Replace Grill Parts or Buy A New Barbeque?

Most of us have at least one bbq grill appliance whether we host an occasional summer bbq or grill all year long.   No matter what appliance you purchase based on the brand or the warranty; grill parts will wear out after a certain amount of time and use. This is normal wear and tear. Depending on what kind of grill you choose and how you treat your barbeque will determine how long you have to grill before this happens, but at some you will be faced with the challenge of getting a new bbq grill for your grilling and cooking needs or replacing a part that may be worn out. 

When it comes to your grill the most common situation occurs when all of a sudden your grill stops working and you have no idea why. You made sure to refill the tank and you know how to properly operate the igniter and valve but it just won’t work -- or perhaps just won’t work properly. What do you do?  Many just assume that their barbecue grill has lasted its life and it’s time to get a new one. Of course, this is what manufacturers want you to believe.  Usually all you need is a solid replacement part to get your grill operating at its optimum performance. If you know little to none about grills and how to buy replacement parts do not fear.  Replacing grill parts is common and this article will tell you everything you need to know about buying replacement grill parts so you can save time and money and get back to cooking awesome backyard feasts.

There are a number of parts that make up your grill, but really only a few that will end up needing to be replaced. Maybe your bbq is working ok but it’s not cooking evenly.  Perhaps it’s just taking longer to grill than it used to.  Maybe it is charbroiling the outside of your steaks but leaving the inside more than a little bloody and raw. These are common occurrences with bbq grills no matter what the brand or talent of the chef. If you love grilling and barbecuing like we do, take a minute to know what the most common solutions and replacement grill parts may be needed. The following are grill parts replaced most often to return a grill back to optimum grilling power and quality:

• Heat Plate
• Cooking Grate
• Gas Burner
• Warming Rack

While these items may seem small and inconsequential they are necessary to the overall function of your grill.  Instead of replacing the entire barbeque system, more often a replacement part will get you cooking immediately without learning a new product or spending hundreds of dollars. Comparatively, the process of buying a new barbeque, carting it home and learning its tricks is far more complex than replacing a grill part.  This is why it is vital to learn your grill parts and replacement options prior to trashing your grill. 

So, you’ve done your research, looked for the telltale signs of compartmental problems, and you’ve discovered that one or a few parts should be replaced. What now? Now, you need to understand some very basic principles of gas grill replacement parts when it comes to your barbecue. 

First, it is of the utmost concern that you know exactly what part your grill requires. Most often, if a grill is by a certain brand that is a household name, it will ask in the manual for a part by the same manufacturer. The first part of finding the right solution is to know the exact number and specs of the part that fits the grill.  Describe it to yourself and measure the dimensions with a measuring tape. Second, know that some businesses do carry the replacement part but it isn’t by the same manufacturer and these grill parts will not only fit your grill but work better than the original!  These are called universal grill parts and exact fit replacement parts.

Often as competition becomes stronger BBQ manufacturers will lower their prices to sell more grills.  We would all prefer that competition led to manufacturers offering better service but the easy way to compete is to sell at a lower price.  Unfortunately the individual parts that make the product functional – any product – suffer when price cuts are the selling feature.  When a manufacturer stops making a barbeque burner in their own factory because it is cheaper overseas that burner will always rust faster than the burner that costs more to make.  Buying the manufacturer’s own replacement parts ensures the part will fit perfectly when you install it into your barbecue.  However, after-market parts have to earn your trust and are often built to a better standard of quality because they do not your manufacturers’ name on their package.  If after-market parts are available be certain the replacement grill parts are the correct size based on your own measurements – and remember: it’s not brain surgery, this is pretty simple stuff.

In conclusion, with many years of installing, repairing and grilling on all size, make and model of BBQ grill it is my belief that a repaired grill is always preferable to a new grill.  Manufacturers are saving more and more money as time goes on.  If you like your barbeque, keep it.  By replacing the grill parts that have worn out, you do not have to go find another grill and re-learn where the hot and cold spots hide or how they hide the ignition battery.  If you like the appliance you have, keep using it.  Replacement parts are always available for repairs and manufacturing quality on new products is consistently getting cheaper, not stronger.