Getting Ready For Grilling

Now that the weather has warmed up in most places and the skies are starting to clear up, it’s time to get ready to break out the grill and check over things to make certain that all is in place for the spring and summer outdoor cooking seasons. You’ll want to check your grill each year before you use it — especially if you are using a gas grill — in order to avoid potential problems that can ruin your grill or worse.

1) Clean your grill — Before you fire it up the first time, break your grill down and clean it thoroughly. If you’ve had it stored away during the winter, you’ll want to make certain that it’s good and clean with none of the vents blocked by dust or build-up in order to ensure that the grill maintains a good, even temperature.

2) Check your lines — If you’re using a gas grill, make certain that you check all of the lines and valves before turning it on the first time. You’ll also want to make certain that your gas tank is not corroded or empty.

3) Do a test run — Before you send out invitations for your first BBQ of the year, do a small test run to make certain that there are no unpredictable hotspots or draft issues with the grill.

Part of owning a grill is doing routine maintenance on it and making certain it’s ready for the warmer (and grilling-friendlier) months and heavier use. Taking a few hours to check it over can save you a lot of time, trouble, and money further down the road.