The Complete Grill Safety Guide for Summer

Grilling is a summer tradition that many families in Minnesota hold dear. There’s not much better than making some delicious food on the grill while all your friends and family gather around for an outdoor party.

As much fun as grills can be, it’s important to remember that a misused or neglected grill can quickly become a fire hazard. Continue reading to learn some valuable safety tips for using your outdoor grill this summer in the Twin Cities.

General Grill Safety Tips

Whether your grill is gas or charcoal, up on your deck or down on your patio, these are some good safety practices to follow:

Make sure that your grill is at least 10 feet away from the edge of your home. Smoke from the grill should not be hitting roof overhangs as it billows up. Having a grill any closer to your home creates the risk of a grill fire spreading to your house itself.
Never leave a grill unattended for more than a minute or two. A fire can break out quickly and grow out of control even if you just step away to socialize for a few minutes.
Thoroughly clean your grill regularly to prevent excess grease buildup. Grease coats your grill each time you use it, and this grease can eventually become a serious fire hazard.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy when using the grill. If a fire does happen, quick access to an extinguisher can prevent that fire from spreading to your home and causing devastation.
Make sure that children and dogs stay away from the grill while it’s being used. Caught up in the bliss of yard games, kids and dogs can easily lose track of their surroundings and crash into an active grill, resulting in injury and maybe even starting a fire.

Charcoal Grill Safety Tips

Many people in the Twin Cities area prefer the flavor of a charcoal grill, but this type of grill comes with some unique fire hazards:

Only use appropriate starter fluid to get your charcoal grill started; never use gasoline or other accelerants. Putting too much flammable liquid on your charcoal grill can easily cause it to erupt in flames that are difficult to suppress.
Allow hot coals time to cool off before you dispose of them. Dumping hot coals into a trash can may start a fire.

Propane Grill Safety Tips

Propane grills are a popular choice here in the Twin Cities metro due to their convenience, but there are a couple safety tips you should be aware of:

Always make sure to open the lid of your gas grill before turning it on. Trying to light your propane grill with the lid closed can allow the gas to build up and result in an explosion.
Once you’re finished grilling, first turn off the controls, and then turn off the gas at the tank. Make sure to remember both steps to prevent gas from continually leaking.

Safety Tips for Grilling on the Deck

Many Twin Cities residents keep their grills on their decks, which can leave your property vulnerable to fire if you neglect these safety practices:

Watch where your smoke is going; it shouldn’t be hitting any umbrellas, awnings or overhanging tree branches. If embers strike these overhanging objects, there’s a risk of a fire starting. Position your grill so that smoke is safely blowing into the air with no obstacles.
Place a grill mat beneath your grill to protect your deck from sparks, dripping grease, and intense heat. This is particularly crucial for natural wood decks, which are more likely to catch fire.

Safety Tips for Grilling on the Patio

Depending on its location and what it’s made of, a patio may be a safer grilling location than the deck, but there are still things to look out for:

Make sure that your grill is placed a safe distance away from any patio furniture. Heat and flame can damage the furniture over time, and may even set fire to cushions or wicker.
Be certain that the grill is sitting on level, stable ground. Using a grill in an uneven area could result in it tipping over, leading to disaster.

Do You Need Fire Restoration in the Twin Cities Area?

Every summer, grilling mishaps result in fire damage to local homes. If you’ve experienced a damaging fire on your property, reach out to Arko Restoration today for the best fire damage restoration services in the Twin Cities metro area!