Nothing is worse than seeing rust start showing up on your Pit Boss grill, especially after spending a lot of money. So if you’ve ever wondered, “do Pit Boss grills rust?” you’re in the right place. We’re going to take a look at what causes a grill to rust and what you can do to prevent it.
Do Pit Boss Grills Rust?
With improper care, such as storage, cleaning, and maintenance, a Pit Boss can become rusty over time. The parts that are prone to rust are the fire pot and the barrel. That said, there are several things you can do to protect your investment and prevent it from rusting.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what can cause a Pit Boss grill to rust. We’ll also look at some precautions you can take to stop it from happening.
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But first, What Is Rusting?
Rust is a reddish-brown flaky coat that occurs when oxidation and corrosion occur on steel, iron, etc. It occurs when there is a reaction with iron, oxygen, and water, aka oxidizing.
What Causes A Pit Boss Grill to Rust?
Pit Boss grills are made by Dansons and are made of high-quality stainless steel material. These grills are coated with high-quality paint that makes them immune to rust to some extent.
However, with improper care, they will become rusty over time.
Rusting occurs when your Pit Boss is exposed to water and oxygen for long periods. Exposure could be due to improper storage, cleaning, and maintenance.
As mentioned above, the storage environment will play a significant role in how fast the grill rusts. For example, if your Pit Boss grill sits out in the humidity, rain, and other environments, it will deteriorate more quickly.
A rusty grill will not only lose its aesthetic value but may affect the functionality as well.
The best way to prevent your Pit Boss from rusting is to store the grill properly.
How Do I Stop My Pit Boss from Rusting?
Below are the best practices to keep your Pit Boss from rusting and keep it looking new as long as possible.
Season The Grill
Before using the grill for the first time, you’ll want to season the grill. This 30-minute process cures the paint, which helps it look new for years to come.
The Pit Boss grills are coated with high-quality paint that helps them look amazing.
Seasoning the grill also helps remove any unwanted odors during the production stage.
Clean The Grill After Each Use
The Pit Boss shut down cycle will help keep the grill clean after every cook. In addition, it helps remove any food residue left behind, which can cause grease fires.
A grill brush will help keep the grates clean in between deep cleanings. Use a cloth or towel to wipe up any food stains, grease, or dirt outside the grill.
Wash the outside of the grill with soap and water. However, dry it thoroughly before using it again. Ensure the inside of the grill does not get wet, as they will rust quickly.
Dry All The Parts Thoroughly
After cleaning the grill, it’s essential to dry it out completely. This is because the grill inside contains electrical components such as; RTD temperature probe, fire pot, auger, etc., prone to rust.
If any of the electrical parts come into contact with water, they will rust quickly.
Always check the small crevices to ensure there is no water left behind. I always use paper towels to wipe up all the parts on the inside to ensure there is no moisture.
Do Not Use Water On The Flame Broiler
Not all parts of the grill are waterproof. For instance, the manual clearly states “not to use water on the flame broiler.” One of the mistakes I made when I got my smoker, is washing the flame broiler with water.
Read this article to find out what the Pit Boss flame broiler is and how to use it.
It resulted in me rusting out the flame broiler. The best way to clean the flame broiler is to scrape the main plate with a piece of tile or scraper such as this.
If you don’t like scraping it, cover it with some aluminum foil to help keep it clean. Some people on the smoking forums say that spraying them with cooking oil can prevent them from rusting.
Deep Clean The Grill 1-3 Times Per Season
It’s essential to do a deep cleaning of your Pit Boss grill every season. The Pit Boss manual recommends deep cleaning the grill at the beginning and end of the grilling season.
I’ve written a step-by-step guide on how to deep clean a Pit Boss smoker to help you out.
Invest In A Grill Cover
Most people keep their grills on the patio or in the backyard without a cover.
If you store your Pit Boss grill outside in the wet weather, there’s a high possibility the rain will enter the pellet hopper and ruin the pellets.
If the pellets become wet, they will clog the auger causing you more headaches. When the auger becomes clogged, you won’t be able to use the grill.
A good grill cover will protect your grill from the rain, sun, snow, freezing rain, pollen, or other outside elements.
One of the best ways to protect your expensive smoker is to get into the habit of covering it with a grill after each use.
A grill cover is inexpensive and can prevent your Pit Boss from rusting. It can also help keep the pellets dry.
Use Touch Up Paint
Chips and dings are inevitable, especially if you move your grill a lot. Just like you touch up a car, you can do the same with your grill.
Whenever the paint starts flaking off, the iron of the grill is exposed, making it more vulnerable to rusting.
You can purchase touch-up paint on the Pit Boss website, or you can use Rust-Oleum High Heat Primer, which can be found on Amazon.
- High heat primer spray paint is designed for use on metal surfaces such as automotive engines, mufflers and more
- Oil based paint with Stops Rust formula provides rust resistant base coat for cars, trucks and other vehicles
- Covers up to 12 sq ft, dries to the touch in 30 minutes and can be topcoated in 1 hour
- Spray paint offers outstanding heat resistance for metal surfaces up to 2000°F
- Flat finish can be covered with any topcoat with superior adhesion
Either way, you want to use something to cover up the iron and prevent rust. If ignored, the bare spots on the grill will rust over time, and then you’ll have to put in a lot more work to get the rust off the Pit Boss.
Keep It In A Garage or Building
If possible, keep the Pit Boss in a garage or enclosed building. The Pit Boss grills have wheels that make them easy to move from the garage to the driveway when you’re ready to use it.
Use the handle on the outside to roll it from the driveway to the garage. If you don’t have a garage, store it under a shelter with a roof such as a shed, carport, etc.
Avoid leaving the grill outside in the humidity, as it will create rust more quickly.
Which Parts of The Pit Boss is Prone to Rusting?
The grill is constructed of high-quality iron, which makes it susceptible to rust. The internal parts are more susceptible as they are not meant to get wet and have no protection against moisture.
That said, the parts that are most likely to rust the fastest are the following.
- Flame broiler
- Bottom of the main grill
At least that’s where I’ve noticed the most rust on my grill, even when it’s stored inside a building.
Related Questions
It has likely been exposed to water while cleaning it. The fire pot is an internal electrical component that is sensitive to moisture. Avoid using soap or water to clean any of the internal components.
Use a vacuum to clean up the ashes in the firepot.
Final Word
If you own a Pit Boss grill, you want to enjoy grilling for years to come. With proper care and maintenance, your grill will look pristine for a long time.
All Pit Boss grills are constructed with stainless steel, making them prone to rust if exposed to water and humid conditions. Unfortunately, the Pit Boss warranty does not cover rust.
However, you know how to stop your Pit Boss from rusting. Just follow these simple steps, and you shouldn’t have an issue with rust.
As soon as you see any paint chips, use high-temperature paint to keep it touched up.
These grills were made to last as long as you take proper care of them!