There are a few types of grills available, and most households have at least one kind. Grills are not immune to wear and tear. Things can break or wear out and will need to be replaced. When your grill is having problems, knowing the grill parts can be helpful in repairing what is wrong.
Cooking Grid Sections
The cooking grid or grate is the part of the grill that holds the food while it is cooking. These parts are used so often, it is not uncommon to discover rust or stuck on food when it should not stick. Rust is not good to get on your food, and sticking wastes food, especially when it causes the food to fall apart. Cooking grids fall into one of the following types:
- Chrome steel – appears silver; does not last long
- Porcelain steel – usually black; coated for non-stick
- Porcelain cast iron – usually black; heavy and good for searing
- Cast iron – generally for charcoal grills
- Stainless steel – lasts the longest with low maintenance; usually has a long/lifetime warranty
The cooking grid is one of the grill parts that needs to be replaced frequently. The protective coating on the grids wear off though cooking and cleaning, even the plated ones. When the coating is gone, the metal is exposed and will develop rust.
Choosing the right grid is not difficult. You can find the grid you need, using the manufacturer and model of your grill. Measure the old grid from the front to the back to get the depth and side to side to get the width. Since many grids look similar, the measurements ensure you get the right one.
Briquette/Rock Grates
Rock grates are grill parts that sit over the burner. They hold lava rocks or briquettes. The purpose of the rocks is to protect the burner from fat and juices that come from food while cooking. They are designed to absorb the drippings. They also help heat more evenly, eliminating hot spots that burn food.
Rock grates are usually made from carbon steel or aluminum. Because they do not come in contact with your food, you don’t have to worry about rust getting on your food when you cook. They do, however, rust quickly. You will need to replace them when they can no longer hold the rocks anymore.
Grill Burners
For a gas grill, one of the most important grill parts is the burner. It provides the heat that cooks your food. Burners can be porcelain cast iron, aluminum coated steel, or stainless steel. They typically experience problems with the inlet valves or the outlet ports. The flow of an inlet valve is controlled by knobs on the front section of the grill, generally within the vicinity of the ignition button.
Burners can be configured several ways. Dual burners have two valves and two knobs. Single burners have one inlet valve and one knob. H-style burners look like an H. There are also bow tie and oval configurations.
Venturi tubes are another category of grill parts that would need to be replaced. These tubes carry gas to the burner. A gas valve is at the other end of the tube. The valve is connected to the knob that controls the burner.
Replacing the burner, venturi tubes, and gas valves are crucial. Do not wait until rust has completely eaten through . These parts are often damaged first because they are subjected to high temperatures and food drippings. If they are not replaced, gas leaks through the corroded holes creating unsafe conditions.
Heat Shields
Heat shields are grill parts that are alternative choices for rocks and rock grates. A heat shield serves the same purpose. It sits on the burner to protect it from drippings. Unlike lava rock, heat shields are not porous so they cannot hold bacteria. Heat shields are also easier to replace when they corrode. They just sit in place under the cooking grid.
Miscellaneous Parts
In addition to the most important parts of the grill, you will find other things that will need to be replaced as needed. Some grill models have two wheels on one end. They are plastic so eventually they will break and need replacing. Knobs and handles may also need to be replaced if they break.
In addition to the handles and knobs, there are grill models that will require other parts. You may need to replace heat gauges, warming racks, and even side burner sections. All of these parts can be found that duplicate the condition of the original part or are better. For example, the original warming rack may have been chrome coated steel, but you could find a replacement that is porcelain or teflon coated to give you a non-stick warming surface.
Each situation is different for each person and grill. If you are thinking about replacing some grill parts, compare the costs. Research the cost of the parts you need and compare that to the cost of a new grill. While many parts are inexpensive to replace, it depends largely on the brand and model grill you have. If you have decided to replace the parts, it is wise to purchase multiple amounts of the same part while you can. If parts are available, even if your grill model is discontinued.
It is not uncommon to find that your grill manufacturer does not offer replacement parts for your grill model. Your model has likely been discontinued and replaced with a newer model. It is still possible to locate the grill parts that you need. There are many aftermarket suppliers that will offer the parts that you would need for your grill model. Although the parts would not carry your grill manufacturer’s name, they have been tested and listed as compatible for the grill models they fit. Some parts are labeled as universal, while others are model-specific. In either case, you need to compare the aftermarket parts with the original faulty parts from your grill to make sure.
