Why the rest of the island gets ignored
The grill gets used every weekend, so people notice when it's dirty or won't light. The side burner gets used twice a year. The warming drawer collects leaves. The refrigerator hums along until the compressor dies in August. The vent hood over a covered patio quietly fills with grease. Meanwhile, the same things that hurt the grill (salt air near the coast, ash during fire season, spiders and mice in the off months) are working on everything else in the island.
Having it all looked at on one visit is efficient, and it's how small problems get caught. A side burner valve that's starting to leak or a mouse nest behind the access doors is a lot easier to deal with when someone actually opens it up.
What we service in an outdoor kitchen
Built-in grills
Cleaning, repair and restoration of the main grill, which is usually the starting point.
Learn moreSide and power burners
Burners cleaned, igniters and valves repaired, spider webs cleared from the venturis.
Learn moreGriddles and pizza ovens
Built-in flat-tops and gas pizza ovens, cleaned and repaired.
Learn moreWarming drawers and storage
Cleaned out, checked for rodent nesting, hinges and slides adjusted.
Lights and rotisseries
Halogen and LED grill lights, rotisserie motors and spits.
Learn moreVent hoods
Grease baffles and filters degreased on hoods over covered grilling areas.
Island gas and ventilation
Shutoffs, flex lines and vent panels checked for leaks and blockages.
Learn moreFire features
Fire pits and fireplaces that share the patio.
Learn moreHow an outdoor kitchen visit works
- 1
Walk the island
We go through each appliance with you, noting what works, what doesn't and what you'd like done.
- 2
Protect the area
Drop cloths go down over the patio and countertops, and the gas is shut off at the island.
- 3
Clean and service
Gas appliances are taken apart and cleaned. Access doors are opened and the island interior checked for leaks, nests and debris.
- 4
Repair what's needed
Common parts are on the truck. Anything else gets quoted and ordered.
- 5
Test and report
Every gas appliance is lit and leak tested, and you get a summary of what we found and what to keep an eye on.
Signs your outdoor kitchen needs attention
- A side burner that won't light, or lights with a big yellow flame
- Droppings, shredded insulation or a musty smell behind the access doors
- Grill lights that flicker or have quit
- A refrigerator that runs constantly or doesn't stay cold
- Grease dripping from the vent hood baffles
- Rust streaks running down the island from appliance edges
- Any gas smell when you open the island doors
Our outdoor kitchen maintenance checklist lists what to check each season yourself.
What we don't service
We work on the gas appliances and the grill-related hardware in the island. Outdoor refrigerators, ice makers and kegerators need a refrigeration technician for anything beyond cleaning the coils and checking the door seal, and we'll tell you if that's what's needed. We don't do plumbing on outdoor sinks, island masonry, tile or countertop repair, or new electrical circuits. For a new or replacement grill, see built-in grill installation.
Brands and setups we see
Most outdoor kitchens around LA are built around a premium grill from Lynx, Viking, DCS, Fire Magic or Twin Eagles, often with matching side burners and drawers from the same line. Plenty of islands mix brands, especially after a grill has been replaced. Older Viking and DCS islands frequently have side burners and warming drawers that outlived the original grill, and parts for those are usually still available. We carry common igniters, valves and burners for the brands we see most, which means many side burner and lighting fixes happen on the first visit.
Outdoor kitchen questions
Can you service everything in one visit?
Usually, yes. Larger kitchens with several appliances may take most of a day, and repairs that need ordered parts get a second visit.
Do you repair outdoor refrigerators?
We clean them and check the basics like coils, door seals and leveling. Compressor and refrigerant work needs a refrigeration tech.
Can you clean the vent hood over my grill?
Yes, we degrease the baffles, filters and the reachable parts of the hood. We don't clean duct runs through the roof.
How often should an outdoor kitchen be serviced?
Once a year for most homes, ideally in spring before the busy season. Coastal homes and kitchens that get heavy use benefit from twice. A maintenance plan keeps it on schedule.
Do you work on outdoor kitchens you didn't build?
Almost all the kitchens we work on were built by someone else. We service the appliances regardless of who installed them.
What does outdoor kitchen service cost?
It depends on how many appliances there are, their brands and condition, and what needs repair. Send us a couple of photos of the island and we'll quote it.
Related repairs and guides
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.
TroubleshootingMice 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.
SafetySanta 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.
Care & how-toOff-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.
Care & how-toStainless 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.
Care & how-toFlat 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.
RepairSide Burner Repair
Side burners and power burners that won't light, burn weak or yellow, or won't stay on, diagnosed and repaired.
RepairGrill Light Repair
Interior hood lights, LED knob lights and the transformers and wiring that power them, repaired on built-in grills.
RepairRotisserie Repair
Dead motors, bent spits, worn forks and rear rotisserie burners that won't light, repaired on site.
RepairGas Valve Replacement
Stiff, stuck or leaking burner control valves replaced and leak tested by a technician, not a weekend project.
RepairNatural Gas & Propane Problems
Supply-side problems on propane and natural gas grills: wrong orifices, undersized lines, regulators and bad conversions.
RepairSpider & Insect Blockages
Spider webs and insect nests in burner venturis cleared before they cause weak flame or a flashback fire.
Get the whole island looked at
Call or text us, or send a photo of your outdoor kitchen. We'll quote the full visit.
