TEC Infrared Grills · Troubleshooting
TEC Grill Won't Light — Full Diagnostic Sequence
TEC lighting failures fall into three buckets: igniter, gas supply, or regulator. Walk through them in order — most problems resolve without a service call.
By Reed · Updated November 10, 2026
What you need
- AAA battery (igniter replacement)
- Match or long-nose lighter (diagnostic)
- Flashlight
Step by step
Diagnostic test — match vs igniter
Try lighting burners with a match. If all burners light with a match but the igniter doesn't fire: the igniter is the failure, not the gas path. If one or more burners won't light EVEN with a match: it's a gas-pressure or orifice problem.
Igniter failure — replace battery, check wiring, replace electrode
Replace the igniter's AAA battery first. Check that the igniter wire is firmly connected. If a specific burner's igniter still doesn't fire, replace the electrode on that burner. If matches light all burners but the igniter is dead across the board, replace the igniter itself.
LP freshly-changed tank issue — reset the excess flow valve
A new LP tank often won't let the grill heat properly because the excess flow valve in the regulator has tripped. Reset sequence: close all burner knobs, close the tank valve, wait 30 seconds, reopen the tank valve SLOWLY, wait 15 seconds, then open ONE burner knob and light. TEC has a reset video linked from their support page.
Won't light with match — check orifice or replace regulator
For LP: check the control valve orifice for obstructions. If still won't light, the regulator may be defective — replace with a TEC-CERTIFIED part. For natural gas: contact your gas supplier to confirm supply pressure at the house.
Call TEC if nothing works
If none of the above restores light-off, call TEC at 800-331-0097, Option 1. They maintain a service network and can diagnose by phone.
Common mistakes
- Replacing the regulator with a generic part. TEC regulators are tuned to their infrared burner gas-flow characteristics. A generic LP regulator will not deliver correct pressure — only TEC-certified parts.
- Not resetting the excess flow valve after a tank swap. #1 cause of a 'won't heat properly' call. The valve trips any time burner knobs are open before the cylinder valve.
Hands-on tips
- Keep a spare AAA battery for the igniter in the grill cabinet so you're not making a hardware store run mid-cook.
- Blast the burner-tube ends with compressed air at season start — spider webs are the single most common ignition-blocker across all infrared grills.
Questions people ask
My grill lights but won't get hot. Flow valve issue?
Yes, most likely. Reset the excess flow valve: close burner knobs, close cylinder valve, wait 30 seconds, reopen cylinder slowly, wait 15 seconds, open one burner.
Can I use an aftermarket regulator?
No. TEC infrared burners need a TEC-certified regulator. Aftermarket parts will under-feed and you'll never reach the 1,650°F cooking surface temp the grill is designed for.
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