Portable Grills

Maintaining Portable Grills

Do you currently own a propane gas grill that you leave outside? Most of these contain painted or chrome plated steel parts. They are very susceptible to rusting. The heat from the fire can open up the paint film and allow water to contact the steel. The chrome plating can be thin.

It is virtually impossible to stop all of the rusting. The vinyl barbecue covers go a very long way to stop rainwater from getting your grill wet. But, they can trap moisture like a hot air balloon if left on during hot, humid weather. Moisture that seeps from the soil can float up under the vinyl covers. The sun makes the vinyl tent a steam bath.  I recommend that you remove the cover during sunny days and recover the grill at night. You want to protect the grill from the morning dew.

If you do not use your grill during the winter months, try to bring it into your garage out of the weather. Even still, it can rust in the garage. The grill will get very cold. If you get a quick warm-up, the water will actually condense like a fog on the cool metal. It happens to my shovels every winter!

NEVER take the propane canister inside your house over the winter months. If a leak develops for any reason, your house may explode. If you want to put your grill in your warm basement, that is fine. Leave the propane outside.

Natural Gas

If your house has natural gas, make every attempt to run it to your brick grill or portable grill. Existing grills that burn propane can be retrofitted to burn natural gas. It may cost several hundred dollars, but will pay off over time.