Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. If you do not find the information you're looking for, please contact us.

1. How can I locate a dealer in my area?

Use the dealer locater to the left.

2. What is the warranty on my grill?

Warranties vary by model. Refer to the owner's manual section of our website.

3. Why did you change the design of your grilling system?

TEC Infra-Red Grills invented and patented the world's first infrared gas grill in the early 1980's. While our original ceramic infrared system represented a great advancement compared to other gas grills, TEC's new patent-pending infrared system improved upon it dramatically and is by far, the most advanced grilling system available today! You may read more about TEC's history of innovation in infrared technology by visiting the About Us section of our website.

4. What is the difference in TEC's original infrared grilling system and the new, patent-pending grilling system?

TEC's new award winning grilling system:

Cooks with 100% infrared energy. All other grills, including our original infra-red system, cook with at least 50% hot air which dries out food. But TEC's new grills cook with 100% infra-red heat so food retains its own natural juices. Meat remains tender and juicy, even well-done, and there is noticeably less shrinkage in food.

Employees 100% stainless steel burners that are ultra-tough. Our original infrared system, copied by many grill companies today since the expiration of our patent in 2000, uses ceramic burners that are susceptible to impact breakage and moisture damage. In our new grilling system, TEC replaced the old more fragile ceramic burners with our new, patent-pending all-metal infra-red burners that are ultra-tough. TEC's extensive lab testing, which included thousands of hours, indicated these burners are virtually indestructible!

Provides uniform distribution of heat across the cooking surface. TEC's new award winning grills distribute heat evenly across the entire cooking surface! Because our original infrared grills used ceramic burners to radiate the heat, the distribution of radiant energy was inherently non-uniform. In our new grilling system, TEC overcame this problem by varying the sizes, shapes, and locations of the apertures in our new all-metal burners to even-out the distribution of heat across the cooking zone. The result is that our new grills vary no more than 5% in temperature across the entire cooking area.

Is virtually flare-proof - no matter what is being grilled , no matter what heat setting is used! TEC dramatically improved the flare-resistant nature of its original ceramic infra-red grilling system with the development of our new, patent-pending all-metal burner, the first burner ever developed to operate using 100% primary air. Other burners, including our original ceramic infra-red burners, require secondary air for combustion, which causes flare-ups. But TEC's new grilling system combines our new burner with the patented radiant panels that we previously used with our original ceramic technology. This combination not only allows for 100% infrared grilling - it virtually eliminates the air that causes flare-ups.

Has a remarkable range of cooking intensity. The new TEC grills cook with greater intensity and speed than other infra-red grills using our original ceramic technology. Food sears more rapidly and seldom sticks to the grills cooking surface. However, on low fire, our new grilling system cooks dramatically cooler than traditional ceramic infra-red grilling system allowing the food to be slow roasted as well as seared - something not possible with ceramic infrared grilling.

Is the most fuel efficient system ever developed. TEC's new new grilling system is the most fuel efficient ever built. It uses up to 50% less gas that other grills, increasing the grilling time between tank changes.

For more information refer to the TEC advantage section of our website.

5. What are the proper cleaning procedures of the glass emitter panels?

Refer to the owner's manual section of this website to download the cleaning procedures.

6. Can I install the new all-metal infra-red burner in place of the traditional infrared burner?

The original design can not currently be altered due to certifications, approvals and liabilities.

7. What is the temperature range of the TEC grills?

The temperature of the cooking surface ranges from 900°F on high to 300°F on a steady low fire.

8. How many BTU’s does my grill consume?

Our original ceramic infrared grills consume 18,000 BTU/hr per burner , while our new FR Series grills consumes 16,5000 BTU/ hr per burner.

9. Where can I find the specifications for your grills?

Refer to the residential and/or commercial section of this website to view specifications.

10. Are parts still available for my Patio I or Sterling I (28)?

We will be discontinuing all replacement parts and accessories for the Patio I and Sterling I (28) as of September 30, 2007.

11. Are parts still available for my Patio II, Sterling II, and Sterling III (ceramic burners)?

Yes these parts are still available.

12. What causes my radiant glass panels to break when they are heated?

The emitter panels are designed to tolerate 1200°F. Our radiant panels, when properly maintained should easily withstand the temperature reached by our grills on the high fire setting of 900°F. However, the build-up of residue from food drippings during grilling acts as an insulator and may cause the radiant panels to overheat and break. Regular maintenance is required to prevent this type of damage. Also, chips in the radiant panels, usually made during cleaning, will compromise the strength of the glass, causing it to break when heated. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT REMOVE THE RADIANT PANELS FROM THE GRILL TO AVOID CHIPPING. Please refer to the Radiant Glass Panels page located in the owner's manuals section of our website.

13. What is the warranty on my cooking grids and for how long are they warranted?

Cooking grids are warranted against manufactured defect, not normal wear and tear. Length of warranties range by model. View the owner's manual section of this website for each model grill.

14. What is the life expectancy of a ceramic infrared burner?

Based on life cycle testing, the life of a ceramic burner should exceed 10 years with proper care and maintenance.

15. How do I care for my ceramic burners?

Moisture causes the ceramic plates in burners to crack, break, or expand and crumble. Therefore, it is very important to keep the burner dry. We recommend that grill owners:

Operate their grill on the high fire setting with the hood open for 5-10 minutes after each use to burn away any moisture associated with marinades, sauces, and food drippings.

Keep the hood of their grill closed when not in use to prevent rain and sprinklers from wetting the ceramic. It is also important to periodically brush away or vacuum ash and debris from the ceramic burner plates so they will not clog the burner ports.

Refer to the Ceramic Burner page in the Owner's Manual section of our website for more detailed instructions on how to care for your ceramic burners.

16. Why does my ceramic burner make a whooshing noise and then backfire?

There are typically three reasons why a ceramic burner backfires. Occasionally, an excessive amount of hot burning grease will pour onto the ceramic burner during grilling causing a temporary backfire. Turn the burner off for 30 seconds before reigniting it. If the burner fails to ignite, the backfire is permanent and attributed to either a cracked or broken ceramic or a gas/leak around the perimeter of the ceramic. In either case, the ceramic burner plate and gasketing must be replaced.

17. How do I clean my cooking grids?

The cooking grids are easily maintained with a short burn-off (5-10 minutes on high fire with the hood open) and stainless steel or brass brush cleaning. Ordinary steel brushes will cause rust and corrosion. Refer to the maintenance and cleaning section of your owner's manual or download the instructions from the owner's manual section of our website.

18. What size gas line do I need to run for natural gas or a bulk propane tank?

For proper flow and pressure, we ask that the Natural Gas or Propane supply gas line be 1/2 inch in diameter on residential grills and 3/4 inch in diameter on commercial char-broilers.

19. When can I expect to see a credit for my warranty parts on my credit card statement or account?

It may take up to four weeks from the time we receive your returned parts to inspect them, process the paper work, and credit your credit card or account.

20. What is the connection with Char-Broil?

TEC has partnered with Char-Broil to license its newest generation of 100% infrared cooking technology for use in a line of more affordable grills. Their grills, selling for under $1000.00, will be available in mass merchants in 2007. TEC continues to manufacture and sell ultra-quality infrared grills for the more discerning upscale consumers who traditionally purchases through specialty retail outlets. These grills are handcrafted of 100% 304 stainless steel and have won Hearth and Home Magazine's 2005 Vesta Awards for both Best New Gas Barbecue and Best in Show for New Outdoor Room Products. For more information on TEC/Char-Broil connection, refer to the News section of our website or call Char-Broil's customer support office at (888) 430-7870.