Outdoor kitchens are still a dream portion of every home. It not only improves the valuation of your property but also gives you memories to cherish. But when winter joins the party, it kills the very party itself.
Be honest with us, would you want to buy a new grill after every winter? For most, it is going to be a no! It is where you may end up if you haven’t winterize your outside kitchen before every snow time. Hold your nerve. You don’t have to panic for we are here to help!
With our expertise in the field, we have made some well-established and simple protocols to follow to keep every single part of your outdoor kitchen safe from the harshest of weather conditions.
General check-up before winter
To put your kitchen to sleep during winter so that it can serve you its best at the coming spring, we have some general check-ups to follow
- Shutting off water lines: Shut off all the water lines connected to your outdoor kitchen. Water expanding in its volume at lower temperatures can simply break the plumbing joints.
- Drain all water lines: When draining water from the lines ensure you are draining lines to the refrigerator, sink and ice maker. Neglecting this can end up costing you the refrigerator itself.
- Position drain valves for winter: Keeping your drain valves open all season long can help you protect the lines from freezing water.
- Ice maker preparation: Switch the supply off and remove any remaining ice from the maker. That’s it.
- Sink cleaning: Manufacturer’s instructions are the last word here. Strictly abide the procedures. But you don’t have to uninstall faucets and store them indoors. Ensure you are covering the sink to protect the finish from scratching.
- Winterise your cabinet: Depending on the size and type the methods are different. Stainless steel demands a fresh coat of polish whereas wooden cabinets need oiling and should be sealed from harsh weather outside.
You would be definitely wondering how we could forget about the refrigerator and the grill. For them being the most important sections, we have taken care of them in dedicated spaces below.
Winterising the Outdoor Refrigerators
The refrigeration unit, certainly an electronic appliance is very sensitive to drop in outside temperatures. Forgetting to winterise the refrigerator can cause serious damage to the compressor. Already compressor will be struggling to keep the internal temperature, wherein the meantime when the external temperature drops it simply can’t handle the work pressure.
Let’s have a look at the winterising procedures step by step.
- Turn the thermostat off and shut off the power supply to the unit. Put all the cords in a bag and wrap them with a cloth advisably cotton, before storing them safe.
- Don’t wait for your food materials to decay. Remove them as early as possible.
- For cleaning the fridge, you can use either a mild soap solution or vinegar. Don’t use any harsh chemicals. Take care you don’t compromise, remember the fridge will have to be in right state for months not in use.
- Leave the fridge dry to prevent any possible mold growth. Keeping the fridge little open and placing a baking soda box inside is advisable to combat the odour and moisture.
- Store the appliance upright and uncovered in any covered enclosure. The cover can attract moisture under it and later damage the unit.
- Now, if you are feeling a little tired get some rest. We are getting seriously into some real work. The grill!
Cleaning the Grill
Cleaning the grill is not just about keeping them neat and tidy. It begins with removing any leftover food or food debris to prevent corrosion. For those who might feel lazy to do this now will receive greetings from the rodent colony when you open the grill at the spring bloom. Enough with the discussion. Let’s get back to work!
Well, your grill manufacturer will always have to say something on its proper maintenance. For the product-specific guidelines consult your manufacturer. All we discuss here are some general instructions for the extreme climate conditions.
- Remove the grill. To clean it, start with a degreaser and clean it with a metal brush.
- Spray a thin coat of cooking oil for a normal seasoning. Oil layer prevents moisture accumulation and possible corrosion. Too much oil attracts insects. Season the grates at 500 Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
- Wrap the burners with a plastic sheet to prevent insects from starting a family there. You may spoil the first session of spring with a fried spider with the grill.
- Turn off the gas line and cover the pipe properly with a plastic bag.
- Remove the batteries if present and spray a corrosion inhibitor at the contacts.
You can apply a layer of polish on the exterior. Remember some manufacturers don't permit this in their warranty conditions!
Once you are done with this, store your grill at an enclosed space if available.
So, good job folks. You are good and done. Now you can forget you own an outdoor kitchen under the snow and start planning for January!
Happy winter!