KitchenAid Outdoor Grill Repair & Cleaning

Like several appliance brands, KitchenAid has had its outdoor grills built by outside grill manufacturers under the KitchenAid name. Different generations came from different factories, and they don't share many parts. A freestanding cart model sold at a home center in the last decade has little in common with an older KitchenAid built-in.

So the model number is everything. With it, we can tell which generation you have and which burners, igniters, heat tents and grates fit. Without it, any parts quote is guesswork. On cart grills, check inside the cabinet doors, on the back panel, or on the frame under the side shelves. On built-ins, look under the control panel or inside with the drip tray removed. Our model and serial guide covers more spots.

• Igniters. Push-button or rotary igniters that stop sparking. A dead battery, a loose wire or a cracked electrode is usually to blame. See igniter replacement.
• Burners and heat tents. Rust is the enemy here. Cart grills left uncovered, or covered while still wet, corrode faster. See burner replacement.
• Grates. Porcelain-coated grates that chip and then rust. See cooking grate replacement.
• Low heat on propane. A regulator in low-flow mode after the tank was opened too quickly.
• Side burners and searing burners that stopped lighting.

Grates, heat tents and burners come out. We clear burner ports and venturi tubes, scrape and degrease the firebox with a biodegradable cleaner, and clean the grease tray and catch pan. On carts, we wipe out the cabinet, which is where grease drips and rodent nests tend to turn up. Ignition and flame are tested on every burner before reassembly. Drop cloths go down first, and dirty rinse water leaves with us instead of running across your patio. More detail at grill cleaning.

Parts for recent KitchenAid cart grills are generally available, often both original and universal. Older units can be harder. For burners, heat tents and grates, a properly sized universal part is often fine, and our OEM vs. universal parts guide explains when. Gas valves and regulators should always be the correct part.

The decision usually comes down to the firebox and frame. If they're sound, repairing the internals makes sense. If the firebox is rusted through or the cart is falling apart, replacement is the better use of money, and we can supply and install a new grill. Our repair or replace guide and how long grills last help you think it through.