Grilling Safety

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Warm weather is finally here and what better way to spend some time outside with friends and family than with a cookout! Grilling food is always a great time but it’s important to make sure that you take the proper safety precautions to avoid any accidents!

1)  Your grill should be placed away from your house. If placed too close to your home the heat from the grill can damage your siding or worse if the flames get out of control, light your house on fire. For these same reasons you should not place your grill on your patio or deck, as well as underneath a roof or overhang.

2)  Cleaning your grill regularly is an important part of grill safety. Leftover grease and food scraps on a grill can build up and become a fire hazard. If you use a wire brush to clean your grill, be sure to check that the brush isn’t damaged as you don’t want to leave any metal bristles behind to get in your food.

3)  Never use a grill indoors or in an enclosed area. Grills produce carbon monoxide when lit and if used in an area without proper ventilation you can get carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also a fire hazard.

4)  Inspecting your grill should be done along with cleaning before each use. If your grill uses propane be sure that the tank is not damaged and all the lines are properly secured with no leaks.

5)  When it’s time to put the grill away make sure that you give it time to cool off first. Grill covers are made of plastic and can melt or catch on fire if the grill is still too hot. In addition, if you use a charcoal grill be sure to dispose of the ashes in a metal container and store them away from your home. Ashes from a grill can still catch on fire.

Everyone loves to spend time outside and grilling food for your friends and family is a great way to do that. As long as you follow the proper safety procedures you can help to ensure that no emergencies will happen. If you do however have a fire emergency due to your grill this summer SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico is here to help! Our team of highly trained technicians are available 24/7, 365 days a year to help make your fire damage “Like it never even happened.”