Maintaining exterior grill while living on the Coast.

Natalie Heflin July 5, 2021

If your grill is located in a coastal, humid area, or if chlorine is present in your environment additional maintenance will be needed to prevent rust and keep up the appearance of the exterior stainless-steel parts.

Why Grills Rust Faster on the Coast

The question always comes up "Why does my Gas Grill rust out?"

Moisture is the biggest culprit that will rust your grill and reduce its lifespan. Watch out for humidity as well! It is recommended to use a grill cover to protect your grill from outside toxins. However, moisture and humidity can get trapped under the cover if you keep it on for too long. It is essential to expose your grill to natural air couple times a month. You can use our Monument Grill Cover (find it here).

Stainless steel is an alloy made up of iron and at least 10.5% chromium as well as lesser amounts of other elements such as carbon, silicon, or manganese. It is the chromium that resists corrosion, making the steel “stainless.” There are over 150 recognized grades of stainless steel, and each has different properties and rust resistance. Some are better at resisting rust than others, but all can rust.

Our guide to understanding stainless steel for gas grills compares the grades most often used on grills.

Not all barbecue grill exteriors are the same. Most popular gas grill models have a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel exterior however they are still prone to rust and scratch easily. Stainless steel is durable, but it’s not indestructible – without regular cleaning, it may rust.

Water: Moisture is the main culprit for causing rust on grills. It would be best if you protected outdoor grills from wet weather and snow. And always dry your grill thoroughly after cleaning with water; a thin layer of stainless steel cleaner or food-grade oil, wiped along the grain, helps protect stainless steel surfaces.
Saltwater: Salt and humidity in the air, especially in places in the ocean, corrodes metal, including stainless steel grills.
Food residue: When food particles stay on the grill for so long, they rot and become acidic, causing rust to form on your grill surfaces.
Chemicals: Using concentrated bleach and cleaners containing chlorine to clean your stainless-steel grill will form rust on the surfaces.

How to Keep the Outside of Your Grill From Rusting

At least once a week, we will recommend you to wipe off the grill by using a wet towel or a piece of rag. Make sure you dry it thoroughly. This will help you remove all the chemicals or harmful salt from the grill’s exterior side.

After cooking: Don't leave food residue sitting on the grates or in the firebox. Our step-by-step guide to cleaning your Monument grill covers the drip pan, grates, heat shields and bottom tray.
Once a year: Give the whole grill a deeper clean, including the burners and burner tubes, as described in our annual deep clean guide.
Before winter: If you put the grill away for the off-season, clean it first and never store the propane tank indoors. Our winter grill maintenance tips cover the rest of the prep.

What to Do If Your Grill Has Already Started to Rust

At the first sign of staining, discoloration, or surface rust we recommend cleaning with a stainless-steel cleaner that contains oxalic acid and citric acid. One cleaner we like is Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray + Foam. Test it on a small, hidden spot first and follow the label directions when you use it on your grill’s exterior. Remember to wipe lightly in the direction of the steel grain with a damp sponge or nylon scrub pad. Rinse thoroughly within a minute of application, and wipe dry. Once you have cleaned off all rust you will need to protect your grill and, in this case, we suggest using Bar Keeper's Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish.

This works on staining and surface rust. A part that has rusted through can't be cleaned back to sound metal and should be replaced.

Can a Grill Get Wet?

Yes. An outdoor grill is meant to live outside, and getting caught in a rain shower won't ruin it. The trouble is water that stays: moisture sitting in the firebox, under a cover or around the base is what starts rust, and on the coast that moisture carries salt. After a heavy rain:

Once the weather clears, open the lid so the inside can air out, and wipe the exterior dry.
Check the drip pan and bottom tray for rainwater and empty them.
Don't put the cover back on until the grill is dry.
If water pools where the grill stands, move it or raise it so the base isn't sitting in water.

When you wash the grill yourself, keep water and cleaner away from the igniter, gas valves and control panel.

Using a Grill Cover Without Trapping Moisture

Cover your grill once it is clean, completely cool and dry, especially before rain or snow. Also make sure to uncover and check your grill once every 2-3 weeks in dry weather to prevent moisture build up

The water-and-rip-resistant grill cover will protect your grill

from inclement elements all year round.

Monument Grills Cover

Quick summary

Living on the coast and owning a grill can be a challenge. Acid rain, pool chemicals, and salt water can cause surface rusting to appear. You can have a cover on your grill but sometimes the moisture from the rain can creep up into the grill surface. Take a few minutes to read this blog and get familiar with how to maintain your grill exterior if you are leaving near the coast.

Key topics

Gas grillingOutdoor cookingMonument Grills

Keep reading