Care & how-to guides
Cleaning, maintenance and how-to guides that keep things working.
Mice in Your Grill: Droppings, Nests and Safe Cleanup
Mice nest in grills, chew hoses and wiring, and leave droppings behind. Here is what to do, what to leave alone, and when to call a pro.
Deep cleaning a gas grill
How to Deep Clean a Gas Grill: The Step-by-Step Method Grill Techs Use
The full teardown-and-clean method grill techs use on gas grills, from grates to burners to the grease tray, plus what to skip and when to call a pro.
Grill cleaning frequency
How Often Should You Clean Your Grill? A Schedule From Grill Techs
A realistic cleaning schedule: what to do after every cook, monthly, and once or twice a year, and how coastal air, heavy use and smoking change it.
Cleaning a stainless steel grill
How to Clean a Stainless Steel Grill: Rust Spots, Tea Staining and Discoloration
How techs clean stainless grills and islands: daily wipe-downs, removing rust spots and brown tea staining, working with the grain, and passivating t…
Grill care near the ocean
How to Protect Your Grill From Salt Air: A Coastal Homeowner's Guide
How salt air attacks grills near the ocean and the routine that slows it down: fresh water rinses, breathable covers, passivation, the right stainles…
Seasonal grill maintenance
Seasonal Grill Maintenance Checklist: What Grill Techs Check Every Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter
A season-by-season grill checklist covering startup, gas leak checks, burners, igniters, grease management, covers and winter storage, from the techs…
Cleaning grill grates
How to Clean Grill Grates: Cast Iron, Porcelain-Coated and Stainless Steel
The right way to clean grill grates by material, the brush to use for each, how to soak and deep clean them, and how to tell when grates need replaci…
Winterizing an outdoor kitchen
How to Winterize an Outdoor Kitchen: Grill, Fridge, Sink and Water Lines
What to drain, unplug, shut off and cover before winter, why freezing climates like Utah need a full shutdown, and what homeowners in mild areas can …
Gas fireplace maintenance
Gas Fireplace Maintenance: What to Do Yourself and What a Tech Should Check
The monthly and yearly upkeep a gas fireplace needs, how to clean the glass and logs without damaging them, and what a technician checks during an an…
Gas fire pit maintenance
Gas Fire Pit Maintenance: Cleaning Fire Glass, Lava Rock, Burners and Drains
How to keep a gas fire pit lighting and burning clean: washing fire glass and lava rock, clearing burner ports and spider nests, keeping the pan drai…
Propane to natural gas conversion
Can You Convert a Propane Grill to Natural Gas? What It Takes and What It Costs
How grill gas conversion works, which brands allow it and which do not, what parts change, what it costs, and why it belongs with a qualified tech.
Finding a grill model and serial number
Where Is the Model and Serial Number on My Grill? A Brand-by-Brand Guide
Where 14 major grill brands put the rating plate with the model and serial number, how to read it, and what to do when the tag is missing or faded.