Most homes in the United States have a grill or barbecue. Most components of these grills can be replaced with new grill parts, increasing the life and performance of your outdoor appliance. Charcoal grills require the least maintenance and usually don’t need more than new charcoal grills and cooking grates. Gas grills, on the other hand, are more complex and many components wear out over time. Replacement parts for a gas barbecue include burners, valves, and heat shields. Here’s a quick look at the main grill parts and when they should be replaced.

1.Burners

The burner of a gas grill is the source of heat. The burner is hollow with gas inlet and outlet ports, each with a separate control. Some grills have only one burner, while others have two burners with corresponding controls on the control panel. Most of the burners on a gas grill are H burners or oval burners. High-end grills even have three or four separate burners, called pipe, tube, or rail burners. Some are made of cast iron or aluminized steel, although stainless steel gas burners last the longest. If you have a gas grill with cheaper burners and want to extend its life, try replacing these gas grill parts with stainless steel.

2. Cooking grill

The cooking grate, or grate, is the surface that food sits on while cooking. Cheap grilles are made of chrome plated steel, which don’t last very long. Stainless steel is the most durable, followed by porcelain-coated steel and cast iron. Grates that are not made of stainless steel will eventually start to rust as the coating wears off, at which point replacement grill parts will be needed.

3. Rock grids

This grate is located just above the burner. It is used to contain lava rocks or briquettes and prevents drippings from hitting the burner while dispersing heat. This is one of the cheapest replacement parts for a grill and should be replaced when it can’t hold rocks. Most are made of carbon steel, which starts to rust pretty quickly.

4. Heat shields

The heat shield may also be referred to as a heat plate, heat tent, heat angle, or burner shield. This part keeps drippings off the burner and distributes heat throughout the grill. Heat shields are generally preferred over rock grate because they do not retain bacteria and are easier to replace.

5. Valves

Valves need to be replaced when they don’t work properly or start to rust. Unlike burners, a replacement valve for a grill must fit exactly and parts can be more difficult to find. Faulty valves are one of the most common reasons most grills are scrapped, though they can be easily replaced if you find the parts for your grill.

6. Publications

Virtually all grill poles eventually rust and need to be repaired, although it’s fairly easy to purchase this part that mounts the grill head.

Other grill parts include heat gauges, pans, handles, and other small grill accessories. Most of these are available from the original manufacturer or an aftermarket company.