Gas barbecues with electronic starters are amazingly convenient: You just turn a knob, push a button, and PREST0, you have fire. Then again, after using this type of barbecue for a few seasons, you may find that you push the starter button and nothing happens...gas just keeps billowing out of the burners, creating a combustible hazard. If this happens to you, turn off the burner and let the air clear, then use a log lighter to ignite one of the burners after turning it back on to "low." This will allow you to barbecue on schedule. Then, when you have a few more minutes, fix the electronic ignition.

In most cases, fixing an electronic barbecue starter is a surprisingly simple job. Just unscrew the trim around the starter button and pull the button off. Behind it you will find a AA battery. Pull out the battery and replace it with a new one. Then replace the button and the trim. Try it out. The chances are very good that it will work!