American Patio Fireplace: Informative Product Articles

Gas Grill Maintenance. Maintaining the Performance of Your High-End Gas Grill

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

If you have recently purchased or are thinking about purchasing a high-end gas grill you will want to know some things about simple maintenance for your outdoor appliance. You must remember that just because you spend a lot of money for it doesn't mean you don't have to clean it. You will need to get your hands a little dirty but if you use these tips you will add many years of life to your built-in or cart gas grill.

The easiest way to make your cleaning job less of a chore is by proper use of the appliance. You should refrain from pouring marinades or thick sauces onto your food because it will run down into the grill and clog the ports to your burners and gather in the bottom of the grill. This will cause uneven flames and drastically change the performance of the grill. You must realize most marinades are acidic enough to eat through stainless steel if left sitting long enough. Instead you can baste or sauce with a brush and achieve the same taste with less mess. It is important to clean your cooking grids after every use with a brass wire brush. The grill should be turned to the high setting for an addition 3-5 minutes after the food is removed. Once it reaches a high temperature use your wire brush to remove the food particles. This simple procedure added to your grilling routine will make your next grilling experience easier and quicker while keeping food particles from building up.

To deep clean your grill you should always wear protective eyewear and gloves. Remove the cooking grids, flavor grates and burners and place on an old news paper or protective ground cover. These need to be washed or brushed with a hard brush. Make sure the ports are all clear before returning to original position. It is important to return exactly the way they were. You should refer to the owner manual before taking anything out to make sure there aren't any issues with removing the interior parts of the grill. Do not remove any gas valves or regulators this should only be done by a qualified licensed gas technician. If you grill more than twice a week then you should deep clean your grill every six months. If you grill once a week or less than once a year will be sufficient. These procedures can add many years of use and enjoyment to your high-end gas grill investment. If you are unable to perform these services then seek the help of a local grill professional.

Gas Grills our specialty over the last decade and we would lovee to help you with any questions. FireMagic,DCS,Lynx,ION and Luxor are the grills that have all of the components that can complete you,re summerkitchen. You can find all of these products at http://americanpatiofireplace.com

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Summer Kitchens. Add Instant Value and Enjoyment to Your Backyard

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

If you are thinking about selling your home or just want to make some improvements a summer kitchen is a great way to do both. Adding a summer kitchen is not difficult and the expense can not only increase property value but increase your enjoyment of your backyard.

While creating your layout you need to be sure you design the summer kitchen to fit the space. You can establish a budget using 2% of the value of the home as your guideline. If the house cost $300,000 then you can spend up to 6000 for the summer kitchen and add quick value as well as a usable space for grilling. Even if the price is not increased significantly you are separating yourself from the comparable properties.

After you have established your budget you should then decide how much space you are willing to commit to the project. This will tell you the size of the grill and the components that you can look at. The grill should and will be the center piece of any good summer kitchen. You want to pick a grill that fits your family. If you usually cook for 1-4 people a grill with 300-500 square inches of direct cooking surface is usually adequate. If you typically cook for 5 or more you will need 500 square inches or more of direct cooking surface. This allows the griller to cook for anywhere from 1-8 people. Make sure that the grill is a grill that you can count on for the future. After you choose your grill the next most important thing is space to set plates and prepare. Prep space is very important and should not be overlooked. You should save at least 24" space on the cabinet surface for preparing and setting tools and plates. If you have the space then a sink or a side cooker would be a welcomed addition to any summer kitchen. Other components that you should consider if budget and space allow are access doors, warming drawers, ice makers and refrigeration.

With the right choices your summer kitchen can not only add value to your home but provide you with a usable outdoor space if you decide to not part with your new found jewel.

Building summer kichens has been our specialty over the last decade and we would love to help you with any of your questions. FireMagic,DCS,Lynx,ION and Luxor are the grills that have all of the components that can complete you're summerkitchen. You can find all of these products at http://americanpatiofireplace.com/

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Gas Logs. Chosing Betweeen Vented & Vent-free

Les Lewis — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

Gas Logs. What You Need to Know when Purchasing

Adding a set of gas logs to your fireplace gives you convenience and comfort with just the push of a button. You don’t have to be intimidated by the process if you have some basic information to guide you.

