Fall has arrived, and winter is never far behind! And with winter comes the need to prepare your grill for the long months ahead. Grilling is fun and convenient. But grills get dirty fast, especially during the winter months. So how do you make sure your grill will last until springtime?
There are many reasons why grills can break down during the cold months. Some common problems include rusting parts, leaking gas lines, and clogged filters. These issues can cause your grill to stop working altogether.
If you want to improve your grilling experience long-term, keep reading. We’ll cover how to winterize grills properly before storing them for the winter. We’ll talk about everything from cleaning the grease trap to ensuring your gas tank is full.
Also included are tips on properly maintaining your grill throughout the year. They include cleaning the burners, checking the temperature gauge, and inspecting the electrical components.
Why it’s Important to Winterize Your Grill
In the fall, you’ll start thinking about how to prepare your grill for the upcoming winter months. But why do you need to worry about winterization now? There are several reasons why.
1. Rusting Parts
Rust is one of the biggest enemies of your grill. It can ruin expensive metal parts like the burner assembly or the heat deflector plate. If you don’t take care of these parts, they could cost you more money in the long term or even sabotage your entire grill for good.
2. Critters
Another big reason winterizing your grill is essential is that critters love to hide inside your grill. They can eat through wood and plastic, so if you leave them alone, they’ll eventually destroy your grill. Most critters that destroy grills are only trying to find a nice place to nest for the winter. That’s why you want to make your grill as clean and unnatural to the critter as possible.
3. Gas Leaks
Gas leaks are another problem that can occur when you store your grill outside. The cold weather causes the gas line to expand, leading to small cracks forming in the pipe. These tiny cracks allow gas to escape into the air.
The problem with this is that gas isn’t just dangerous to humans; it’s also toxic to animals. If you let your gas leak go unchecked, you may affect all the wildlife around your house. You can prevent this by keeping an eye on your gas line. Make sure to check the valve every time you use it and before storing it for winter.
4. Clogs
Clogs can happen anytime, but they tend to become more prevalent during the colder months. When you store your grill outdoors, snow and ice can build up around the valves and fittings. This can prevent the valve from opening completely.
5. Electrical Problems
When you store your grill outside, it’s easy for moisture to enter the electrical system. Moisture can corrode wiring, causing short circuits and sparking. So, remember to remove the battery from your electronic ignition system to avoid corrosion.
How Do I Winterize My Outdoor Barbecue Grill?
The best way to keep your grill looking like new is to make sure it gets regular maintenance during the cold months of the year. To keep your grill working well during the winter months, here are some vital tips:
1. Prepare your grill for winterization
Before you start working on your grill, make sure you prepare the grill properly to minimize safety hazards. These are the two most important things to ensure:
Turn the grill off and wait
Make sure your grill is turned off. If there are any open flames, extinguish them immediately. Then, turn off the burners and wait 30 minutes before moving on. You want to avoid accidents caused by gas leakage and burning yourself on the hot grill.
Disconnect your gas
Always disconnect your propane tank before you begin cleaning and dismantling your grill. This way, there won’t be any chance of accidentally igniting anything while working on your outdoor cooking equipment.
You should store propane tanks outdoors during the cold months. Don’t connect them to the grill if you plan to keep it indoors over the winter. If you decide to store the tank inside, ensure it’s disconnected from the grill. You’ll want to take extra precautions because propane tanks are hazardous.
2. Clean Your Grill
If you’re planning to host a barbecue this summer, clean the grill thoroughly before putting it away for the season. You don’t want to return to a rusted mess next spring, so here are a few basics to keep in mind for winterization:
Disassemble your grill
To clean your grill more thoroughly, disassemble it as it’s easier to get to all the parts. Next, remove all parts of the grill except the burner assembly. After that, using a steel brush or steel wool, clean up any dirt or debris from the outside surface. Use a stiff-bristled grill brush to get into the crevices. Be careful not to scratch the finish. Once you’ve cleaned everything up, it’s time to get down to business.
Check out those hidden parts of your grill
Don’t just focus on the grill’s surface; check out the underside of the lid and the interior walls, too. There are plenty of hidden areas where food debris can accumulate. In addition, spilled grease will quickly harden and turn black. Ensure that you clean up any spills right away. Grease stains can ruin your grilling experience.
Cleaning your grill at a cool temperature
You want to consider the temperature before cleaning your grill. You should think about it, because cold weather makes grease go hard and more challenging to clean. Using warm water will melt grease, making cleanup easier. However, don’t use water that is so hot that it could burn you.
