I think this kind of thing could happen to anyone using any brand gas grill, so it's a good warning to check all connections carefully before grilling. I confess I only checked the tank to regulator and regulator hose for leaks prior to my first usage of the Virco. The manual did say to also check the gas control valves, but I couldn't figure out how to get to them. I guess I could see them from underneath if I lay on my back, so that's what I'll do next time. I also recall that propane is heavier than air, unlike natural gas, which is lighter than air. So the propane can settle in low places and collect and then explode. Also, as I have recently noticed, a new steel propane container may react with the odorant in the propane charge, and the result is that it can be harder to detect leaks. Lots of people are probably buying new propane tanks with OPD valves rather than retrofit their old ones, so perhaps some extra caution is needed for the first tankful or so. All this makes me wonder if perhaps I may be installing the natural gas conversion kit sooner than I expected...;-) Here is a link that might be useful: Propane safety

Wallace, These grills from Sam's Club are made by Grand Hall, who also makes the Kenmore Elite line of gas grills for Sears as well as marketing their own brand under the name "Grand Cafe". You can contact them at the following: Grand Hall USA, Inc. 10280 Miller Road Dallas, TX 75238 800-770-9769 M-F 8:00am to 4:30pm CST or 214-349-1097 http://www.grandhall.com/home.html But I don't think they make a NG conversion kit for the Members Mark / Bakers & Chefs grills. I know they do for their own line of grills "Grand Cafe". But parts between the different lines of grills they make I don't think are compatible with each other. There are also a couple other threads in this forum about converting this grill to NG, that you may want to check out for information. Both of the links I've posted have lots of information. The first one is mainly about converting grills from LP to NG. The second link listed, has lots of information about these grills in general and I think it has over 100 posts in it, so plan on taking some time to read it all. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bbq/msg0822100824089.html?9 http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bbq/msg09144256657.html?42

I don't know about the CharBroil, but I converted my Members Mark to NG a year ago by drilling the orifaces for the main burners to 5/64's and the back burner to 1/16th -- this may at least get you started in the correct direction. When you convert to NG you do not need a regulator. One less thing to go out. ;->

thanks alek, i prefer to get their conversion kit. It allows me to go back to propane if ever needed. (Or return it to Costco if some appropriate reason came up.) Of course I can fine tune their converision kit if I decide that 15K btu isn't enough although I'm guessing it will be fine (as spamdamn points out). Anyhow, mainly I'm just trying to figure out if my gas network off the meter is going to be able to handle all this extra capacity. Anyone have any opinions as to how 'over engineered' the code gas tables are? (or how not over engineered)? It is looking like I'll be over tapped if I add the grill unless going back to the trunk of my gas network and upgrading from 3/4" to 1". Of course this assumes that every appliance is on high and all at the same time which would rarely if ever be the case. (Basically a 50K btu furnace, two gas fire places, one 31k btu and one 40k btu, and this. And it is rare that both gas fire places are on at the same time, in addition to the fact that they are both turned down from their max settings, probably to about 75%). Oh - and if anyone knows, do I count the 12' quick connect hose as an additional 12' in my calculations for gas code? thanks, philippe