Winterize your outdoor kitchen to prevent damage from freezing and to keep it lasting a long time.
The onset of winter means that your time outside on the patio is at an end. Now that it is too cold for cookouts, you need to winterize your outdoor kitchen so that it is kept in a good state for next year. Outdoor kitchens don’t need a lot of maintenance, but it is still very important to do what needs to be done. If you neglect winterizing your outdoor kitchen, it could result in broken water lines and damage to your appliances that will end up costing more money down the road. Here’s how to properly winterize your outdoor kitchen.
Water Line Maintenance
Shut off and drain all of your outdoor water lines to protect them from the damage of freezing water. Use the indoor shutoff so you don’t have any water running to the outside in the lines. And as you drain them, make sure to remember to drain the water lines to any refrigerators, sinks, or ice makers you may have. This is critical as any damage to these water lines could also damage the appliances themselves.
Cleaning Out Your Appliances
Remove all of the food from your outdoor refrigerator and clean it with mild soap and water. Vacuum any debris from underneath the front grill. Don’t put a cover over the fridge for the winter – moisture can accumulate underneath the cover and damage it. Thoroughly clean any ice makers and sinks in your outdoor kitchen as well.
Grill Maintenance
Next, you’ll want to give your grill a complete cleaning. Start with a degreaser and then use stainless steel polish. Clean areas that are hard to reach with a metal brush. Wipe vegetable oil on both sides of the grates to season the cooking surfaces, then finish the seasoning process by heating your grill to 500 degrees and putting the grates back on the grill for 20 minutes with the lid closed. Turn off the gas line if you do not plan on using the grill at all for the winter.
Winterize your Cabinetry
If you have stainless steel cabinets, apply a fresh layer of polish. If they are wooden, they will have to be oiled or sealed to protect them from the winter’s swings in moisture and temperature.
HONEYSUCKLE NURSERY AND DESIGN IS A CUT ABOVE THE REST!
At Honeysuckle Nursery and Design, you will get construction and maintenance crews on site who have a minimum of 10 years of experience in all types of landscaping. Our designers will work closely with you to understand how you want to use your space so that we can make the most of your entire site. We are committed to providing complete customer satisfaction and will work with you along every step of the way to be sure that you are happy with your landscape design.
Ready to start planning your fire pit project? Give us a call at 410-849-5119 or send us an email to schedule your free no-obligation estimate today! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Houzz, and Youtube!