Weatherproof Grill Cover

Rain In Burners Is What Kills Grills

Water entering burner tubes, ignition units and control valves is what causes the failures that make a grill unusable.

A cover keeps that out, which extends the life of the components that are expensive or awkward to replace.

Ultraviolet damage to plastic handles, knobs and side tables is the slower failure a cover also prevents.

Never Cover A Warm Grill

A cover on a warm grill traps the moisture evaporating from it, which condenses under the cover and holds it against metal.

That accelerates corrosion considerably more than leaving the grill uncovered would, which is the opposite of the intention.

Waiting until a grill is genuinely cold before covering is the habit that matters, and it is the commonest mistake with covers.

Ventilation Prevents Condensation

A completely sealed cover traps humidity even on a cold grill, since ground moisture and air changes produce condensation inside.

Vents allow air movement while shedding rain, which is why good covers have them and cheap ones do not.

A cover with no vents and a grill stored on damp ground is a small humid chamber, which grows mould and rusts fittings.

Fit And Wind

A loose cover flaps in wind, which wears the fabric at every point it touches the grill and eventually tears it.

Straps, toggles or an elasticated hem hold a cover in place, and a cover that has blown off is a cover that protected nothing.

A cover sized too small does not reach the bottom of the legs, which leaves the lower components exposed to splash and standing water.

Material And Lifespan

Thin polyethylene covers crack in cold and degrade in sun within a season or two, and heavier polyester with a waterproof coating lasts far longer.

Seam sealing matters as much as fabric, since an unsealed seam leaks directly onto whatever is beneath it.

A cover is a consumable and replacing one every few years is expected, which is cheap against the grill it protects.

Storage location matters as much as the cover, and a grill kept under a porch roof or against a sheltered wall is exposed to far less weather than one standing in the open. Moving a grill a few metres to a sheltered position costs nothing and does more than any cover. Where a grill must stand in the open, raising it off wet ground on paving rather than grass prevents the legs sitting in standing water.

Fitting to the specific model matters more than a generic size, since a cover made for one grill sits correctly over side tables and handles where a generic one either strains or flaps. Manufacturer covers cost more and fit properly, which is worth it on an expensive grill.

Zip or open-bottom designs differ in how easily a cover goes on, and a full-length zip makes covering a large grill a one-person job rather than a wrestle.

The Verdict

A cheap item that genuinely extends a grill, where fit, ventilation and covering only when cold determine whether it helps.

Covering a warm grill accelerates rust, unvented covers trap humidity, and loose covers tear in wind.

Only cover it once cold. A cover on a warm grill traps moisture and rusts it faster than no cover.