How to Prepare Your Custom BBQ Pit for the Winter Season

While we don't really have long, harsh winters in Texas as the rest of the world knows them, we still get cold weather, and long stretches of time where we're probably not going to be outside doing much grilling or barbequing.

The cold, rainy December through February season doesn't typically tempt any but the most dedicated of grill chefs. Plus, your grill starts contending with new conditions, namely, the wet and the cold.

Most people winterize their grills and store them until the warmer weather returns. If you're going to be one of them, here are the steps you'll need to take to keep your grill in top notch shape.

Give Your Grill a Thorough Cleaning

Cleaning is the number one thing you can do to ensure your grill remains in great shape through the winter.

Food debris, grease, and ash can all damage the grill if left for long periods of time.

Fortunately, you typically don't have to do anything special to clean your grill. Brush out all the ash, then scrub down the grill and the grates with a wire brush and warm, soapy water. Then dry the components and move on to the next step. 

Inspect the Grill

Since you're already getting up close and personal with your grill you might as well take the time to check for rust, cracks, and worn parts. If you find any, make sure you make plans to obtain the proper components or help from a technician. 

Do this before you store your grill, or you're likely to forget. Firing up your grill again in the summer when there's some kind of defect is a big safety hazard, so don't skip this step, and don't rush it. 

Oil the Grates

Fighting against winter weather means fighting against rust. 

Fortunately, protecting your grill from rust is as simple as getting it dry and then applying a thin layer of cooking oil to the grill grates. 

As long as you keep it dry, the grill should be fine. 

Disconnect Fuel Sources

If your grill is attached to a propane tank you'll want to disconnect it and store the tank in a cool, dry, safe area.

Cover the Grill

Here at Lone Star Grillz we offer high-quality grill covers meant to go with each of the grills we sell. This will help keep dust, debris, and moisture out of your grill while you store it for the winter.

Needless to say, we highly recommend this relatively inexpensive add on to each and every customer we serve. 

Place Your Grill in a Suitable Storage Location

Place your grill in a garage or a storage unit so you can get it out of the elements for the duration of the season. Otherwise, the weather will eventually undo all the hard work you just did.

Then, leave it alone, knowing you've taken all the steps you need to take to ensure the grill is ready to go as soon as the weather turns nice again. You can use the hiatus to level up your grilling game by looking up new recipes or techniques that you want to try later. Since you've taken the time to winterize your grill, it'll be there and ready to go as soon as you're ready to try them!