Weber Ducane Meridian 24 inch 3-burner NG Owner Manual - Page 23

MAINTENANCE Yes, you paid a lot of money for your grill, but even an expensive grill doesn't clean and maintain itself, and you want it to look good and function properly. That's why this section of your manual is so important. This section gives you the information necessary to help you keep your grill looking new and working properly. Reading and following the instructions in this section will make your grill investment pay off for many years. 90-Day Grill Maintenance Schedule It is recommended that every 90 days the following maintenance procedure is followed, but it is absolutely necessary to perform this maintenance at least once a year. By doing so you will extend the life of your gas grill. Cleaning the Hood The exterior of the hood should be maintained with a stainless steel cleaner. The inside of the hood may be cleaned with a solution of warm water and liquid detergent to remove any grease build-up. ƽ WARNING: Do not lift the barbecue using the control panel as a handle. Lifting by the control panel can damage gas handling and electrical components. Damage to gas handling and electrical components can result in serious bodily injury or death and damage to property. IMPORTANT • Keep appliance area clear and free from combustible materials, gasoline and other flammable vapors and liquids at all times. • Do not locate your grill in such a manner or otherwise obstruct the flow of combustion and ventilation air around the grill. • As part of the normal maintenance schedule, check to be sure that all ventilation openings are free and clear from debris. Cleaning the Stainless Steel Cook Grate To keep your grill operating properly, the stainless steel cook grate should be cleaned regularly. 1. The stainless steel cook grate can be easily cleaned after the post-heating period. As soon as the 10 minutes post-heating is completed, turn the gas off. Open the lid with a covered hand and with the use of a brass brush, rub the grid surface. The Ducane® stainless steel cook grate has been constructed of strong, sturdy stainless steel. You will find this cooking surface to be extremely durable while providing more heat directly to your cooking surface for faster, more economical cooking. Cleaning the Heat Distribution Plates Your stainless steel heat distribution plates should also be brushed down with the use of a brass long-handled brush. Cleaning the Burner Box Clean when cook grate and heat distribution plates are removed from burner box. Clean out any ash or deposits from burner box using warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Allow to dry before replacing all parts. A small amount of grease may accumulate on the bottom of the burner box. It can be scraped up and discarded with a flat-blade putty knife. Use a soap and water solution to clean after you have scraped. Prolonged grilling with the hood in the down position may cause a grease build up inside the hood that will begin to flake (this is not paint). If this develops, clean the inside of the hood with a warm water and soap solution. Be careful not to get the burner wet. Preserve Your Cabinet, Control Panel and Shelf/Shelves Your cabinet, control panel and shelves are made from stainless steel. To keep the stainless steel looking its best is a simple matter. Clean it with soap and water, rinse with clear water and wipe dry. It's that easy. We recommend the use of a diluted liquid dishwashing detergent and water solution. For stubborn particles, the use of a nonmetallic brush can be used. Do not use a wire brush on your cooking shelf. ƽ CAUTION: Do not use a wire brush or abrasive cleaners on the lid, cabinet and shelves of your grill as this will scratch the surface. ƽ CAUTION: When cleaning surfaces be sure to rub in the direction of the grain to preserve the look of your stainless steel. Grease Fires The recommendations in the Maintenance section, concerning cleaning our grill, and in the Normal Operation section concerning preheating and post-heating your grill are extremely important for two reasons: 1. Keep your grill cooking at its best by keeping the cooking surfaces and heat transmitting components clean. Keeping your grill clean is the best way of keeping your grill cooking properly. 2. For safety reasons. A dirty grill is susceptible to grease fires. Depending on the amount of cooking, the types of food cooked, the amount of preheating and post-heating and the amount of cleaning performed on a grill, any grill can be susceptible to a grease fire. A build up of meat fats, cooking marinades, basting sauces, salts, etc. can ignite and cause a severe grease fire. If a grease fire were to occur on a Ducane® grill, flames would probably be seen under the burner box. A severe grease fire could lead to a burned hose or regulator which would allow gas to feed the fire and, obviously, make the fire worse. Any type of fire requires that the grill components (hose, regulators, LP tanks, etc...) involved be checked for continued safe operation. If a leak is suspected, the gas supply system (hose, manifold, tank, fittings, etc...) must be leak tested, using a soapy water solution, to verify the source of the leak. If no leak is found, then the problem was most likely a grease fire. A grease fire can be severe enough to damage your grill and/or cause property damage and/or cause bodily harm. Ducane does not want this to happen and neither do you. Follow our cleaning recommendations to avoid grease fires. ƽ WARNING: Check the grease tray for grease build-up before each use. Remove excess grease to avoid a grease fire. 23