Winterizing your outdoor kitchen is an essential step in protecting your appliances and outdoor entertainment features as temperatures drop. Cold weather can easily damage your outdoor kitchen if appropriate winterizing measures are not taken. So, before the first freeze of the year, we recommend winterizing your outdoor kitchen with the following tips from Bianchi Brickyard:
Clean Outdoor Appliances
All outdoor appliances like fridges, freezers, and ice makers need to be thoroughly cleaned before the first freeze of the season. Remove all food, especially perishable food, from your fridge and freezer to ensure your appliances stay clean and fresh during winter. We also recommend giving each of your appliances a thorough clean, both inside and outside, to ensure there is no stuck-on debris that could attract rodents or other wildlife.
Unplug Outdoor Appliances
Once your outdoor appliances are cleaned, you need to unplug them–specifically, the fridge and freezer. While our fridge and freezer don’t need to be brought inside for the winter, we recommend unplugging them until spring arrives. Keeping these appliances unplugged during winter will help prevent damage to the lines.
Shut Off and Drain Water Lines
Draining and shutting off your water lines are two critical components in winterizing your outdoor kitchen. After cleaning and unplugging your appliances, you need to shut off the water and drain the water lines. This step is often overlooked, and can lead to irreversible damage to both your appliances and pipes. If you have an outdoor sink, we recommend pouring some antifreeze into the sink drain to help prevent cracking pipes.
Cover Outdoor Islands and Grills
We recommend covering your outdoor island and grill to protect them from damage, debris, and wildlife. Winter storms can cause debris, such as falling tree limbs and large chunks of ice. The last thing you want is for your kitchen island to be cracked or scratched due to falling winter debris. Further, wildlife seeks warm shelter during winter, which is why it’s so important to cover your grill. Homeowners who skip this winterizing step run the risk of having wildlife nests in their grill.
Prep Your Cabinets
Both wooden and stainless steel kitchen cabinets need to be winterized, too. Freezing temperatures can damage your cabinetry, especially finished wooden cabinets. To protect and prepare your wooden cabinets, we recommend conditioning your cabinets with high-quality wood conditioner to prevent the chance of splitting or cracking. Stainless steel kitchen cabinets should be cleaned and polished before the first freeze to ensure they are safe throughout winter. After conditioning or polishing your cabinets, protect them with a durable canvas or cloth cover.
Winter is here, and freezing temperatures are right around the corner. Let Bianchi Brickyard’s team of professionals help you prepare for winter weather! Contact us today to learn more!