Before you begin choosing your gas log set you will want to make sure you will be able to get a gas line into your existing fireplace. Most gas companies offer free estimates for running gas lines and should be consulted. You will need to know if you have access to natural or LP gas and that it is possible to get the line into the fireplace. Once this is verified then you move to step two.

The next decision you will need to make is choosing between vented and vent-free gas logs. Vented gas logs can only be installed in a wood burning fireplace that has a working chimney or flue pipe. Vented gas logs are the most realistic looking of the gas logs and can easily be mistaken for a wood burning fire when the right accessories are added. The draw back to vented gas logs is that they have a higher BTU rating and some of the heat is lost to the draft of the open chimney. The vent-free gas logs can be used in a fireplace with the damper closed or in a non vented fireplace. The vent-free logs are the more efficient between the two styles and produce more heat with less BTU’s. Vent-free logs are also equipped with oxygen depletion sensor which shuts the unit off if the oxygen levels in the room get low. The main choice you will need to make is looks, vented gas logs, or efficiency, vent-free.

Features are also an important factor when deciding on your log set. Most higher-end units are available with remote’s that control on or off, flame height and even electronic ignitions. If you are budget minded then the manual pilot systems would be the better choice. The vent-free gas logs high heat out put makes a variable remote a good choice for these units. If you are not comfortable with lighting your own pilot then an electronic ignition will do it for you.

It can be overwhelming when first learning about gas logs and you can experience information overload with to much technical information. The things you will need to know is can I get gas to the fireplace, type of gas (natural or LP) what type of gas logs (vented or vent-free), and the features that suit your needs.

I have a retail store that specializes in gas logs and gas fireplaces. The comments and suggestions I make are based on 15 years of experience in the hearth industry. http://americanpatiofireplace.com/

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How to Purchase a High-End Gas Grill

Les Lewis — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

With spring right around the corner it's time to purchase that new gas grill you have wanted for so long. Don't be intimidated by the process. The key is to shop prepared. Shopping for a new gas grill is simple if you follow three simple guidelines.

The first thing to consider when shopping for a new gas grill is the size. People say size doesn't matter but when shopping for gas grills it does. It is important to differentiate between direct cooking surface and total grill surface. Direct cooking surface is the cooking area that has direct heat. It does not include warming racks. If you usually cook for 1-4 people a grill with 300-500 square inches of direct cooking surface is usually adequate. If you typically cook for 5 or more you will usually need 500 square inches or more of direct cooking surface. You also need to consider the space which the grill is going to occupy. Make sure that the grill will fit in the area that you have designated for it.

The second thing you want to consider when shopping for a new gas grill is the features. Different grills will have different features. Some grills have built in lights, built-in smoker trays, electronic igniters, spring assist hoods, etc. You will need to identify what features are most important to you. If you like pan frying fish or cooking a pot of beans outside then a side cooker might be an important feature for you. If you like to cook turkeys or tenderloins on the grill, than a designated rotisserie burner and spit kit might be an important feature for you. High heat infrared burners are becoming more popular and are ideal for searing steaks or tuna. Keep in mind that your grill and will be exposed to the elements and the more bells and whistles your grill comes with means you will have more grill parts that will need to be maintained.

The third thing to consider when purchasing a gas grill is the quality of the grill construction. The best grills are made of 16 and 18 gauge 304 stainless steel. These grills will fall in the upper price range but the materials used are far superior in reliability and durability. They withstand the weather elements and the heat generated from the grill. The best burners on a grill will be either cast stainless steel like the burners on the Aurora series from FireMagic, extruded stainless steel like the burners available on DCS gas grills or cast brass burners like those used on Lynx grills. Cast aluminum grill heads will also last in the elements as long as the base is made of stainless steel like the Broilmaster P-3.

Size, features and construction are the things that will mater most when buying your new high-end gas grill. If you remember these three steps you will be able to make a good decision and bring the right grill home that will not only further your grilling experience but last for many years to come.

We specialize in high-end gas grills like FireMagic, DCS, Lynx, Alfresco, ION, American Outdoor and Broilmaster. http://americanpatiofireplace.com

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