How Long Should Gas Grills Last?

Grilling is perfect as an outdoor cooking activity  with friends and family for all seasons (probably except winter). Grilling your favorite ingredients and basking in the aroma, chilling outside, and sharing stories with your loved ones create great memories to cherish for a long time.

High-quality grills are designed to last for a long time, with some of the best models on the market lasting up to 15 years in many cases. It would be fun to have a grill that will be with you for every family occasion. Despite the average lifespan of 5 to 15 years, you probably would like to know how long your gas grill would last, especially if you enjoy grilling for any gathering and any occasion (even when there’s no occasion).

Unlike most indoor appliances and cooking materials, gas grills are not easy to maintain. They get dirtier and get wrecked in less time than indoor ones. No matter how sturdy or heavy-duty the material is made of, exposure to the climate can easily compromise the quality of grills.

The strength of materials affects how long a gas grill will last.

The lifespan of a grill depends on different factors, but the most obvious and most important one is the material it is made of. To understand how long your grill would last, consider the materials it’s made from. Each material has different kinds of maintenance, and each has a variable lifespan. Take a look at some of the common grill materials and how they affect the lifespan of the grill:

Coated steel and aluminum

A powder-coated grill

These materials are used on budget-range and mid-range grills. Not all people can afford the stainless-steel quality grills, and for some, coated steel and aluminum is the best option. The coating is applied as simple corrosion and heat-resistant paint or a powder coating. The coating prevents rust and corrosion, but it doesn’t last forever. Over time, repeated use and exposure under the sun and weather will wear it down. Once rust appears, it’s tough to control.

If your grill is made of coated steel or aluminum, make sure to maintain it from the start. Clean the edges, bolts, seams because they are the starting points of rust. If used regularly, the grills can last up to five years. Beyond this, you’ll probably need a replacement, especially if the rust patches are already large.

Enameled steel

Enameled steel is the upgraded version of standard coated steel. The enameling process builds a hard, heat-resistant surface that protects the grill from corrosion. Porcelain-enameled steel can last for several years, with most high-quality grills lasting from five to seven years and even longer in some cases.

However, the grill can get scratched and chipped, which will expose the metal to air. Over time, that scratch will be exposed to the environment, and it will corrode. If you carefully handle the grill with care, you can prevent it from scratching.

Cast iron

A gas grill with cast iron grates

Cast iron is a sturdy and heavy-duty material that’s often used on smaller tabletop grills. The only thing that compromises the quality of a cast iron grill is that it’s not rust-resistant. However, you can prevent the material from getting corroded by keeping the grill clean and seasoning it with oil between cooking sessions. The oil will prevent corrosion by filling in the porous surface.

Quality cast iron can last for a lifetime, but rust can start to build up and compromise the structure, so most cast iron grills last for around five years. If you maintain your cast iron grill well with regular cleaning, it can last forever, but usually, it lasts for only up to five years.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is a premium material that you’ll find on the longest-lasting grills. Stainless steel is specially designed to resist corrosion. When the steel is thick and well-assembled, it can last for more than ten years on average.

Stainless steel doesn’t only keep the grill free from scratches and dents, but it also makes it resist corrosion. Plus, it comes with a shiny and lustrous texture that enhances its look for a long time.

Other factors that affect the lifespan of grills

The quality of materials isn’t everything that affects the lifespan of a grill, but here are some factors that can play a major role in increasing its longevity.

Cooking surfaces

Besides the body and hood of the grill, you also need to consider the materials in which burners and cooking surfaces are made of.

The best burners are made from solid stainless steel to resist grease, high temperatures, and moisture. These types of burners are usually covered by warranties of up to five years. Meanwhile, lower-quality stainless steel burners on less expensive grills usually last around three years.

Cooking surfaces are usually made from cast iron or solid stainless steel. Heavy stainless steel surfaces can last a lifetime when regularly maintained and cleaned. Enameled cast iron surfaces can last around five to 10 years, depending on maintenance.

Some of the most affordable grills come with low-quality steel wire cooking surfaces that last for only two to three years before they start to rust.

Cleaning and maintenance

Chances of deterioration and corrosion are limited to an extent by regular cleaning of the grill. It can also keep your family safe from the harmful side effects of food touching a corroded grill. When not in use, always cover and store it in a proper place. With proper care, grills can last even more than the average lifespan. As a grill owner and user, you must know how to clean a gas grill.  

Make sure you clean the grates thoroughly, at least after every season. Set the temperature high to turn oil stains into ashes, then use a wire brush and soapy water to remove them from the grates of your grills.

To maintain your grill, keep wiping it regularly with a sponge and a little oil. You can also use mild dishwashing soap diluted in water to make a cleaning solution.

Burner tubes

Ingredients give taste to food, but the flame brings a distinct smoky deliciousness to it. So if the burner tubes are not providing the desired flame, the gas grill has no use. Always clean and maintain the burner tubes so they would function properly. Inspect them from time to time because food leftovers and grease may block the tubes. Sometimes, you may also need to replace it. For ease of cleaning, you can remove the tubes from the grill, clean them, and attach them back to the grill.

Grease stains

Among all the mentioned factors, you might have noticed that grease is a common denominator. When left on the grill, grease stains can decrease the lifespan of the grill and compromise the quality of your cooking. The food will either not cook properly, or the burning essence of the grease will be added to your food, altering its taste. Plus, the grease can also affect other parts of the grill and hinder smooth performance. The lifespan of your grill will be affected by how often you remove the grease stains from it.

Brand

Often, the brand is also an essential factor. Well-known brands renowned for their quality include Weber , Char-Broil , Broil King, Dyna-Glo, Napoleon, and Pit Boss. These manufacturers put time and resources into research and development to produce long-lasting and reliable grills. If your buying decision comes down to the manufacturer, choose the most well-known brand within a price range you can afford.

Bottom Line

There is not one answer to the question of how long your grill would last. It depends on the material and other factors, and most often, it is affected by how the owner takes care of the grill. If you keep your grill clean in between uses, store it properly and use it with care, it will be of service to you for a long time.