The sumptuous smell of grilled food wafting through the air is synonymous with the arrival of spring. Gone is the chill of winter, leaving us only with the grill of warm steaks on the searing barbie. Getting your backyard in tip top shape for spring means ensuring your grill is ready for a season of braising, searing, and pulling off backyard barbecues without a hitch.
Is Anyone Home?
Examine the inside of your grill and storage cabinet beneath for anything that might’ve taken up residence during the winter months. If you find yourself playing unwitting landlord to any critters, be sure to call your local animal control service to ensure they’re relocated to a more suitable home. A clear vinyl tarp helps to prevent any pests from finding a new hiding place in your grill.
Clean as a Whistle
Even if you had a clear vinyl large tarp to cover your items during the idle winter months, it’s still wise to give your grill a good clean when pulling it out of storage. Start with the basics. A bucket of soap with warm water, a scrubbing sponge and brush, and paper towels are all essential to getting your barbie into shape. Consider your grill has been sitting idle for a while; there’s a good chance a degree of wear and grime exists. Wipe the exterior elements of the grill, being sure to move to the inside in order to remove any grease splatters under the lid and around the edges. Once you remove any unsightly splatters, use a specialized cleaner to add a bit of luster and shine. When it comes to the grates, a wire brush should be strong enough to remove the charred remains of any food or accumulated rust. Finish the cleaning by wiping other debris with your handy sponge. A proper clean will keep food from sticking when you fire it up. Giving yourself a fresh start to your season is the important first step in ensuring the rest of this process is as easy as a spring breeze.
Check the Line
It’s important to check your line regularly, but especially so after letting the grill has sat in hibernation. If you find the line to be compromised with any tears or rips, it is crucial that you stop what you’re doing and replace it. Do the same for any burners. You don’t want any holes sending your backyard barbie dreams up in smoke.
Together Apart
A great test for any grillmaster is to be able to take the grill apart and recognize each element as well as its designated function. By doing this, you ensure all mechanisms are not only present and accounted for but are in working order for the season ahead. Take your grill apart before firing up for spring, inspecting the element, and giving it a thorough clean before putting all the pieces back together. Then take note of one last crucial detail. Remember the grease trap? The one underneath your grill, responsible for collecting the fatty waste of the grilling season. Make it a priority to not only clean out the grease pit but to replace it entirely. This ensures that you will have a clean and healthy grill for the spring and into summer.
Testing 1-2-3
Test your grill for any leaks of gas or heat (in the case of charcoal models). As you connect propane to the grill, make sure that the tank’s gage is turned into the OFF position before safely proceeding to hook it up. Remove the safety cap from the tank and connect the line. Turn the hand wheel slowly to the left, setting the valve to the open position. The easiest indicator of a propane leak is by smell. If you smell something with an odor similar to rotten eggs, then you have a gas leak. If you don’t smell the gas, then you may not have a leak, but you should keep in mind that not all gas leaks can be identified by smell. As you get to grilling, you may find that your grill is performing poorly in comparison to the seasons past. This can be the result of the grill having a hairline leak in the line. If you suspect a leak, put soapy water on the usual suspects (valve connections). If there’s a leak, it will bubble. Continue to test the rest of your gas delivery system the same way until you find the problem.
Grilling Season Salutations
Keep a few more considerations in mind as the heat of grilling season gets underway. Preserving the spirit of springtime celebrations is all about ensuring your grill and outdoor kitchen areas are protected from the seasonal showers that come in the transition between winter and summer. Don’t let the weather spoil your good time grilling fun. Protect your entire patio furniture set in the event of unwelcome showers with patio furniture covers. Fold up that large tarp and put it away safe for next winter’s storage.
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