Solaire Infrared Grill Cleaning & Repair

Most grills use conventional tube burners with an infrared burner added for searing. Solaire took the opposite approach and built grills around infrared burners as the main heat source. Infrared cooking heats food mainly with radiant energy rather than hot air, which means fast preheats, very high searing heat, and less drying of the food's surface.

Solaire is also known for V-shaped grates. The channels catch drippings and keep most of them from falling onto the burners, which reduces flare-ups and lets juices vaporize back into the food. The lineup includes built-in heads, carts, and the portable Anywhere grill that people take camping, tailgating or to the beach.

• Cracked or damaged infrared burners. Ceramic infrared surfaces don't tolerate water well. Sprayed burners, standing rainwater, and pressure-washer cleanups are the usual culprits. See infrared burner repair.
• Patchy glow. A burner that lights in some areas but not others, often from residue clogging the burner surface or damage.
• Ignition. Igniters that stop sparking or don't reach the burner. See igniter replacement.
• Grease in the V-grates. When the channels fill up, grease eventually overflows onto the burners and smokes.
• Salt and sand on portables. Beach trips are hard on portable grills, especially hardware and the regulator.

We remove the V-grates and scrape and degrease them off the grill, clearing the channels. The infrared burners are inspected and cleaned dry, never soaked. The firebox and grease system get scraped and degreased with a biodegradable cleaner, kept away from the burners, and the grease tray is emptied and cleaned. We test ignition and check each burner for an even glow. Stainless is finished with a soft cloth along the grain. Drop cloths protect your patio, and grease and rinse water leave with us. If you take a portable to the beach, our salt air guide has tips that help.

Solaire parts, including replacement infrared burners and grates, are generally available for current models, and we'll confirm fit by model number before ordering. If you're deciding between an all-infrared grill and a conventional one, read infrared vs. conventional burners. Infrared cooks differently, and some people love it while others want a mix.

Because infrared burners run so hot, preheating takes only a few minutes. That also means the grill reaches burn-off temperature quickly, so a short burn after each cook is an easy habit.