Prep your BBQ!

So it may be rainy, but BBQ season is thankfully here! And unless you're a hardcore grilling machine, your BBQ has been hibernating.
So here's some tips to prep your BBQ for that 1st tantalizing steak of 2010!

1. Just like your house, your grill needs a good spring cleaning! So grab these products.
- a brass wire brush
- small pail to hold hot water
- dish soap
- venturi brush
- a 1/16” drill bit
- replacement grease cups
- spatula
- stainless steel cleaner
- fine sandpaper
Now that you've collected those items (and hopefully a cold one too!) here's how to use them!

Start with the burners. It is easier to detach the burners and take them out of the grill for a very thorough cleaning. Pass a venturi brush through the burners to snag out any blockages then brush the tops of the burners using a brass wire brush. Once the burners are cleaned, check all of the burner ports to ensure that they are opened. If some are closed with food particles you can use a 1/16” drill bit to open them

Sear plates and cooking grills should be washed with hot soapy water. Simply brush the top side of your cooking grills with a little oil to re-season them.

Hot soapy water works wonders on the cast base and sides of the grill and to remove grease splatters on the outside of the grill. For porcelain lids a thorough washing should suffice, for stainless steel lids a stainless steel cleaner should be used to remove any discoloring. Once the paint is dried, brush the cast aluminum with a little olive oil, this helps restore the luster and prevent oxidation.

Lastly, use a spatula to scrape grease from the inside of the base all the way down towards the drip pan. Remove the drip pan and give it a good washing and be sure to replace the tin foil grease catcher.

2. Inspect hoses and tubes
Visually inspect all hoses and feed tubes on your grill. Look for any crimps, scratching and or punctures, if you detect any of these, it is time to replace the hoses.

3. Do a complete Leak Test on the Grill
A leak test should be performed any time your grill has been in storage for a prolonged length of time or when you are changing any components on your grill. Watch a video on how to do it! www.napoleongrills.com

4. Check Ignition Parts
For battery ignitions it is a good idea to replace the batteries with new ones. Check all electrode leads and ensure the tips of the electrodes are clean and have no grease or rust build up on them, if they do you can use sandpaper to clean them.

And voila! A clean grilling machine, enjoy!