Can you leave grills in the rain? To answer the posed question, yes, grills can be left in the rain, but you should apply a degree of protection to them.
There are consequences to exposing your grill to the rain. It depends on the kind of grill that you have and how often you leave your grill in the rain.
Grilling is a fun activity that many like to engage in. It’s a great way to cook and have fun in your backyard. Honestly, you can’t celebrate the 4th of July without a barbeque! Grills are nifty appliances, but they require maintenance and care like any other equipment. With the 4th of July also comes summer rain, and you want to find ways to protect your grill from it. Technically, grills can be left in the rain. However, they will sustain damages that will require servicing.
In the article below, we will answer all your questions about your grill in the rain and what you can do to fix it.
Can You Leave Grills in the Rain?
Yes, but you want to provide substantial protection when leaving it in the rain. Cover it up with a tarp or a grill cover. If your grill has wheels, you may want to wheel the grill into a place where there is at least some protection from the rain. Gas and charcoal grills can be left in the rain. But electric grills shouldn’t be left in the rain, even if they have a grill cover. Electric grills work on electricity, as the name suggests, and if water were to get into the crevices, it could obliterate the grill.
Why Should I Cover My Grill on a Rainy Day?
Grills left in the rain can develop several problems that may render them useless.
1. Rain Can Lead to Rust
If you don’t provide any protection from the rain, water and air will attack the metal on the grill and oxidize it. Your grill will be covered in rust without any significant protection. The rust can spread and attack components like the grate, wheels, legs, and outer cover. Some grills are waterproof. However, many of them might not be.
2. Mold
Mold and mildew need water and moisture to develop. If anyone of these persists in the grill after the rain, you may find that the odor will travel into your food and make it inedible. If you were to eat such food, you could grow highly sick. Stomach aches and headaches are too common when there’s any significant exposure to mold.
3. Damaged Electrical Components
As mentioned before, electrical grills shouldn’t be ignored in the rain. Electrical grills have many minute electrical components that work harmoniously to ensure the grill functions. If even one of these electrical components is damaged, the entire electrical grill may no longer function. Thus, it would help if you protected your electrical grills specifically.
4. Damaged Aesthetics
You want your grill to look shiny and new, but rainwater is not wholly pure. Often, it will have different kinds of impurities from the atmosphere, such as calcium. Calcium can stain your grill and make it look much older. It can also attack the paint on your grill and destroy its aesthetics.
5. They may Take Longer to Light.
If you own a charcoal grill, you may have to wait around and try many times before the grill finally catches fire. You may also need to use a tremendous amount of lighter fluid as the grill will no longer be as efficient due to exposure to rain.
What Should I do if I Accidentally Leave my Grill in the Rain?
If you’ve accidentally left your grill exposed to the rain, don’t worry; there’s still hope. You can take the following steps to conduct some damage control over the whole situation:
Step 1: Disconnect the Grill
If you have an electric or a gas grill, you may want to sever the connection so there’s no external force that can harm you. In electric grills, disconnection is essential as you don’t want to receive an electric shock from a rogue charge.
Step 2: Clean up the wet coals, ash, or water.
Make sure you have a bucket and sponge with you so you can clean up the grill completely. The debris may dry and harden if you don’t clean up now. This hardening will make it difficult to clean up, and it may also destroy the surface and paint job of the grill.
Step 3: Disassemble the Grill
Follow the manufacturer’s rules for disassembling to pick apart the grill. This step is necessary to gauge the extent of water damage due to the rain.
Step 4: Dry All the Parts
Get a fresh, dry towel and clean all the different parts of the grill. You want to pay extra attention to the inner components and the grates. Once you’re done cleaning, remove the grates and the burner and leave them out to air-dry in the sun.
Step 5: Let Your Grill Dry Open
Leave your grill open so it can dry. If the sun is out by this time, you can let the sun shine down on the grill, as it can act as a great sterilizer. The UV light helps kill any bacteria that may remain on the grill from the rain.
Step 6: Reassemble the Grill
Once the components are dry, you can put the grill back together. We recommend that you use the manufacturer’s instructions still.
Step 7: Check to see how Your Grill is Working
The final step you must take is to ensure that your grill is working. If all the functions seem perfect, then you’re good to go. However, if the grill isn’t working, you may have to call in a technician so they can figure out how to get it back on track.
Final Thoughts:
Leaving grills in the rain is risky and can have disastrous consequences. If you leave your grill in the rain, there’s a chance it may never work again. Grills can only be left in the rain when you have taken the measure to protect them.
You want to ensure that you protect your grill from the rain using grill covers and a retractable awning. However, if you accidentally forget this protection, you should ensure that you conduct the correct maintenance as soon as possible to save your grill.
