane tank exchange location near you, check out our map and buy a Mighty Flame propane tank. We’re always right around the corner!