These guides are written from what our techs see on Los Angeles patios every week. Some are care and how-to, like stainless steel care or coastal grill care. Some are troubleshooting, like why your grill won't get hot. Others cover safety and buying advice, from a gas leak soap test to choosing a built-in grill.
They're meant to be useful whether or not you ever call us. When a job is past what's safe to do yourself, the guide will say so.
A few good places to start: how often to clean a grill, the grill safety checklist, and repair or replace if you're weighing an old grill against a new one. Coastal homeowners should look at the salt air guide, and anyone in the foothills will get something out of our notes on Santa Ana winds and ash. Everything is listed below, grouped by topic.
Buying advice
Buying a Used Grill: Checklist
A practical inspection checklist for buying a used grill, or a house with a built-in, so you know what you're getting before you commit.
Cast Iron vs. Stainless Grates
How cast iron, porcelain-coated cast iron and stainless steel grates compare for searing, upkeep and lifespan, plus how to care for each.
Choosing a Built-In Grill
A practical buyer's guide to built-in gas grills: what to prioritize, what's optional, and the island and gas questions to settle before you pick a model.
Freestanding vs. Built-In Grills
How freestanding cart grills and built-in island grills compare on flexibility, installation, gas supply and long-term care.
How Long Do Grills Last?
Realistic lifespans for each kind of grill, which parts wear out first, and what actually makes a grill last longer.
How to Measure a Grill Cutout
How to measure the width, depth and height of a built-in grill opening, and why you should compare it to the manufacturer's cutout spec rather than the grill's size.
Infrared vs. Conventional Burners
How infrared and conventional gas burners work, what each does best, and how to care for an infrared burner so it lasts.
OEM vs. Universal Grill Parts
Which grill parts are fine to buy universal, which should always be original, and how to measure so a replacement actually fits.
Picking a Grill for a Coastal Home
What to look for in a grill that will live in salt air, from stainless grade and burner material to placement and covers.
Premium Grill Brands Compared
A fair, service-side look at the premium built-in grill brands common in Los Angeles backyards, and what to weigh when choosing between them.
Propane vs. Natural Gas Grills
How propane and natural gas grills differ in heat, convenience, setup and safety, and when converting a grill from one to the other makes sense.
Repair or Replace Your Grill?
A practical way to decide whether your grill needs a few parts or a replacement, based on what techs actually check first.
Replacing a Built-In Grill in the Same Cutout
How to find a new built-in grill that fits your existing island opening, and what to do when the old cutout is an unusual size.
What Grill Warranties Actually Cover
How grill warranties are usually structured, what tends to be excluded, and how to keep your coverage and file a claim.
Care & how-to
Basic Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning
The difference between a routine grill cleaning and a full teardown, with step-by-step instructions for both.
Commercial Grill Cleaning Schedules
Daily, weekly and periodic cleaning schedules for grills at restaurants, hotels, clubs and venues, and how to split the work between staff and a service company.
Do Grill Covers Help or Hurt?
Grill covers can protect a grill or quietly rust it. Here's how to tell which, what to buy, and how to use one in LA's coastal fog, sun and ash.
Eco-Friendly Grill Degreasers: What Works
An honest look at biodegradable and non-toxic grill degreasers: what cuts grease, what doesn't, what's safe on each surface, and where the dirty water should go.
Finding Parts for Discontinued Grills
A step-by-step approach to tracking down parts for older and discontinued grills, and how to know when a grill can't reasonably be kept running.
Finding Your Grill's Model and Serial Number
Where grill makers hide the rating plate, how to read it when it's faded, and what to do if it's gone. Saves time and wrong parts on any repair.
Flat Top Griddle Care
How to season, clean, store and rescue an outdoor flat top griddle, with extra steps for coastal humidity and the rainy months.
Getting Your Grill Ready for Summer
A practical pre-summer checklist for gas grills and outdoor kitchens: what to inspect, clean and test before the season's first big cookout.
Grill Care for Rentals and Airbnbs
How hosts and landlords can keep rental and Airbnb grills safe, clean and working, with turnover checklists, guest instructions and a service schedule.
HOA Grill Maintenance Guide
A practical maintenance plan for shared grills at HOAs, condos and apartment communities, with schedules, checklists and gas safety points.
How Often Should You Clean Your Grill?
A realistic cleaning schedule for gas grills in LA: what to do after every cook, once a month, and once or twice a year, and what shortens the interval.
How to Clean an Outdoor Pizza Oven
How to clean gas and wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens, including the stone, the dome, the burner and the chimney, without cracking anything.
Off-Season Grill Care in Los Angeles
How to look after a grill through LA's slower months, in regular use or sitting idle, including rain, marine layer, pests and Santa Ana season.
Outdoor Kitchen Maintenance Checklist
A practical maintenance checklist for the whole outdoor kitchen: grill, side burners, fridge, sink, countertops, cabinets, lighting and gas, organized by how often.
Salt Air and Your Grill: Coastal Care
What salt air does to grills near the Los Angeles coast, which parts go first, and a realistic routine that adds years to a coastal grill.
Smoker Maintenance Basics
Maintenance basics for pellet, offset, kamado and gas smokers: ash, grease, creosote, gaskets and storage, plus what LA's humidity and fire season mean for each.
Stainless Steel Grill Care
How to keep stainless steel grills and outdoor kitchens looking right: everyday wiping, removing tea staining and rust spots, dealing with hard water, and what to never use.
What Happens During a Professional Grill Cleaning
What a professional grill cleaning actually involves, step by step, plus what to ask any company before you book and how to get ready for the visit.
What to Expect on a Grill Repair Visit
A walk-through of a mobile grill repair visit, from what to send ahead of time to the gas checks and testing before the tech leaves.
Safety
Gas Fireplace Maintenance
Routine care for indoor and outdoor gas fireplaces, what homeowners can safely do, and the warning signs that call for a technician.
Grill Safety Checklist
A practical safety checklist for gas grills and outdoor kitchens, from placement and gas checks to grease fires and what to do in an emergency.
How to Do a Gas Leak Soap Test
How to check a propane or natural gas grill for leaks with soapy water, step by step, and what to do if you find bubbles.
Santa Ana Winds, Ash and Your Outdoor Kitchen
What to do with your grill and outdoor kitchen before, during and after Santa Ana winds and wildfire ash, including how to clean ash safely and check gas appliances.
Troubleshooting
Fire Pit Won't Light
A safe, step-by-step troubleshooting guide for gas fire pits that won't light or won't stay lit, from gas supply to ignition and thermocouples.
Mice and Rats in Your Grill
Signs of mice and rats in a grill or outdoor kitchen, how to clean up safely, what they damage, and practical ways to keep them out for good.
Patio Heater Won't Stay Lit
Why gas patio heaters go out after lighting, and the safe checks to try before calling for a repair.
Signs Your Burners Need Replacing
How to tell a dirty burner from a worn-out one, with flame patterns to watch for and a safe way to pull and inspect them.
Spiders in Burner Tubes
Spider webs in burner venturi tubes are a common cause of weak flames and flashback fires. Here's how to spot it, clean it and prevent it.
Why Your Grill Won't Get Hot
The common reasons a gas grill runs cold, in the order techs check them, including the regulator reset that fixes many propane grills.
Yellow Flame on a Gas Grill
What a yellow flame on a gas grill means, when a little yellow is normal, and how to clear the blockages that usually cause it.