TL/DR: I don't trust my grill after years in storage and want to know how I can be sure I don't light it and blow myself up.

Several years ago while living in Denver I was given a house warming present from my now-passed away mother: A nice propane grill. I used it almost year around, running probably 4-6 large propane bottles through it.

Then I moved to Texas. The grill went into a storage container (PackRat/Pod container), and was driven down to Texas, where it sat in storage for two years. When we were able to move into a house, I got it out of storage and put it on my back covered patio. The grill also has a black cover like you buy to keep the rain and snow out.

However, now the grill just sits on my back porch, begging to be used. I LOVE to grill, I LOVE grilled food - especially veggies like squash and asparagus. Trouble is, I can't bring myself to trusting the grill. It was jostled about a lot while on the way here, experienced below freezing temps while in the container, and hasn't been used in several years.

I assume I need to check the metal hoses that run to each element from off of the main line that goes into the propane tank. Also I know I should check that main line. What am I looking for? It is better to just try to replace all the hoses/cables? The auto-light feature doesn't work anymore, so before it went into storage I would use either a lot or one of those long-nosed lighters. I haven't bought a new propane tank yet either.

If the grill didn't have sentimental value (and wasn't so nice, or at least nice to me) I would probably get rid of it and just buy a new one, but my mom bought it for me before she died, and grilling has always been one of our connections (I'm from Texas, what did you expect?)

I am thinking I may disassemble the whole thing down to its parts and check and clean each piece, including the metal grills themselves, the metal tub that caught 5 years worth of dripping grease from a thousand steaks, burgers, and brats, but without knowing what to look out for, I don't trust the outcome. I worry about everything in life, so it isn't a stretch to worry about microscopic fractures in the cables that send me to the local burn ward.

Anyway, I'll try to post some pics tomorrow. Today it is about to storm, so I'm going to stay in.

Thanks everyone!

Eating my grilled steak as I write this.

Once you hook up the propane and turn it on, before lighting it spray the hoses and fitting with windex or soapy water. After that, just give it a once or twice over.

Enjoy.

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: Eating my grilled steak as I write this. Once you hook up the propane and turn it on, before lighting it spray the hoses and fitting with windex or soapy water. After that, just give it a once or twice over. Enjoy.

Great idea! Thanks man!

You'll be fine. Tony's way will work. Pressure it up and use a gauge. Pressure it and wait for smell. Pressure it and light it immediately. You'll see any problems. Grills get beat up, not from sitting in good conditions.

I've owned TONS. Weather. Use. Improper maintenance. Getting pushed over by wind. Grease. That's what wrecks a grill.

I agree with Tony. Since the tank provides a positive pressure, you're unlikely to have any issues as long as you do a quick check of for leaks. You can also buy an inline pressure gauge. This will tell you the level of the propane in the tank, and will also show if there is a leak (just shut the control valves and open the tank valve to pressurize the line, then shut the tank and leave it to see if the gauge holds the pressure, if it doesn't then there is a leak).

Your best friend for a propane grill is the cover. Using a cover when it's not in use will significantly extend the life of the grill by protecting it from the weather.

quote Originally posted by Neils88: I agree with Tony. Since the tank provides a positive pressure, you're unlikely to have any issues as long as you do a quick check of for leaks. You can also buy an inline pressure gauge. This will tell you the level of the propane in the tank, and will also show if there is a leak (just shut the control valves and open the tank valve to pressurize the line, then shut the tank and leave it to see if the gauge holds the pressure, if it doesn't then there is a leak). Your best friend for a propane grill is the cover. Using a cover when it's not in use will significantly extend the life of the grill by protecting it from the weather.

Am I the only person on PFF that understands what a gauge is? JESUS!?!

Check all when lit. We had a grill that was attractive to spiders. They would spin webs inside the tubes and fires would start behind the control panel. I would have to disassemble the grill, pull the four tubes and stick an electrical snake or a hook bent into a wire hangar to pull the spiderwebs out.