Grill, wind, and placement safety

5 years ago

We need to replace our 10-12 year old Weber Genesis Silver grill due to wind damage. We live on a high elevation point on the plains of Kansas, and I couldn't begin to count the number of times it's been knocked over by wind. A door is off, the handles are off, the side tray is broken, etc., etc. A person of great determination and know-how could maybe make it usable again, but it's beyond us, and we're not within 60 miles of a decent service center.

Originally I was going to place it closer to the house where it would, of course, have been closer to the kitchen, and where it would also have gotten some wind protection. But since safety recommendations were to place 10' away from the house (which is wood siding, btw), it was exposed to wind on all sides.

We have many beautiful days when we're able to enjoy the grill, but also many days of fierce wind. Before buying a new grill...

1. What recommendations would anyone have on preventing the replacement grill from suffering the same type of damage?

2. I googled, and the 10' rule is still advised, but it seems like many people don't adhere to it. I see grills up against houses all the time. Should I be taking it seriously? The grill is sometimes unattended, especially for longer jobs.

Another grill v. wind issue: Although I generally liked our grill, it was very unreliable in winds between about 8 and 15 mph when we might still like to grill. It just wouldn't heat up to temperature as it should, or the flame would just go out. I would try to turn it to offset how it was catching the wind, but that didn't always work. Anyone with experience on this issue? Are there brands or models that are more reliable in this regard?

Thanks.

Featured Answer

moosemac

4 years ago

Good question. Are the bricks lon stone dust or gravel, or cemented over a slab? Either way you would have to pull some brick and cement in a couple eye bolts. You would end up with cement pads that would have to be fairly good size and deep. You could put the brick on top of the pad to cover it. It's a project to get it strong enough to hold up to high winds. We failed a few times with our quick fixes before we discovered what worked for us.

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Comments (11)

Sherry8aNorthAL
5 years ago
I would keep the grill the 10 ft from the house. You really don't want a house fire. I actually prefer charcoal when it is very windy. I have these grills.

The older version of this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-22-in-Performer-Premium-Charcoal-Grill-in-Black-with-Built-In-Thermometer-and-Digital-Timer-15401001/205504258

and this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Huntington-Cast-4200-2-Burner-Propane-Gas-Grill-665154/206087913

Could you put a windbreak around your grilling area? Something like this?

https://www.costco.com/12'-Pavilion-Privacy-Wall.product.100467343.html

or this?

https://www.biglots.com/product/oakmont-domed-gazebo-10-x-12-/p810405350?N=2257758086&pos=1:1
ksmetamaid thanked Sherry8aNorthAL
ksmetamaid
Original Author
5 years ago
Tigereye, thanks for the ideas. The problem with that first windbreak idea is that the wind doesn't always come from the same direction. On the second one, I think the wind would be too much for the drapes, and *possibly* for the gazebo itself. Charcoal? Maybe. It's been a while. Not sure if I'm that committed! :)
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Sherry8aNorthAL
5 years ago
After I posted, I wondered about the fabric one. Even here, we have to put in ground ties, not just the stakes that come with it. I don't mind fooling with charcoal. I use this starter with two sheets of newspaper,

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Rapidfire-Chimney-Charcoal-Starter-7416/100657893

and this charcoal.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Royal-Oak-Classic-Lump-30-Lbs/896217027
ksmetamaid thanked Sherry8aNorthAL
Steve J
5 years ago
@OP, the 10ft rule is there for a reason. Do you have to abide by it? No, but you can't fix stupid either. In the event your house does catch on fire, ask yourself if it would it be worth it? My neighbor across the street almost lost his house a few years back because he was cooking chicken unattended at his grill. The grease tray caught on fire and, along with his siding because, like a dummy, he had his grill up against the house because his deck was too small. Luckily, some of our other neighbors noticed the smoke and came running to alert him. The smoke was going up into his eaves to the attic, and he was likely minutes away from it getting out of control. I still remember the look on his kid's face when he thought they were going to lose the house. Don't be that person.

Are you sticking with gas only? I might recommend a komado style cooker (Big Green Egg, Komado Joe, Primo, etc) which is quite heavy and takes a lot more force to blow over. You can build it into a nice sturdy table for even more heft and you should be good to go. You'll also make better tasting food with it. But it's charcoal and not as fast to get to temp as a gas.

if you need to stay with gas, then I'd simply mount the grill to the deck or wherever you're keeping it. Alternatively, you can build a concrete (or something else that is NOT flammable) surround to partially wrap it which will both block the wind for your burners, and protect it from blowing over. Something like this
ksmetamaid thanked Steve J
Sherry8aNorthAL
5 years ago
I won't put my charcoal grill on a wood deck for that reason. Even though they sell the fire trays to go under them.
ksmetamaid thanked Sherry8aNorthAL
ksmetamaid
Original Author
5 years ago
Okay, thanks! I'll stick with keeping the grill away from the house. Is there any reason I couldn't/shouldn't fill the lower cabinet with sandbags or something to weigh it down?
Sherry8aNorthAL
5 years ago
We used these on the fabric gazebo at the lake campground.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Proforce-Red-Powder-Coated-Steel-Storage-Shed-Anchor/50290465

I would probably use these, or something similar, instead of sandbags.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Cap-Concrete-Block-Common-4-in-x-8-in-x-16-in-Actual-3-625-in-x-7-625-in-x-15-625-in/3608974
Sherry8aNorthAL
5 years ago
I there a way to put a small concrete block wall behind your grill? Maybe an L shape? Nothing very high, just something to slow the wind down.
moosemac
4 years ago
Not sure what you have under your grill i.e. decking, concrete slab, etc. We live on a very windy hill. On the composite decking we installed eye bolts to the deck frame and bolted the grill down to keep it from flipping over in the wind. We use a bungie cord to keep the cover on and top from opening. On the patio we drilled holes in the concrete and set in eyebolts to bolt down the grill.
ksmetamaid
Original Author
4 years ago
Ours is sitting on a brick patio. What would you suggest? Last year we filled the bottom compartment with sand, which did keep it upright, but if there was another way to approach this, I'd be interested.

Grill, wind, and placement safety

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