Add some soap to the water
Just grab some grease-cutting dish soap and a sponge. Pour some of the soap into warm water, or dip the sponge into the dish soap and wipe down the grill. This method works best for small areas like around the burners. You can also use a spray bottle of soapy water for larger areas.
Next, wipe down the outside of your grill
Using soapy water, try wiping down the outside of the grill with a damp cloth as well. You’ll find that this method works best when the weather is warm because water tends to evaporate quickly. However, if the weather is cooler, it isn’t a problem.
Rinse the soap off your grill
Run some water through your grill after cleaning. It helps rinse off the soap residue. It’s important to note that using a hose attachment can work. Just keep the setting light enough that it won’t cause damage.
3. Re-assemble Your Grill
Once you have finished cleaning your grill, put it back together. Remember, don’t leave out those hidden parts! Tighten the screws and bolts tightly. You should also check that there aren’t any gaps between the pieces and they fit together correctly.
4. Test Your Grill
To make sure everything is working well and your grill will be ready to use come spring, test it before storing your grill for the winter. Follow these steps:
Plug in the gas again
Turn the valve on high, letting it heat up for a couple of minutes.
Make sure the flame is steady and strong. If not, adjust accordingly.
There is also another bonus to this step. Turning on the burners will give your grill a final cleanse, as the heat will help kill any bacteria left behind before you put it away.
5. Oil or Wax Your Grill
If you plan on keeping your grill protected over the winter, oiling or waxing it is recommended. Oiling or waxing will protect against rust and prevent food from sticking to the grill when you start it up again. Just make sure you wait until the grill is cool before applying the wax or oil.
Wax and oil work by preventing moisture from getting inside the cracks and crevices of the grill. Once you apply the wax or oil, let it sit overnight. Then remove the excess grease by wiping the grill with a paper towel.
6. Cover Your Grill
Living in a snowy region where temperatures drop into the single digits means protecting your outdoor cooking equipment is important. You want to prevent moisture from building up inside the grills, causing rusting and corrosion, and keeping critters from hibernating in your grill.
One of the best ways to do this is by covering your grill. A sturdy grill cover is essential. If you use a propane grill, buy one that fits snugly over the burner area. You might even consider adding some insulation around the edges. For charcoal grills, look for a grill cover that covers the entire surface of the grill.
If you want to go the extra mile or don’t have a cover that fits well enough, tape and plastic wrap are great ways to seal the grill cover. Just place strips of tape along the edges of the grill cover, overlapping them slightly. Then place plastic wrap over the tape. When you flip the grill cover onto the grill, the plastic wrap will stick to itself, creating a tight seal.
Removing the tape in the spring could prove difficult. To avoid damaging the grill cover, wait until the weather warms up. Once the temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit, gently lift the grill cover away from the grill. You can pull it, but be careful not to tear the cover.
7. Maintain Your Grill Area
Even with a grill cover, you still don’t want the snow to reach your grill. It can cause damage to the grill by letting moisture in. So, keep an eye on your grill during the winter months and sweep away the snow regularly.
The better your grill’s coverage from the elements, the less damage it should sustain during the harsh winter months. If your grill is on your porch, try to move as far inward as possible. You’d be surprised how effective good coverage is in protecting your grill – even without a cover.
What To Do If Your Grill Gets Damaged Or Invaded By Critters
Sometimes, unforeseen things still happen even when we do our best to avoid problems. So what can you do if your grill gets damaged by moisture during the winter? And what if you open the lid and find a family of critters nesting inside? Here’s how to handle these situations:
Check The Cooking Grate
First thing first, check the grill grates. If there is water on the grate, turn off the gas valve and drain all the water. If there is no water, but you see something moving under the grate, try to look closely at it. If you see anything suspicious, call your local animal control agency.
Do not turn the grill on if you suspect damage or critter nesting! Instead, take the necessary steps to inspect your grill thoroughly and make a call whether you need to replace a part or get a critter removed humanely.
Common Practice Winterization
In conclusion, winterizing your grill isn’t hard if you follow these steps. However, cleaning it thoroughly before storing it away for the season. You want to prevent any grime buildup from causing problems when you use it again next year and help prevent a wild animal problem.
First, clean off debris from the grates and remove any leftover grease. After that, clean off the outside of the grill with a wet soapy rag. Finally, rinse, dry, and apply a light coat of oil to prevent rusting. Cover it up, and you’re ready to go!
These are all practices that you can use year-round to maintain your grill. Follow through with them regularly, and you will improve the longevity of your grill. You’ll also keep critters from wanting to nest in your grill, no matter the season.
Finally, if you need replacement grill parts, contact us, and we’ll help you get your grill up and running.