Should You Replace or Repair Your BBQ?

As we get closer to the long, hot summer days, our BBQs are going to be used more often than they were during the winter months. Using a BBQ can bring a lot of pleasure as both family and friends can gather around them and share delicious food. As with any type of garden equipment, when it’s used frequently a BBQ can fail to work as well as it should. If you’ve noticed that your BBQ is in a poor state, then the following question might arise: should you replace it or repair it?

Common Issues

Chances are your BBQ isn’t working quite as well as it should be if you’ve noticed the following:

• The grill fails to light
• There is a lot of smoke
• The flame is quite low
• There’s uneven heating
• The gas is leaking
• There’s a lot of damage to the exterior
• There are large flames coming from the burner’s sides
• The temperature is low
• The regulator is broken
• There’s a lot of debris and grease build-up
• The flame is orange or yellow
• There’s uneven heating
• There is a lot of smoke
• There’s a broken or damaged leg

As you can see, a lot of things can go wrong with a BBQ. However, in some cases, a quick fix can work well enough. For example, you can choose the best glue for metal to repair one of the legs. You can replace the regulator or remove the debris and grease. It may not be necessary for you to buy a new BBQ at all.

How long do BBQs last?

Most BBQs tend to last between five and ten years. People who tend to take good care of their BBQs will find that theirs lasts much longer. Most of the issues associated with BBQ issues stem from them not being cleaned after every use. Other issues can simply be resolved by replacing any broken parts rather than buying a new model.

If you’re not one for spending much money or you want to be more environmentally friendly, consider carrying out repairs. Chances are that a quick repair will work.

Replacing the Heat and Shield Mounts

If the heat and shield mounts are in a poor state, they can be replaced. Stainless steel is ideal for this as galvanized steel and aluminum will give off some toxic fumes when they get hot. All that you need to do is drill three holes in the burner mounts and sink two screws into them. Mounting is quite easy, but it can take time, so drilling the required holes first is ideal.

Replacing the Regulator

Many people choose to buy a new BBQ when the regulator fails to work well, if at all. However, this is a part of the BBQ that can easily be replaced. You simply have to know how to replace it. The good news is that it’s quite easy to remove the old regulator and replace it with a new one. If you’re not sure that you can do it correctly, ask someone to help you. Replacing a broken regulator with a new one is a lot cheaper than buying a new BBQ.

As you can see, carrying out repairs rather than buying a new BBQ is possible. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new model. Keeping your current BBQ clean will, for the most part, solve the most common issues. However, if and when something goes wrong, it’s worth your while repairing it where you can. You never know, a quick repair could mean your current BBQ lasts for a few more years.