C. Grill Cleaning, Maintenance, and Repair

Most grills fail or need repair because they are rarely cleaned. But you don’t need to scrub your grill until it gleams like a sports car. After several uses, a grill naturally develops a light patina on the grill grates and firebox that gives it character and doesn’t negatively affect performance.

Of course, if you have a ¼-inch-thick layer of soot and carbonized food on the grill grates, firebox, or lid, you may want to consider cleaning the grill more often. It all depends on how much you use your grill. Cleaning doesn’t have to mean disassembling the entire grill and then putting it back together. You can do some brief cleaning every time you grill and more extended cleaning about once a season, depending on usage. Think of the annual cleaning as an opportunity to get under the hood, check out the parts of your grill, and make sure everything is working optimally. Cleaning will help your grill perform better and extend its life. On a gas grill, turn off the gas supply before extended cleaning.