How To Prep Your Gas Grill for Storage

As sad as it is to think that summer (and grilling season) is drawing to a close, there’s no ignoring the change of seasons. To help prolong the life of your grill – and to make sure that it’s good to go next spring – follow these tips to prep your grill for winter storage.

First and foremost, make sure your grill is cool before starting to clean it. You don’t want to close out summer with a visit to the emergency room! 

Clean the grates: After a summer of grilling, the grates on your grill are probably pretty crusty. Use a grill brush or scraper to remove all those burned bits from the grates.

Clean inside the grill: With the grill grates removed, take the opportunity to clean the inside of the grill. Be sure to clean the burner shields and empty the drip pan. You’ll also want to take this opportunity to gather and dispose of any food that might have fallen inside the grill.

Clean the outside of the grill: Wipe down the outside of the grill with a wet cloth and scrape away any burnt food remains. You should also clean any doors and shelves on your grill at this time.

Disconnect the propane tank: Turn off the propane tank and disconnect it from the grill. Store the propane tank outdoors in a protected area. (For safety reasons, never store a propane tank indoors.)

Inspect the grill: Since you’re getting up close and personal with your grill, this is a good time to give it a thorough inspection. Check the hoses for cracks, look for rust on the grill surface and make sure the ignitor is working properly. Servicing the grill now will make for an easier transition to grill time next year.

Cover the grill: Move the grill indoors or place a grill cover over it if you’re going to leave it outdoors.

Cleaning your grill at the beginning and end of each season will prolong its life. If in the course of your inspection you recognize that it’s time for a new grill, check out the selection of Kenmore grills for your replacement.