Cleaning out the burner of your Holland Grill

The Holland Grill is no different than any other outdoor product you own--it requires a little do-it-yourself maintenance from time to time. Giving your Holland a little TLC will prolong the life of your grill and keep it cooking the way you like!

Sometime during the life of your grill you may find it necessary to clean out the burner. Although it takes moderate effort, it's not difficult. Don't be afraid -- you can do it!

All full-size Holland Grills use a single cast-iron burner, located in the very center of the bottom half of the grill. After a period of time, the burner may become obstructed with a rusty powder, cobwebs, etc. that can disrupt the proper air/gas mixture. With a little effort you can remove these obstructions and keep your Holland operating properly.

Additional Information
It's not uncommon for "stuff" to build up in the burner of your grill over a period of time. This "stuff" can be a rusty powder as well as wafer-thin flakes. Don't panic!. It's a combination of rust and soot and easily removed. Too much of this build up will not allow the air and gas to mix properly, and will effect the performance of the grill. Some signs that it's time to clean out the burner are:

• Grayish or black "sooty" appearance to the food
• A "lazy" mostly yellow flame
• Poor heating performance (in combination with above)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you will have to inspect and if necessary, clean out the burner. Removing the burner can be more time consuming, so first you can try the following steps:

CAUTION: TURN OFF AND DISCONNECT ANY GAS SUPPLY BEFORE WORKING ON YOUR GRILL. OBSERVE ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN WORKING WITH GAS. REFER TO YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL.

Using a shop-vac, "suck" out the debris from the front of the grill. You will first have to access the burner from the front control panel. Blowing out the burner with an air compressor may not work because there is a mesh screen inside the "bowl" of the burner. It will prevent larger debris from being blown out.

Vacuum loose debris from inside the bottom half of the grill. To gain access, first, unscrew the drain valve from the drain pipe. (If it's too tight, use a plumber's wrench) Remove the cooking grid and lift the drip pan up and out and set them aside. You will see a "steel plate" or flame deflector. This is positioned over the burner. It may appear rusty and flaky (only if your model does NOT have a stainless steel deflector). To clean, tap gently with a hammer and vacuum out the debris. Unless the legs have rusted off, this part is still very usable. The deflector is secured in place from the underside of the bottom of the grill by four bolts. If you determine that you have to access the inside of the burner you WILL need to remove the deflector plate. Use a 7/16" nut driver to remove the four bolts.

TIP: The bolts could be hard to remove because of being "heat-set" during use. Spray the threads of the bolts from the inside with a lubricant and turn the bolt heads a little at a time. I've also found that using a long extension to your socket driver helps you get more torque.

Remove the burner cap and shop-vac the debris. Remove the two screws and nuts that hold the burner cap in place. Remove the mesh screen and clean out any debris you find inside the burner bowl. IMPORTANT--Be sure to put the mesh screen back in before you put the burner cap back on. It's necessary for proper heating.

After you've cleaned out the loose debris, use a wide putty knife to scrape out any built-up grease. After years of use, splattering grease can build up in the bottom of the shell, making a flare-up possible if it not cleaned out.

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Cleaning out the burner of your Holland Grill