You’re thinking about getting a new pellet grill, but you’re wondering “can pellet grills be stored outside?” The last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on a new pellet grill and have it ruined from the rain.
Can Pellet Grills Be Stored Outside?
Yes, a grill cover, a cover, and regular cleaning can help protect it from the different types of humidity regardless of the type of climate you live in.
We realize not everyone has access to a garage, closed patio or a storage building to store their pellet grill. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t invest in a pellet grill.
We’re going to share some tips to protect your grill from Mother nature and the best way to keep it looking amazing year-round!
No matter what type of climate you live in, you’ll find some tips to keep your grill protected.
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But first, let’s take a look at whether or not they are waterproof.
Are Pellet Grills Waterproof?
The parts of the grill that you want to avoid getting wet is the hopper, wood pellets, and any of the electrical parts . This is the part of the grill where you add the pellets.
A pellet grill has a lot of moving parts such as the auger, fan motor, and other electrical parts. They are located inside the hopper. You can’t see them unless you tilt the grill over and take it apart.
The hopper and the wood pellets are the parts of the grill that are NOT waterproof. Read this post to test your pellets to see if the weather has ruined them.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use it in the rain if you enjoy grilling year-round. I’ve already written a post on how to grill in the rain.
Today, we’re going to look at the best way to protect your grill when storing it outside, and the best ways to protect it depending on the type of climate your live in.
But first, let’s talk about covering your grill, since that’s how most people store their grill outside.
Should I Cover My Pellet Grill?
It depends, grill covers are great for protecting the hopper from the rain, but it’s not the best for protection against the humidity.
Why you ask?
When you cover the grill in the humidity, then it can trap the moisture inside of the cover against the grill, which will not only ruin your grill, but can lead to corrosion.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use a grill cover, it just means that you need to use the right type. You want to invest in a grill cover that is built for airflow and has vents to prevent the humidity from being trapped under the cover.
Humidity
If you live in an area where it’s humid, like Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and etc then you know how terrible humidity is. These are the most humid areas in the U.S.
What is humidity, and why is it bad for your grill?
Humid weather means that it’s hot, but along with the heat, you experience a wet damp feeling.
When it’s humid, there is water in the air all around you. While you won’t get wet, the water is in the form of a gas called vapor.
Think of a really foggy day when you can barely see in front of you.
While you can’t see the humidity, the dampness can ruin both your grill and your wood pellets.
Best Grill Cover For Humid Climates
The [B000HCNEWM” title=”this grill cover” /] is perfect for people who store their grills outdoors in humid areas. They are durable covers with air vents that will protect your investment from the elements.
If you live in a humid climate, look for a grill cover that has vents that allow your grill to breathe. Even if your grill cover has air vents, it’s a good idea to give your grill some air sometimes.
Use a stainless steel polish and microfiber cloth to wipe it down periodically to help protect the shiny gloss coating.
Coastal Climates
If you’re one of the lucky ones that live by the ocean, then you know how hard the salty air and erratic weather can be on grills, vehicles, or anything you own.
The oceans are different depending on where you live in the United States. For instance, the Pacific Northwest is known to have tropical storms, but they rarely have hurricanes.
Those who reside near the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea have to worry about hurricane season from the 1 June to 30 November.
Regardless of where you live, weather can be unpredictable, especially, during the hurricane season. You’ll definitely want to cover your grill when you’re expecting rain, snow, and other types of inclement weather.
The downside is that you’ll need to replace your grill cover more often than people who live in other climates. The salty air will eventually eat away at the cover.
It’s important to wipe your grill down on a regular basis to remove any salty residue that can damage it.
Try to keep your grill stored on a high platform off the ground, just in case it floods.
Dry Climates
If you live in a dry climate – think Texas, Nevada and these other 10 states, then you’re safe to leave your grill uncovered. That being said, a cover can protect your grill from dust and other debris that can damage it.
While you don’t see a lot of precipitation, you should opt for a durable cover that can harsh winds, especially, if you in an area that borders a desert.
During really bad wind storms, you’ll likely have powerful gusts of wind with sand that can damage your grill.
Polar Climates
Think – Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire and etc. Some of these states have very harsh winters with a lot of snow.
A grill blanket or cover can protect it from the harsh elements. You’ll want to avoid storing pellets in it, especially, if you don’t plan on using it during the winter.
Opt for a durable waterproof cover that can help keep it dry. If possible store the grill in an area where it can be shielded from the high winds, especially, during a blizzard.
4 Tips To Keep Your Grill Looking Great
Mother nature can be hard on grills, especially, when they are stored outside year-round. While your grill will never look like it did when it the day you got it.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps to protect that glossy finish.
These tips will help you protect your grill from mother nature.
Use A Cover
The best way to protect your grill from the harsh weather elements is to invest in the right type of cover, depending on the type of climate your live in.
A cover can extend the life of your grill and keep it from rusting. Keep it covered anytime you’re not using it.
Let Your Grill Breathe
Remove the grill cover every once in a while and let your grill breathe. This is especially, important if you live in an area where there is high humidity.
Remember when car bras were popular back in the day? I had one for my Toyota Celica. When you took it off to wash it, you could see the markings of the bra, on the paint job.
While I don’t think keeping a cover on a grill will eat the paint, it’s nice to let it breathe once in a while.
Clean The Exterior
When people clean their grill, they usually only clean the inside. However, if you want that shiny glossy look to stay around for a while, you’ll want to use a stainless steel cleaner and polish to keep the exterior looking great.
Touch Up Chips or Scratches
Nothing is worse when you start to see your pellet grill chipping or cracks in the paint. However, it’s going to happen no matter where you store your grill.
Unfortunately, it’s likely to happen sooner when your grill is stored outside. If you see cracks or chips, you’ll want to contact the company where you purchased the grill.
They usually sell some type of aerosol spray touch up paint that can be used to keep your grill looking great. It doesn’t cost a lot and it can protect your grill from rusting.
If your pellet grill is still under warranty, you may even be able to get the company to send you some touch up paint for free? There’s no guarantee, but it doesn’t hurt to ask, especially, if you ask them on reach out to them on social media.
Bottom Line
Just because you don’t have a garage, storage building, or a patio to store your grill, doesn’t mean you can’t get one. We realize every state has different climates, and with global warming, you don’t know what the weather’s going to be like from one day to the next.
Hopefully, these tips will help you keep your grill looking great for several years, be sure to check out some of the best grill covers on the market.
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