Use a wire brush, not a drill bit.

Yes, gentle mechanical cleaning. You’re basically looking at a thin metal tube with holes. Poking aggressively with a screwdriver or spinning a drill bit inside will score the walls, create burrs, and mess up your flame pattern. The tube’s job is to distribute gas evenly.

What works: Pull the burner tube off (usually two screws or cotter pins). Shake out anything loose. Then run a stiff wire brush—the kind designed for cleaning copper pipe fittings, or a grill-specific burner brush—back and forth through the tube. If you don’t have that, a flexible chimney brush or even a heavy-duty pipe cleaner will do. Pay attention to the holes too; use a toothpick or the wire bristles to poke each one clear. For greasy buildup, soak the tube in warm soapy water or a degreaser, then rinse and dry completely before reinstalling.

Avoid: Drills, welding tip cleaners, or anything that could scrape away the protective coating (if present). Also, check the venturi opening (the front end where gas enters) for spider webs or wasp nests—that’s a common hidden clog. Dry everything thoroughly, because water in the gas line kills the flame.

Future you will thank you when all the flames are blue and even.