♦ ♦ ♦ 16 Oakville Beaver Weekend Sunday, July 18, 1999 BBQ & LEISURE Remember safety this barbecue season on the hose and joints. The Soap Test Procedure: 1. Leave the barbe cue valve off and the cylinder valve on. 2. Spread a soapy solution on all fittings and on the hose. If bub bles appear and become bigger or more numerous, you have a leak. Repair it before using the unit again. • As soon as you fin ish barbecuing, turn off the cylinder shut-off valve first, then the grill controls. This lets 1. Don't place your family and property at risk. If you have any doubts about whether you can service your propane bar becue properly, call in a qualified expert One of the sure signs of summer is the scintillating sizzle and aroma of the barbecue. Canadians love the outdoor grill. According to Statscan, more than half the Canadian population has a gas barbecue, and independent research shows 17 per cent of the population has a charcoal grill. And M & M Meat Shops, known as Barbecue Headquarters during the summer months, sold enough steaks, chicken, kababs, and burgers to keep a small town barbecuing non-stop for three years! But part o f the spring ritual should include a complete safety check of your bar becue equipment before firing it up for the first time, points out both barbecue aficiona do Mac Voisin, president of the M & M Meat Shops chain, and Frank Albert, president of Fire Prevention Canada. "The start of bar- beque season brings about hundreds of phone calls to fire departments across the country relating to barbecue-related fires," says Albert. "Some people are lucky and they can douse the flames themselves quick ly; others are not so lucky." As M & M prepares to fire it up again this summer, they have teamed up with Fire Prevention Canada to offer the following safety tips to ensure a safe and happy barbe cue season: 1. Don't Take Lighting Lightly • Never use gasoline, kerosene or alcohol to light charcoal. It can cause an explosion. • Do not add lighter fluid to hot coals to re-start a sluggish charcoal fire. Instead, soak two or three briquettes in lighter fluid for a minute or two, then add them to the other bri quettes and light that with a match. • Always light a gas barbecue with the lid open. A leaking or open valve can accumu late propane under the lid or in the basin, and the gas could explode when lit. 2. Pick the Right Spot • Barbecue on a solid surface, away from shrubbery, overhangs and foot traffic. Keep the area free from anything that might obstruct the flow of air for combustion and ventilation and never barbecue indoors or in a garage. 3. Storage and Transport • Store and transport propane cylinders upright and in a well-ventilated area away from children. • During transport, insert a plastic valve plug in the gas outlet for added safety (avail able at any hardware store). • Never store a filled propane tank indoors. Propane is compressed to 270 times its original volume, and a leaking cylinder can quickly fill your basement with the gas. Propane also settles to the lowest point in confined areas, where it isn't easily dis persed. It doesn't take much to cause an explosion...a pilot light, a spark of static elec tricity, even the flick of a light switch. 4. Look Out for Leaks • Though propane gas is not toxic or dan gerous in small quantities, a leak can be extremely hazardous. A damaged or cracked hose can send out an invisible stream of propane which, if ignited, can become a jet of flame. • To check for leaks, perform the soap test the gas in the gas lines bum off. General Maintenance and Assembly • Before barbecue season starts, clean the lid«nd basin of grease and debris. Take out the grill, the rocks and grate, and the burner. Scrape away the grease with a brass wire brush, and either a soapy rag or special bar becue cleanser. • Keep the burner throat free of dust or cobwebs. Spiders can nest in and obstruct the venturi tubes, which deliver the fuel/air mix ture from the valve assembly to the burners. Obstructions can cause a "flashback" fire at the air-shutter openings under the barbecue basin. Use a pipe cleaner, a wire, or a special venturi brush to clear out the tubes. • Propane cylinders should also be main tained in good condition and kept painted a light reflective colour to prevent corrosion. • Propane cylinders must be recertified every 10 years, which involves replacing the valve assembly. Check the manufacturing date on the carrying handle. Propane distrib utors and some depots can recertify. Fighting Fires • Don't try to put out a fat fire with water. It will only spread the fire. Use an ABC-type fire extinguisher. • You can extinguish the vast majority of barbecue fires yourself. However, if you can't put out the fire right away without risk, call the fire department. M & M Meat Shops have detailed safety and grilling tips available fo r consumers at each o f its 267 stores nationwide. 1 7 5 W Y E C R O F T R D ., O A K V IL L E • 8 4 5 - 6 6 5 3 (BETW EEN KERR & D O R V A L) lockwoodchrysler.com II > TiENT SALE Monday, July 19 to Sunday, July 25 Special Buy on Clearance Major Appliances mm • one of a kind • reconditioned • maintenance agreements available Tun fob the ih tiM 'fm ih f Monday, July 19: Free Popcorn Tuesday, July 20: Clown/Animal Balloons Wednesday, July 21: Free Colton Candy Thursday, July 22: Clown/Animal Balloons full warranty extra low prices scratch & dent 10:00am-5:00pm 12:00pm-1:00pm 9:30am-5:00pm 12:00pm-1:00pm Visit Sears Oakville Place M o n . - F r i . 9 :3 0 a m - 9 : 0 0 p m . S a t . 8 :0 0 a m - 6 : 0 0 p m . S u n . 11 a m - 6 p m . 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXi CONVERTIBLE Loaded, top o f the line model, featuring AM/FM/cassette/CD, leather interior power windows, power door locks, power driver's seat & many more options. *499 *a month for 36 months. $2,500 clown, 20,400 km/yeac plus freight & taxes. BBQ & LEISURE Remember safety this barbecue season 1. Don't Take Lighting Lightly 2. Pick the Right Spot 3. Storage and Transport 4. Look Out for Leaks 175 WYECROFT RD., OAKVILLE • 845-6653 • one of a kind • reconditioned • maintenance agreements available full warranty extra low prices scratch & dent 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXi CONVERTIBLE