Jul 16, 2009 12:00 pm US/Eastern
Angie's List: Grill Maintenance
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Is your gas grill getting a workout this summer? Tis the season for hosting picnics and barbeques, so you want to be sure your grill is ready for the job.
In this week's Angie's List, Jim Donovan shows you what you should know to keep your grill cooking all summer long.
That's right, the last thing you want is to host a party and end up having to cook those burgers and dogs inside on your oven.
An empty propane tank is one of the most common reasons your grill won't light up.
But there could be other problems.
"Typically you know it's time to buy a new grill if your burner goes out on your grill. In some cases, it may be only $30 or $40, but in many cases it may be $100 or more dollars and in that scenario you really want to go ahead and get a new grill," said Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks.
There are some things you can do to keep your old grill in good working condition.
"Basic maintenance you can do yourself on your grill is cleaning it after and before each use. Also, keep it covered when you're not using it because that is going to protect it from the elements. Another quick check is to see if you have a leak on the tubes that run the gas line. You can check that putting a mix of detergent and water right on the connection of the gas tube. When you turn the gas on, if it starts to bubble there, then you know you got a gas leak," said Hicks.
More Advice from Angie:
- Check that you have enough gas for your grill before you fire it up. You can add a gauge to your propane tank to help detect levels.
- Check all gas supply lines with a mixture of one part water and one part soap detergent. With heat control knobs in the "off" position, turn on the gas supply. Apply the mixture to the connections. If bubbles appear, the connections aren't properly sealed. Tighten connections, or replace hoses.
- Wrap the grid in a layer of aluminum foil. Turn the grill on high for about 10 to 15 minutes. You should then be able to easily brush away baked on food.
- Spiders are attracted to the smell of propane and they can take up residence in the venturi tubes and valve openings, blocking air and gas flow and leading to uneven cooking and possible safety hazards. Insects, especially spiders, love this space and given half a chance will move in as quickly as possible. The best solution for this is to wrap the venturi tubes with an aluminum screen that will not block the airflow but will keep the critters out. If it's already clogged, disconnect the gas supply and run a long pipe cleaning brush back and forth in the venture tubes.
- Burners typically last about 2-3 years because they can corrode quickly. Inspect and clean your burners regularly. Some burners you can replace fairly reasonably - anywhere from $30 to $40.But others can cost up to hundreds of dollars - in those instances, it may be better to replace the entire grill.
- Covering your grill when it's not in use is the easiest and best thing you can do to extend its life by protecting it from the elements.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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