AEI Corporation

Spring is well on its way. If you live in certain fortune-favored portions of the United States, you have probably noticed that it feels like Spring is already here. If you love summer BBQ, you know what that means. It means the time to gear up and get ready to showcase your grilling skills for friends and family is here. Naturally, you could keep using that rusty, tin charcoal grill in the shed, or you can raise your grilling game to peak levels with a stainless steel natural gas grill from AEI. As you will see, investing in a top-quality grill will not only improve your ability to turn out delicious grilled meat but it will also save you time and money over the long haul in repairs, ease of use, and fewer wasted materials.

Spring-Time Grilling With a New Stainless Steel BBQ Grill

As the weather starts warming up more and more, more people will be taking advantage of the nice weather, and barbecuing is definitely a part of it. With the warmer weather, folks will not have to turn on their outdoor patio heaters. That is just one less step and one less expense standing in the way of patio grilling. Now that Daylight Savings time has had its way with our clocks, you have an additional hour of daylight to enjoy your stainless steel bbq grill after work and to watch the sunset as you cook up a lovely dinner spread for friends or family.

If you are already running an outdoor infrared heater using natural gas, then turning the heater off and running your new natural gas-powered grill should be well within your budget. If you are like us, you have been looking forward to outdoor dining, cooking, coffee in the morning, tea at night, star gazing, sunbathing, barbecues, and other outdoor events and activities made possible by the welcome change of the season.

Of course, if you want to get ready for the grilling season the right way, it is best to do some spring cleaning first.

Spring Cleaning Your AEI Grill

If you're fortunate enough to already be the proud owner of an AEI grill, there are a few things you should do at the start of each grilling season.

The first step is to give it a once-over visual inspection. You will want to make sure any food contact surfaces are nice and clean. They should be in good condition since they are made of corrosion-resistant materials, but it is a good idea to make sure. Next, you will need to look at the entire length of the hose whether you are using a propane or natural gas-powered grill. Look at the hose and check for cracks, rot, leaks, and other damage. 

It is a good idea to run the grill outdoors with the flame off and pass the hose through a tray of water checking for bubbles as you go. Unless you have good reason to suspect damage has occurred, this is the best practice. But in most cases, it will not be necessary. 

Then take a look at the connections. Make sure the threads look clean and solid. Scan for any possible dirt, corrosion, and the like. Again, all of the grills we carry are highly corrosion-resistant, but it is a good idea to check anyway, especially if you live near saltwater. 

Giving your grill a thorough test run is also a good idea at the start of the season. Simply run it for 10 to 15 minutes with no one else around and watch and listen. Chances are, it will be fine unless it has been stored improperly. These are just checks to perform if you suspect damage has occurred.

Finally, when you set up your grill for a live run, it is especially important to make sure that a portable propane grill is on a smooth, solid, and clean surface. Portable propane grills are extremely sturdy, but you’ll want to follow placement guidelines as listed in your owner manual.

Of course, you can avoid many if not all of these potential issues by making sure your storage area is clean, secure, and well-sealed against the elements. 

As mentioned above, there is a strong chance that your natural gas-powered grill from AEI will last longer, be more reliable, and be easier to care for than other leading grills over time. So it is well worth your while to make sure your off-season storage space is clear of debris, pests, moisture, and is secure against drastic temperature changes. 

Propane or Natural Gas Powered Built-in Patio Grill

Whether you choose a natural gas or propane-powered grill, you are sure to enjoy your AEI purchase for many years. Whether built into a patio or freestanding, a natural gas-powered grill must remain in a permanent position. So a built-in patio grill comes with several advantages, such as ease of use, but portability is not among them. Building your natural gas grill into a dedicated patio enclosure is recommended. 

Propane-powered grills, by contrast, can be mounted on a wheeled stand which is incredibly portable, enabling you to adapt to various seasonal and activity-related use cases. Propane-powered grills must be replenished with a new or reloaded fuel tank. But this is where the inconveniences end with these types of units.

Whether you choose a natural gas or propane-powered grill, you will enjoy plentiful cooking power, reliability, and affordable running any time of year you choose to use it.