Two kinds of backyards
Hacienda Heights splits pretty neatly in two. North of the 60 and across the lower streets, most homes are single-story tracts from the 1950s and 60s with flat yards and a grill on the patio slab. Head south and the streets start climbing into the Puente Hills, where houses sit on terraced lots and the grill often lives on a raised deck or a small island built against a retaining wall.
The grills themselves follow the houses. Down on the flats we see a lot of freestanding cart grills and older built-ins that went in during a remodel twenty years ago. Up the hill, the outdoor kitchens tend to be bigger and the views are the reason people cook outside, so the grill gets used hard from May through October.
Both get the same summer. Inland heat pushes past 95 for weeks at a time, and grease that sits in a firebox through that kind of heat bakes into a hard crust that a brush won't touch. That crust is what causes most of the flare-ups people call us about.
How a hillside visit goes
Steep driveways and decks with one narrow stairway are normal here. This is how we handle them.
- 1
Photos first
Send a couple of pictures of the grill and the path to it. We'll know whether to bring the hand truck or carry tools up in bags.
- 2
Park and stage
We park where it's safe on the street, not blocking a neighbor's driveway on a tight curve, and stage tools near the grill.
- 3
Protect the deck
Drop cloths go down over wood and pavers. Grease and rinse water get caught in pans instead of dripping between deck boards or down the slope.
- 4
Strip and clean
Grates, burners, heat plates and the drip tray come out. The firebox and hood get scraped and degreased, burner ports get cleared.
- 5
Test and walk through
Every burner gets lit and checked for an even blue flame. We show you anything that's wearing out and leave the decision to you.
What we do here most
Deep cleaning
The full teardown, not a wipe-down. Baked-on carbon comes off, the grease path gets cleared.
Learn moreIgniters and burners
Clicking with no flame, one dead burner, or a burner that's rusted through. Common parts are on the truck.
Learn moreReplacing an old built-in
When the grill in a 20-year-old island is done, we can fit a new one into the same opening.
Learn moreFire pits
Gas fire pits on view decks get clogged with debris and stop lighting. We clean and repair those too.
Learn more
Clean without the runoff
On a sloped lot, anything you hose off the patio heads downhill to the street. We use biodegradable, food-safe degreasers and contain what comes off the grill so it leaves in our buckets. More on the products in our degreaser guide.
Questions from Hacienda Heights
My grill is on a second-story deck. Is that a problem?
No. As long as there's a way to get up there, we can do the work in place. Built-ins never need to come out for a cleaning.
The burners light but the flames are yellow and lazy. What's going on?
Usually spiders or debris in the burner tubes, or a venturi that's out of adjustment. It's a common, fixable problem. Our page on yellow flames explains it.
Do you work on older grills that aren't made anymore?
Yes. Parts for discontinued models can take some hunting, but we often find them or a compatible substitute.
What does a cleaning cost?
It depends on the grill's size, brand and condition, and whether parts are needed. Call or text us, or send photos, and we'll quote it.
Nearby areas we serve
Ready when you are
Call or text, or send a couple of photos of the grill and we'll get you a quote.