Viking Outdoor Grill Repair Services

Low flame on a grill that used to roar

This is the number one grill call, and it is rarely the burner. Viking casts its main burners from brass. They shrug off heat and rust. What fails is the path the gas takes to reach them.

• Spider webs. Small spiders nest in the tube behind each burner. Gas backs up and the flame turns yellow and lazy.
• The regulator. On propane, a safety device in the regulator can trip and choke the flow. Every burner runs weak at once.
• Clogged ports. Grease and ash fill the holes along the burner. You see gaps in the flame.
• A kinked or cracked hose. Sun and heat age the rubber.

We pull each burner, brush the ports, clear the tubes and check gas pressure with a gauge.

The Viking grill lineup

Today Viking sells the 5 Series grill as a built-in. Widths are 30, 36, 42 and 54 inches. Cart models in those sizes are now discontinued, but plenty are still cooking on patios. Each grill comes set for natural gas or propane.

Under the stainless grates sit ceramic briquettes. They soak up heat and spread it evenly. One zone has a ProSear burner for a hard sear. At the back is an infrared burner for the rotisserie, rated at 14,000 BTU. Viking also makes a double side burner and a 20 inch power burner for big pots.

Burners that click and never catch

You turn the knob, hear the tick, smell gas and get no flame. Shut it off and wait five minutes with the lid open. Then look at the igniter tip. It may be coated in grease or bent away from the burner. The wire to it can also burn through. On units with a battery, swap the battery first. On plug-in units, test the outdoor outlet. The grill lights and igniters need power.

If a match lights the burner fine, the gas side is good. Then the repair is a new igniter, a wire or a module. Those are quick jobs.

Rotisserie, lights and the sear zone

The rotisserie uses a three speed motor. It sits outside in rain and heat, so bearings dry out. If the motor buzzes and a loaded spit stays still, the motor is worn. Check that the spit is balanced first. A lopsided roast can stall a good motor.

The rear infrared burner has a fragile face. If it lights with dark patches or pops, it may be cracked or clogged with drippings. The halogen grill lights fail from heat and moisture. Often it is the socket or the switch, not the bulb.

Hot spots and flare-ups

Ceramic briquettes do not last forever. They crumble and load up with grease. Then you get flare-ups and cold corners. Flip them now and then so the fire burns them clean. Replace the ones that have broken apart. Empty the drip tray too. A full tray is the usual source of a grease fire.

What to try before you call

• Reset a propane regulator. Close the tank, turn all knobs off, wait a minute, then open the tank slowly.
• Brush the burner ports with a brass brush.
• Look for webs in the burner tubes.
• Spray soapy water on the hose and fittings. Bubbles mean a leak. Shut the gas and call.

Pricing and visits for outdoor grills

A patio call begins with our $79 home diagnostic. Approve the grill repair and the $79 drops off. The grill quote is a fixed number that holds labor plus parts, shown to you before a burner is pulled. Many grill visits happen the same day. Patio visits are booked from 6 AM, with the last at 9 PM, and both weekend days are open, which suits a weekend cookout. Grill techs from A+ are licensed and insured, and all have a background check behind them. Igniters, valves and regulators travel with them. The work has a warranty.

A+ is an independent repair company. One family has owned it since 2015.

A Viking grill is nearly always worth fixing. The body is welded stainless and the burners are brass. Valves, igniters, briquettes and regulators are the wear items. We would only talk about a new grill if the firebox itself has rusted through.

We repair grills across greater Los Angeles. See our California service page. Grill work is also done in Houston and Chicago, and at homes in D.C. and Northern Virginia. Our Viking appliance page lists indoor products too, and the grill repair page covers other brands. If your indoor cooking needs work, read Viking rangetop repair. One tip for built-in owners. Know where the gas shutoff for the island is before we arrive.