How to Extend the Life of Your Outdoor Grill with Simple Maintenance

Once you’ve pulled the trigger on an outdoor grilling station, enjoying top-tier barbecue and any other grilled ingredients becomes the fruit of your labor. While some areas have the kind of weather that can support year-round grilling, most regions leave grilling as a summertime staple with the kind of plummeting temperatures that plague winter weather. If you’re looking for ways to keep your grill in great shape for next year, IWAE is here to help you easily handle the task.

Keep Your Grill Working for Longer

Maintaining the results you bought your grill for is dependent on how well you take care of your hardware over time, both during periods of use and non-use. When it comes to ensuring your grill stays in good condition, there’s a few different fields to focus on:

• Grill Maintenance

• Grill Cleaning Tips

• End-of-Summer Grill Care

Grill Maintenance to Give You Long-Term Results

Maintenance tasks can vary wildly in both frequency and intensity, though all should be treated with the same level of importance. While there are small but impactful chores you should do after each use, some only require your attention at the start or end of your grilling season. The following is a quick breakdown of the kinds of duties you should perform to keep your grill in the best shape possible over the years.

Maintenance for Before & After Each Use

• Check fuel to ensure no leaks and adequate supply before ignition

• Check drip tray, empty if any drippings remain from previous session

• Wipe down the grates after each use, ideally while still warm

• Remove any grease or residue from other surfaces (handles, side shelves, etc.)

Seasonal Upkeep Checklist

• Review each element of your grill in detail: burner tubes, ignitor, etc.

• Check for leaks, rust, or any other signs of wear

• Season the grates with cooking oil (make sure it has a high smoke point)

• Deep cleaning (this will be gone over more in the next section)

Grill Cleaning Tips for a Consistent Cook

From balled up aluminum foil to pantry staples like onions and lemons, there are a variety of products, tips, and tricks people use to clean off their grills between uses. It’s important to keep in mind some materials, such as porcelain, require special tools for safe cleaning, so be sure to consult the owner’s manual before deciding what equipment to use. While all grills should be allowed to cool down to a safe temperature before attempting any cleaning tasks, the steps vary slightly between types of grills when it comes to casual cleaning techniques, but the processes overall share more similarities than differences.

Pellet Grill Cleaning

1. Scrape the grate to remove any fat or food that’s stuck, being sure to burn off any bits that won’t dislodge

2. Remove grate to scrub the diffuser and get rid of any food that’s fallen through the grates into the cooking area

3. Vacuum out any bits of ash from the chamber and ensure there is no debris in the fire chamber or around the fire rod

4. Wipedown the exterior of the grill and dry before reassembling any removed pieces

Gas Grill Cleaning

1. Pull out and wipe down the grates

2. Clean off warming rack and grill basket while grate is removed

3. Scrub the burners and heat distribution system to remove debris and prevent clogging

Charcoal Grill Cleaning

1. Take out and scrub the grate

2. Scoop out and remove any remnant ashes or coals from the last use

3. Scrub down the inside and the lid to remove leftover ash and debris

4. Wipedown the exterior of the grill and dry

End-of-Summer Grill Care for Safe Storage

As the summer season comes to a close, many people take the opportunity to pack up their grills for the wintertime while cooking outside is less feasible and desirable. After taking care of the normal cleaning tasks to ensure no food residue is left behind for the extended period of downtime, there’s a few extra options to take into consideration that can make a huge impact on the overall longevity of your grill for long periods of non-use.

• Grill covers protect your grill from the elements, keeping your system dry and safe during inclement weather like snow as well as guarding against scratches and dings

• Checking the gas tank and/or connections to ensure they are properly turned off and free of leaks that could cause problems during the next attempt to turn on the unit

• Some grills can even be broken down for long-term storage, boasting detachable legs and fold-down side shelves that make finding space to tuck your grill out of the way for the off-season an effortless task 

Give your Grill a Longer Lifespan with IWAE

No need to fear, IWAE is here to help you at every step of the process. From choosing the perfect grill for your needs and preferences to everything that comes with that, our customer service specialists are ready and willing to give you the kind of solution that meets all your needs. Pick the kind of grill that gives you the flavors you crave, decide on any accessories or components to provide any additional functionality you want, then protect all of it together with grill covers and other safety precautions that are tailor-made for your unique setup. Whether you’re looking to take this grill with you when you move or keep your forever home’s outdoor kitchen in pristine condition for years to come, IWAE is the right way to accomplish your goals.