> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hi all... I've done some web searching and haven't had much luck, and
> I'm hoping the experts here can help me out.
>
> My parents got me a Vermont Castings VM400 (I believe) from our local
> Home Depot. After a few attempts, it appears to work great.
>
> Two things I noticed, however, was that when all three burners were lit
> and on full, the regulator was making kind of a rattling/vibrating
> sound. Not the loud humming that you get if you block the little hole
> in the regulator, but still, not the smooth sound of flowing gas. The
> grill was also not getting hotter than 350 degrees, even after 20-30
> minutes of preheating.
>
> I talked to my local Home Depot guy, and have since replaced the
> regulator. It's quieter, but the sound of the flowing gas still
> changes a little between two burners (mostly silent) and three burners
> (a quiet flowing sound, like water pipes).
>
> The grill still takes 15 minutes to get to about 350 degrees, and that
> seems to be the limit.
>
> Any ideas? I don't smell any gas leaks. The flames look nice and blue
> (thought not particularly big or fear-inducing). Is it possible that
> the grill simply doesnt' get that hot? Or is it possible that the
> thermometer is giving lowball readings?
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
>
> Adman
>
>
I don't think any of the gas grills heat enough to cook a steak "char rare".
36,000 BTU isn't a very hot gas grill, the same as my Weber Silver Genesis
B, which also isn't hot enough. A cast iron grate helps this, but your grill
already has cast iron grates.
If it is cooking to your satisfaction you obviously shouldn't look much
farther.
However, one thing you might do is buy one of those inexpensive oven
thermometers at a hardware store. Calibrate it[more or less] in your home
oven. Then see how hot your grill gets using that. It's probably hotter than
350F, and the problem may be only your thermometer. If a second thermometer
still indicates a low temp. I would call CFM Corp. customer service, as I
did for my smoker. Their customer service was helpful, and replaced the
burner. I talked to Evette Cousins ext 2836 at # 800 525-1898. She was very
accomodating, rare these days. Good Luck.

Kent