--- title: "Grill Flashback: Flames Behind the Knobs or Under the Panel: Causes and Fixes" description: "Grill flashback is flame burning where it should not: behind the control panel, around the knobs or at the front ends of the burner tubes, often with a soft…" url: "https://bbqgrillrepair.center/problems/grill-flames-behind-knobs/" --- # Grill Flashback: Flames Behind the Knobs or Under the Panel Grill flashback is flame burning where it should not: behind the control panel, around the knobs or at the front ends of the burner tubes, often with a soft roar, a hot panel or melting knobs. ## Gas smell? Knobs off, tank shut, lid up, step back Flame behind the control panel is burning where no part is built to take it. Gas off at the tank or shutoff, step back, let it burn out, and keep the grill unlit until the burners and valves have been inspected on a visit. ## What it usually means. Each gas burner is a tube that pulls air in at its front end, the venturi, mixes it with gas sprayed from the valve's orifice, and burns the mixture at ports along its length. When something blocks that path, most often a spider's web or an insect nest spun inside the tube during a quiet month, the mixture backs up and burns at the mouth of the tube instead, right behind the knobs and under the control panel. The same can happen when a burner is knocked off its orifice after cleaning, when rust closes the ports, when strong wind pushes flame backward, or when fat that pooled under the panel catches. The signs are a whooshing or roaring sound, flame visible in the gap below the knobs, a panel or knob hot to the touch, melted plastic, and often a lazy yellow flame at the burner ports at the same time. Flame there can burn the hose, the igniter wires and the valves themselves. Close the gas at the tank or the shutoff from a safe position, step back and let the flame burn itself out; do not reach for the knobs through heat, and do not relight until the burners and valves have been seen. The 6 causes, cheapest first Answer these first 01 Was the grill unused for weeks or a whole season before this started? 02 Is the flame under the control panel, around one knob, or at the front of one burner only? 03 Were the burners taken out for cleaning recently and put back by hand? 04 Was it gusty, with wind blowing across the front of the grill? 05 Are any knobs, wires or the hose melted or blackened now? ## Check these before you book. Grill flashback: 5 checks, and none of them costs anything. 01 Close the propane tank valve or the gas shutoff, reaching it from the side or back rather than across the knobs. 02 Step back with everyone else and let the flame behind the panel burn out on its own; do not reach through heat for a knob. 03 Keep water away, and call 911 if flame spreads to the hose, the cart, a cover or the island. ### Also worth checking - Once it is out and cold, set every knob to off and keep the gas closed. - Leave the grill unlit until the burner tubes, knobs and valves have been checked; a flashback that happened once tends to return. ## The causes, cheapest first. 6 things grill flashback: flames behind the knobs or under the panel turns out to be, from burners run in a strong crosswind to knobs, wires and valves damaged by the flame. [The cost guide](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/cost/) 1. 01 no repair ### Burners run in a strong crosswind A gust across the front can push flame back toward the inlets on a grill with an open panel. Turn the grill so the wind meets its back or side, and cook with the lid down. No repair: check it yourself 2. 02 low ### Spiders or insects nesting in the venturi tubes Spiders and mud daubers like the dark, dry tubes and build in them while the grill sits under its cover. The tubes are brushed through and fitted with the maker's insect screens where they exist. [Fixed by grill cleaning and safety inspection](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/services/grill-cleaning-and-safety-inspection/) 3. 03 low ### A burner not seated over its orifice After cleaning, a burner dropped back slightly off the valve's orifice draws gas and air badly and can burn at its mouth. It is reset and checked on the visit. [Fixed by grill burner replacement](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/services/grill-burner-replacement/) 4. 04 low ### Fat pooled under the control panel Grease that runs forward instead of into the tray can gather on the firebox floor behind the panel and light there. The firebox is cleaned and the path to the tray cleared. [Fixed by grill cleaning and safety inspection](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/services/grill-cleaning-and-safety-inspection/) 5. 05 low to moderate ### Rust or grease closing the burner ports Ports that are half shut make the mix back up in the tube. Burners too far gone to clear are replaced with parts made for the model. [Fixed by grill burner replacement](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/services/grill-burner-replacement/) 6. 06 moderate ### Knobs, wires and valves damaged by the flame Heat behind the panel softens knobs, cracks igniter wire insulation and can harm valve seals. Each is checked and anything damaged is replaced before the gas goes back on. [Fixed by grill valve and regulator repair](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/services/grill-valve-and-regulator-repair/) ## What else it could be. Most often confused with grill yellow flame and soot on the grates, then grill gas smell at the burners or the tank: what to do now. [All problems](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/problems/) Codes that come with it - [`OH` Fire Magic · Controller and display](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/error-codes/fire-magic-oh/) - [`Ambient temperature too high` Lynx · Controller and display](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/error-codes/lynx-ambient-temperature-too-high/) Also related - [**Grill Low Flame: Burners Stuck at a Weak Blue Line** 6 causes](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/problems/grill-low-flame/) ### Grill Yellow Flame and Soot on the Grates 5 causes Gas or fire at the grill ### Grill Gas Smell at the Burners or the Tank: What to Do Now 6 causes Gas or fire at the grill ### Grease Fire in the Grill That Won't Die Down 6 causes ## The makes it happens on. 23 makes on this site; grill flashback: flames behind the knobs or under the panel can show up on any of them. Each mark opens that make's own page. [All 23 brands](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/brands/) ## Grill Flashback: Flames Behind the Knobs or Under the Panel, where we come out. 9 metros, each with its own page. 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The tubes are dark, dry and sheltered, and a grill that sits for weeks is a quiet place to build. It takes very little webbing to upset the mix of air and gas. ### Will a grill cover keep insects out of the burners? A cover keeps leaves and rain off, but insects still crawl in through the gaps. Inlet screens where the maker sells them, and a brush through the tubes each spring, are the real guard. ### One knob melted in the flashback. Is a new knob enough? The knob is only the visible part. The flame that softened it also reached the valve stem, the igniter wire and possibly the hose, so all of them are checked before the grill runs. ### Is a small pop at the knobs on lighting the same as a flashback? A soft pop at ignition is usually delayed lighting. Flame that keeps burning behind the panel, a roar, or heat on the knobs is the real sign, and that belongs on this page. --- **[Read on the site: Grill Flashback: Flames Behind the Knobs or Under the Panel: Causes and Fixes](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/problems/grill-flames-behind-knobs/)** **[Book a visit with BBQGrillRepair.center](https://bbqgrillrepair.center/schedule/)**