Make Your Backyard BBQs This Summer “Deliciously Safe”

Summer has arrived, and with it all the desire to ramp up our outdoor socializing. What better way to do that than with an event centered around your own backyard BBQ? With Memorial Day and the 4th of July fast approaching, it’s time for family and friends to gather, kick back, and catch up with everyone’s goings-on these past few months. And that’s all the more reason that this is the perfect time to perform your ‘Gas BBQ Due Diligence” checkup (hey, we’re Realtors, after all!) – as the last thing you want are safety concerns, or (gack!) last season’s flavors mucking up the taste of this summer’s new grilling creations.

So we’ve gathered together a few tips for you to get your BBQ on the straight and narrow to make sure that your great char-broiled dishes are always the star of the show.

1. Safety First.

You can easily check that the connections of your gas line are sealed and secure by mixing a small amount of dishwashing liquid with water in a spray bottle. (Remember how they check your tires for leaks at the mechanic’s shop? Same concept.) With the hose from the BBQ connected to the fuel supply (propane tank or gas line) – spray the hose and connections, then turn on the gas. If bubbles begin to appear, a repair is needed. Either replace the hose or tighten any loose connections.

2. Safety Second.

Really – can you be too safe? We don’t think so. If you turn on the grill and your flame is yellow instead of blue, you could have some clogged air inlets or obstructions in the tubes or lines that feed your BBQ’s flame. It’s not uncommon for spiders and small insects to build nests in these areas, which can cause blockages and make grills difficult to ignite – plus make the flame uneven and dangerous. (We doubt it does a whole lot of good for the insects, either.) Find the obstructions and clear them with a pipe cleaner or similar tool. Then, to coin a phrase – Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Test your flame. Then keep testing it until it is steady and blue.

3. Get Rid of the “Old Stuff.”

It’s not our favorite thing to do, either, but there’s no getting around it. It’s time to clean those grates! Just don’t use soap on that fabulous culinary device (nothing like a Dawn-flavored steak. blech!). Instead, start by loosening the caked-on grime by soaking them in a pan filled with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Afterwards, this is where the elbow grease comes in. (There’s a reason they’ve got all those stiff brushes at Home Depot and Lowe’s for this purpose, because that’s what’s needed for a job this tough!) For porcelain-coated grates, you’ll want to use a nylon brush; for others, a stiff wire model will do the job well.

4. Get Ready for the Next Great BBQ! (isn’t that a reality show?)

Okay – the fuel source is secure, the grills are clean – and you’re about ready to whip out that BBQ apron you just had to have, along your gold-plated BBQ tongs. (Okay – maybe that last part is just us.) But if you’re a BBQ Master, you’ve got the tools and you’re ready to go . . . after one last step: Oil those grates. Create some ‘pads’ out of a few folded paper towels, dip them into a bowl of neutral-flavored oil (like Canola) – then drag the pads across your heated grates. Your next awesome meal off the grill will thank you.

We’re not even going to get into the “my-BBQ-recipe-is-better-than-yours’ debate. (We can’t afford to pay off the judges this month.) But just a few more tips about – did we mention it before? – Safety, while operating your grill:

• Place the grill at least 10 feet away from your home.

• Keep children at a safe distance from the grill (and make sure your lighter is secure, too!).

• Never light a BBQ inside – even in a garage with the door open. Not only is it a fire hazard, but it can also cause high levels of carbon monoxide in a short period of time.

• Open the grill lid before you light it.

• Never leave a grill unattended.

• For blowing sparks, keep a hose or have a fire extinguisher handy.

• For a grease fire, know where your baking soda is – because that’s what you’ll need to put out the flames (not water!).

Give us a shout when you’ve got all of your pre-BBQ preparation done – and let us know when the next party starts – because all of us at New Home Resource are true BBQ fans, too!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with their Las Vegas real estate needs. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!