Outdoor Kitchen Winterizing Checklist

There’s still time to winterize your outdoor kitchen and keep it in tip-top shape for next year. If you have an open-air cooking area, you’ll want to make sure all equipment, appliances, and surfaces are protected from wind chills. These essential steps will help you prevent damage and avoid costly repairs:

• Switch off power to all appliances and electrically powered units - unplug them or turn off the circuit breaker.
• Shut off water - an indoor shutoff valve comes in really handy because it won’t freeze.

• Any residual water might freeze causing the pipes to crack, so be sure to drain all water lines. Leave drain valves open for outdoor sinks, refrigerators, and ice makers.
• Do not cover outdoor refrigerators and ice makers as moisture can get trapped under the cover and might put electrical parts at risk for damage.
• Remove ice from trays and ice maker bins. The interiors should be free of any residual moisture.

• Clean the grill, cabinets, and refrigerator. Remove any spills and crumbs. Finish things off with a good stainless steel polish.

• Cover sinks to avoid debris settling in the basin. Disconnect hot and cold water supply lines. Remove the faucet and store them indoors.

It is important to note that minimizing exposure snow in general will prolong the life of anything, including your countertops. Cycles or freeze/thaw are the biggest culprit and you can minimize the damage by following these tips:

• It's a good idea to cover your countertops during winter months to offer protection against wind, snow, ice, and water. You can have a custom cover made for your countertop to keep the stone surface dry.
• The weather will wear down the surface finish and this requires having countertops re-polished.
• Seal stone countertops to protect the surface, otherwise, you’ll end up with leaf stains, or cracked and chipped counters from freezing moisture. We recommend Dupont StoneTech Professional BulletProof Stone Sealer for granite and marble countertop.

Make sure you do these things before winter so you can enjoy the snow and without worrying about your outdoor kitchen.