How to Maintain and Clean Your Outdoor Appliances

Summer is right around the corner, and backyard barbecues will soon be all the rage. With outdoor kitchens quickly growing in popularity among homeowners, it’s essential to maintain its appliances and keep them operating properly so you can experience your outdoor haven for years to come. Here’s a look at how to keep your outdoor appliances in tip-top shape.

Maintain Your Outdoor Appliances

Clean the Grill Regularly 

Your grill is the focal point of your outdoor kitchen. It cooks juicy meats, flavorful vegetables, and more. Not to mention, it’s a large investment. Grill maintenance will vary depending on what type you own. From freestanding charcoal to built-in natural gas grills, your options are countless. Charcoal and gas grills should only be used outdoors because of their harmful fumes. Regardless of your type of outdoor grills, we recommend cleaning it thoroughly and covering it after each use. 

Before cleaning, wait until the grill is cool. Once it’s cool, scrub the grill grates with a wire brush, then wipe off the residue with sudsy water and a cloth. After cleaning the grate, you’ll want to check its other components, including the burners, valves, and hoses. Keep your burners free of grease by cleaning the buildup periodically with a hard brush or sturdy pipe cleaner.

Note: When cooking with a gas grill, pay close attention to the color of the flame. A healthy flame should be blue with a yellow tip. A yellow flame may indicate incomplete combustion of the gas. If you notice a yellow flame, turn off the grill and disconnect the fuel tank. 

Don’t forget About Your Dishwasher’s Filter

Outdoor dishwashers are an incredibly convenient appliance, especially if you have cookware, plates, and cutlery stored in your outside kitchen. Rather than bringing the dirty dishes into the house, loading them in the dishwasher, then bringing them back out to your outside kitchen, you can load them in your outdoor dishwasher, saving you a few trips. Most outdoor dishwashers should include:

• Outdoor-rated electrical power cord
• Water supply and drain hose
• Various wash applications and temperature settings
• Filter system
• Weatherization instructions 

The dishwasher filter is one area a lot of homeowners forget to clean and maintain. To prevent solid items from getting into the pump, clean the filter regularly. Most modern dishwashers have a removable filter in the bottom. Turn ¼ turn to remove and reverse to place it back in. Make sure to give it a bit of a tug once reinstalled to make sure it’s seated properly. If your dishwasher is different, consult the owner’s manual.

If you hear unusual noises coming from your dishwasher, something could be stuck or interfering with the machine’s elements and jets. Carefully reload your machine- per manufacturer’s recommendations for the model- and assess if this resolves the problem.

Choose an Energy-Efficient, Rugged Refrigerator

In the summertime, your refrigerator has to work harder to keep cool, which in turn uses more energy. We recommend investing in an energy-efficient model that’s designed to work outside. Check the energy label to see how much the fridge and freezer will cost annually to operate. Plus, make sure to clean the area around the refrigerator pump that is vented regularly. To lengthen the life of your appliance, clear dust and debris from building up.

Keep Your Icemaker in a Dry Area

An icemaker is essential to outdoor kitchens, especially if you enjoy hosting summer parties. To keep your outdoor ice maker working correctly and producing adequate ice, install it in a dry, shaded area.

Keep Your Outdoor Appliance Safe From Mother Nature

Outdoor kitchen appliances deal with more wear and tear than indoor appliances, so they have to be durable enough to withstand the elements. Fortunately, there are incredible outdoor kitchen appliances available today. To protect your investment and keep your outdoor appliances safe from Mother Nature, take a look at the following recommendations:

Outdoor fridges should be unplugged and brought indoors during winter. To prevent bacteria from forming and spreading, clean the inside thoroughly with soap and warm water or vinegar. 

To protect your outdoor dishwasher, ice maker, and sink during the colder months, drain the water lines to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting.

For your grill, clean it then cover it to keep snow off. 

Apply a coat of stainless steel finish to protect the outside of the appliances.

Let iFiX Utah Maintain & Repair Your Outdoor Appliances 

We believe in taking on each job like it is our own home. We know the same headaches and frustrations of waiting for a service company to arrive. Our technicians are honest, reliable, and dependable. We work hard to provide our customers with the best appliance repair possible.

If you’ve given your outdoor appliances TLC and they’re still malfunctioning, give iFiX a call today for all your appliance repair needs.

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