Complete guide to maintaining and troubleshooting your barbecue

To enjoy perfect grilling season after season, your barbecue needs a little attention. Here are the right steps to take for maintenance and solutions to the most common problems.

Maintenance and Cleaning Tips

Golden rule : Always wait until the barbecue is turned off and cool before cleaning it. Cooking grease is highly corrosive, so never leave it to sit !

Cleaning after each use

• Cooking grate : Clean it thoroughly after each use. Use soapy water (black soap or Marseille soap) and a steel brush to remove residue. Rinse and dry immediately to prevent rust.
• Grease tray : empty and clean it regularly.
• Expert tip : Place a layer of sand at the bottom of the tray to absorb grease and make cleaning easier.

Specific maintenance by barbecue type

Gas barbecue 

• Burners and diffusers : Clean them regularly with a fine brush (water + soap). Unblock the small holes with a metal rod or pipe brush.
• Hood and bowl : Water + mild soap. For stubborn stains, use a non-abrasive powder or lemon juice. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Charcoal barbecue

• Firebox : Be sure to empty the cold ashes after each use.
• Deep cleaning : Once a year, wash all surfaces with clean water (with a little washing-up liquid if necessary). Rinse and dry thoroughly before winter.
• Note : It is normal for the bowl to brown with heat.

Electric barbecue
Unplug the appliance. Clean the heating elements and bowl with soapy water and a soft sponge (never abrasive). Be careful not to wet the electrical parts (motor/cable).

1. Storage and Winterisation
Not going to use your barbecue for a long time?

1. Give it a thorough clean.
2. Gas barbecue : Cover the burners with aluminium foil to prevent insects from nesting in them.
3. Store the appliance in a dry, dust-free and well-ventilated place.
4. If possible, put it back in its original packaging.

Please note : A simple cover is not always sufficient to protect against stagnant moisture or salty air (seaside).

👉VIDEO LINK: How to maintain your barbecue ? 

2. Troubleshooting: My barbecue is rusty.
Why ?
The main cause is the carbonisation of flammable fats. If the barbecue is not cleaned after each use, the burnt fats attack the enamel or paint, causing the protective layer to flake off and rust to appear.

What should I do ?

• Prevention : Clean the bowl, burners and grease tray thoroughly after each use.
• Warranty : Damage caused by corrosion due to burnt grease (lack of maintenance) is not covered by the warranty.

3. Troubleshooting : My barbecue won't light
If your gas barbecue won't start, check the following :

1. The gas cylinder : Are you using the right size? (6kg or 13kg, propane or butane depending on the model).
2. The hose : Check that you are using a compliant (and not expired) G1/2 mechanical hose.
3. The procedure : If you are using electronic ignition (Piezo), you should hear a clear "CLACK" sound. If you light it too quickly, the gas does not have time to flow or accumulates too much. Take the time to follow the instructions.

👉 VIDEO LINK: How to light your barbecue ? 
👉 VIDEO LINK: How to connect a gas cylinder ? 

4. Troubleshooting : My barbecue produces too many flames.
Sudden, impressive flames ? This is often a sign of grease build-up.

On a gas or electric barbecue

• The problem : Cooking juices drip onto the hot burners or diffusers and ignite.
• The solution :
  1. Clean the inside of the bowl and diffusers before each use.
  2. Monitor cooking and do not allow grease to accumulate.

Note : Damage caused by a grease fire (burnt paint, deformation) is not covered by the warranty.

On a charcoal barbecue

• The phenomenon : Grease drips onto the burning embers.
• The solution : If the flames rise too high, immediately close the lid and vents. The lack of oxygen will smother the flames in a few seconds.