It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it
Do yourself and your barbecue a favour – clean all components once a year, and paint the outer castings and other paintable surfaces every two years. If you are consistent about keeping the barbecue covered, you may not have to paint for several years. And of course there’s always an alternative to what follows: call Sobie’s and we’ll completely clean and restore your bbq to almost new – for you.
How to do it:
Step 1:
Preheat barbecue to help soften caked on debris – Lay newspaper on ground away from barbecue – Turn off barbecue and when warm (but not hot) – with work gloves on – remove cooking grills, warming rack, rock grate/bars and place on top of newspapers – The rock grate may have lava rocks on it. If so, discard and replace with new (preferably Sobie’s Ceramic Hot Rocks). If you already have ceramic briquettes, lay them on the newspaper AWAY from the cooking grills and rock grate (ceramic rocks should be kept dry). If you have metal bars instead of rocks, place beside cooking grills and warming rack. – At this point, inspect these parts thoroughly. If they are rusted, cracked or broken, visit your local barbecue specialists to get replacement parts. If they are intact, continue maintenance procedure as outlined below.
Step 2:
While warm, spray cooking grills, warming rack and rock grate/ bars with heavy-duty barbecue cleaner and let sit – Go back to barbecue and remove burner. The burner may be fastened to the bottom of the casting with screws – be prepared for a fight. In my experience, the screws are often seized due to excessive heat and time. Try some Rust Buster Lubricant if pure determination and muscle do not work. – Once the burner has been removed, insert the venturi brush through the tubes to clean out possible guests (spiders and other insects) rust and debris. Set aside. – Now the barbecue is empty of all of its internal components. Spray inside the casting – top and bottom – with the heavy-duty barbecue spray. Let sit. – If you have ceramic briquettes and, after inspection, they look like they are intact – simply sweep over them with the wire brush. DO NOT EXPOSE THEM TO WATER AS THEY ARE CERAMIC AND WILL BREAK APART. – You’ll notice that the spray on the rock grate/bars, cooking grill and warming rack has dissipated by this time.
Step 3:
With the wire brush clean rock grate/bars and spray with garden hose. – Use the brass bristle brush to clean the cooking grill and warming rack. Spray with garden hose. Allow (now sparkling clean) parts to dry in the sun. – Go back to the empty barbecue, and with the wire brush, clean out the top and bottom castings. NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A PORCELAIN HOOD (as do all Weber and Napoleon barbecues) DO NOT USE WIRE BRUSH ON INSIDE OF HOOD. Instead opt of a soft rag, as the course brush will cause damage. – Once brushed, spray with garden hose and let dry in the sun – When dry, tape up areas that you do not want painted. With high temperature barbecue paint, apply to all outer (paintable) surfaces. NOTE: NEVER PAINT INSIDE THE BARBECUE. – When paint is dry, replace all parts. Ensure that the venturi tubes of the burner line up with the valves.
Step 4:
Now it’s time to do the Leak Test. With a soap and water solution, apply dabs at all the connections – from the tank (for propane) or the quick disconnect (for natural gas) to the barbecue. Turn on gas – but do not light barbecue. If you see bubbles where the soap and water solution was applied, it means that gas is leaking – you must tighten and/or replace these parts. If you do not see bubbles, no gas is leaking and you have a SAFE and CLEAN barbecue.
And a final note:
If you are not comfortable or inclined to do the yearly maintenance and leak test, call Sobie’s – we have a very popular barbecue restoration service. Let us do the dirty work for you! Always remember your barbecue is a gas appliance and must be handled with knowledge and safety. Happy grilling!!
What you will need:
- Work gloves
- Heavy duty barbecue cleaner (*) for internal components and inner castings
- Wire brush (*) for inner castings
- Venturi brush (*)
- Brass bristle brush (* ) for cooking grills and warming rack (Brass is a softer metal than steel and therefore should be used on more delicate areas like cooking grills to avoid chipping or scratching)
- Newspaper
- Hose with nozzle (for pressure)
- High temperature barbecue paint (*)
- Masking/Painters tape
- Rust buster lubricant (*)
- Sobie’s Ceramic Hot Rocks (*)
- Upbeat inspirational music and a good sense of humour (* )
* available at Sobie’s
