Soapy water is the only safe leak check.

Yes, the soapy water test is the standard and safest method. Anything involving a flame is reckless and could turn your grill into a fireball.

Mix a little dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Apply it to all the connections—where the regulator meets the tank, the hose ends, and any valve joints. Then turn on the gas (don’t light it). If you see bubbles forming, you’ve got a leak. That’s it.

A lot of people skip this because it takes 30 seconds. Don’t. Propane is heavier than air, pools on the ground, and a spark from the grill’s ignition can ignite it. The soap test costs nothing and tells you exactly what you need to know.

If you find a leak, close the tank valve immediately. Tighten the connection and retest. If it still leaks, replace the hose or regulator—do not try to seal it with tape or hope.

Don’t be the person who uses a lighter to “check.”