Every spring the snow melts and you’re left asking yourself, should I clean and fix my old grill or is it time to get a new one. This is a tough question but we’re here to help you navigate. First, you must put all emotional attachment aside. Okay, so it was your first grill, maybe it was the best grill you’ve had, perhaps it’s the grill you fought to keep in the separation and yes he loved you even when your partner didn’t, but lets put that aside and and answer a few questions. How old is your grill and when did you purchase it? Did you buy a premium grill from a well known manufacturer? The truth is, if you did your research the first time, most quality grills under normal use can last between 5 and 15 years. That being said, lets start looking at your grill.

Start with a visual check

So you’ve uncovered your grill and now it’s time to open the lid and perform a visual inspection. Look for these tell tale signs.
• Infestation. Mice and other animals love to nest in barbecues. Clean out any nests or droppings.
• Rust. Most of the time a little rust is nothing to worry about and can be scraped away with a stainless-steel brush.
• Regulator. Broken glass or gas flow is not consistent - A regulator is easy to replace. Shop Regulators here.
• Hoses or fuel lines. Are any broken or cracked? New hoses can be bought. 
• Severe build up of grease or debris - Degreasing is quite easy with the proper cleaner and sometimes it’s just a matter of firing up the grill and burning off any build up or debris at high temperatures. Shop Degreasers.
• Grill grates. How do they look? Rusty? material is generally determined by what was manufactured in the grill; some options include stainless steel, cast iron and porcelain, just to name a few. Different types of grill grates will absorb oil differently. Rusted grates are not food safe. You can order replacements.
• Venturi tubes. Are they damaged or dirty - Spiders love to make webs in venturi tubes. The webs are so tight they can actually block gas from getting though. Using a Venturi tube brush cleaner will generally do the trick.
• Exterior of body. Check the exterior of the barbecue. Is it damaged? If the body is cracked or warped, chances are you will need a new grill. Try an exterior cleaner.

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Now it’s time for a performance check

After you’ve performed a visual check, it’s time to fire up the grill to see how everything is performing.
• Gas lines and connections. Check and make sure all connections are tight and there are no leaks. This can be performed by turning on the gas and spraying the hoses and connections with a mixture of soapy water. If you see bubbles, chances are you may have a leak. Hoses can be ordered.
• The igniter. Is it working? You could need to replace the battery or the ignitor box itself. Shop Igniters here.
• Flame. How does the flame look? Is it low, yellow or not working at all. A yellow flame can be caused by a bad mixture of gas and air. This can be typically fixed by adjusting the burner air intake.
• Smoke? Is there a lot of smoke? White smoke is normal, black smoke is a signal that the grill needs to be adjusted. It could mean that you have some flare-ups occurring inside the grill.
• Temperature. Is the temperature consistent? A burner could be clogged. When the grill cools down, lift burner out and clean debris out with a stiff wired brush.
• Burners. Are they working properly. Burners can be ordered but some can be expensive. Shop Burners here.