Outdoor Grill Repair

Built-in grills are the heart of an outdoor kitchen, and they live a hard life: sun, rain, salt air, pollen, bugs and grease, all year round. We repair built-in and freestanding gas grills from Wolf, Viking, DCS and other major brands, along with the side burners, sear burners, rotisseries and lights that come with them.

Grill problems we fix

• Won't light, or clicks with no flame. Worn or wet igniter electrodes, cracked ceramic insulators, loose wires, a weak spark module or simply dead igniter batteries.
• Low, yellow or uneven flame. Clogged burner ports, a blocked venturi tube (spiders love to nest in them), a sticking gas valve or a faulty regulator.
• Burner won't stay lit. Valve, regulator, thermocouple or safety-valve problems, or a burner that has rusted through.
• Not getting hot enough. A tripped excess-flow device on the propane regulator, a kinked or undersized supply line, or burners that need cleaning or replacing.
• Rust and corrosion. Rusted-out burners, heat shields, flame tamers, grates and igniter parts, especially near the coast.
• Accessories. Rotisserie motors, infrared and sear burners, side burners, knobs, grill lights and control panels.

Smell gas? Do this first

Turn off the burners and close the gas supply at the tank or the shut-off valve. Don't try to light the grill, and keep flames and sparks away. If the smell is strong or doesn't go away, move away from the area and call your gas company or 911 from a safe distance. Once it's safe, we can find and fix the leak.

Keep your grill clean

• After every cook: run the burners on high for 10 to 15 minutes with the lid closed to burn off residue, then brush the grates while they're still warm.
• Empty the grease tray often. A full tray is the most common cause of grease fires and flare-ups.
• A few times a year: with the gas off and the grill cold, lift out the grates and flame tamers, scrape the firebox, and brush the burners gently so the ports stay open. Don't enlarge the ports with a drill bit or nail.
• Check the venturi tubes each spring with a flexible venturi brush. Spider webs and nests there are a classic cause of yellow flames and flashback.
• Stainless steel outside: wash with warm, soapy water or a stainless cleaner, wiping with the grain. Skip steel wool, wire brushes and chlorine cleaners on the body, which scratch the finish and invite rust.

Season your grates

Cast iron grates last for years if you keep them seasoned. Clean them, wipe on a thin coat of high smoke point oil such as canola or avocado oil, and heat the grill for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat after deep cleaning, and lightly oil them after each cook. Porcelain-coated grates don't need seasoning, but use a nylon or brass brush so you don't chip the coating. Stainless grates just need a good brushing and an occasional light oiling.

Cover it the right way

A fitted, breathable cover keeps out sun, pollen, leaves and bugs. Let the grill cool and dry completely before covering it. Trapping heat and moisture under a cover does more harm than leaving it open. In humid weather, take the cover off now and then on a dry, breezy day so the grill can air out.

Protect it from salt air

Near the Gulf, salt settles on everything, and salt is what turns stainless steel brown and pitted. A few habits make a big difference:

• Wipe the exterior down with fresh water every week or two, then dry it. Salt you can't see is still working on the finish.
• Use a stainless cleaner and polish once a month to help protect the surface.
• Treat brown "tea staining" as soon as you see it, before it turns into pitting.
• Keep the grill covered between cooks once it has cooled, and keep the lid closed.
• Check igniter electrodes, wires and knobs for corrosion each season, and replace igniter batteries yearly.
• Burn it off and run it regularly. A grill that sits unused for months corrodes faster than one that's cooked on every week.

Getting through a northern winter

In Minnesota and Wisconsin, give the grill a full cleaning in the fall and empty the grease tray. Close the propane tank valve, disconnect it and store it outside, upright and away from the house. Never store a propane tank in a garage or basement. In spring, reconnect the tank and brush soapy water over the connections and hose: growing bubbles mean a leak, so shut the gas off and call us.