Grill Safety Tips
From AAA Insurance
Summer means warmer weather, more daylight, and outdoor cooking. Before firing up your grill, consider some important tips from AAA Insurance for safe summer barbecues.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, June and July are the peak months for summer grill fires, with nearly 9,000 fires caused by grills, hibachis, and other barbecues each year.
Grilling season is a great time to enjoy friends, family, food, and the outdoors, but accidents can happen. Before you barbecue, take a few minutes to review grilling safety tips and to ensure your equipment is working properly.
Safe Barbecuing Tips
- Before grilling, read and follow the owner's manual.
- Place your grill at least 10 feet away from walls and deck railings to prevent fires from igniting buildings. Keep your grill away from decorations, such as hanging plants and umbrellas.
- Never grill indoors or in confined areas; charcoal grills produce carbon monoxide fumes that are fatal in unventilated spaces.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, and know how to use it.
- Never leave a grill burning unattended.
- Grease can cause flare-up fires. Keep your grill clean by removing grease and fat build-up from the grill and its trays.
- If the flame on your grill goes out, turn the grill and gas off. Wait at least 15 minutes before relighting and always make sure your grill lid is open before igniting.
Grill Maintenance and Storage
- When setting up at the start of grilling season, check grill hoses for cracks, holes, and blockages. Blockages caused by food drippings or insects can be cleared with a wire or pipe cleaner.
- Run a soap solution - one part liquid soap, one part water - along hoses and at connections. If the solution bubbles, there is a gas leak that needs to be repaired.
- Store propane tanks outside and away from your home. Always check to ensure that valves are turned off.
What Your Insurance Covers
Following the tips above may help prevent a grill fire from spreading to your home, but if a fire does occur, a standard homeowners policy typically covers the following:
- Damage to the primary residence
- Damage to personal possessions, such as tables or lawn chairs
- Damage to insured structures on your property, such as sheds or gazebos
- Injuries to a guest, under the liability portion of the policy
To find out more about homeowners, condo, or renters insurance, call 1-800-222-1469, visit AAA.com/Insurance, or find your local AAA Insurance Agent.