How To Move a Grill

Every great backyard needs a barbecue grill. And if you’re moving, you’ll need to know how to move a grill safely so that yours is ready to go for the first cookout at your new place.

Like with all other home appliances, it’s important to take special care with moving your grill and to take the time to do it right. One broken piece could put the whole thing out of commission, and a good grill isn’t cheap to replace. With that in mind, follow the steps below to move a grill safely and get on your way to making your new backyard into a true oasis.

Getting the Grill Ready to Move

Your first thing you want to do when you’re moving a grill is to prep it for transport. Here’s how to do it.

Clean it

It’s important to clean your grill prior to moving it, since you don’t want any stuck on food, grease, char, or dirt to end up in the truck and on your stuff.

To clean it, turn the heat on high and let it run for about 15 minutes, then turn the heat off. While the grill is still warm, take a wire grill brush and dip it in water, then start to scrub the racks. This should get a bit steamy with the heat, so wear protective gloves and be sure not to lean over the surface as you’re cleaning. When the racks have cooled, use a towel to rub off any remaining residue.

From there, look at your grill manufacturer’s manual to see what you’ll have to do to clean the inside of the cooking chamber. Depending on the type of grill you have, there may be additional parts to clean as well, such as a water pan or a smoke chamber. It’s important to follow the specific directions for your grill, since certain cleaning solutions or techniques may harm it.

As for the outside of your grill, a clean rag and some warm soapy water (followed by a hose off) should get the job done.

Cool it down

For obvious reasons, you never want to move a grill when it’s hot. But it can take awhile for a grill to fully cool down. For that reason, plan to clean and fully turn off your grill at least 48 hours before you need to move it, since you’ll want to be sure that there is no residual heat. Double check the cooking chamber prior to heading to the next step, since it tends to retain heat for longer than the other grill components.

Remove the propane tank, if applicable

Next up is to remove the heating elements. If you have a charcoal grill then you should have removed these during the cleaning process so that you could scrub the inside of the cook chamber. If you have a propane grill however, now is the time to disconnect it. (And if you have a natural gas line grill, remove the line.)

Keep in mind that a propane tank is considered a hazardous material, which means your movers won’t move it for you. Plan to move the tank on your own in your personal vehicle, and set it aside for now until you’re ready to do so. Make sure to store it away from direct sunlight in the interim.

You may be able to have your tank refilled if it’s nearing empty, so consider bringing it with you even if it’s on its last leg. If it’s empty and you don’t want to take it along, follow proper procedures for disposing of it.

Remove and pack up all parts and utensils

Most grills have a few different components, and you’ll want to pack all of these separately instead of trying to move a grill all in one piece. This includes any removable grill parts, including racks, utensils, pans, and accessories. If your grill has a removable lid, take that off as well to pack up on its own.

Pad and box up these parts as needed, and be sure to label the box so that you know where to find everything later on. Most if not all of these parts can be stored in one box, though take extra care with padding the lid because you don’t want it to get scratched in transport.

Wrap up the grill itself

Your last step in getting your grill ready to move is to pad it for safe transport. If your lid is attached, use a bit of packing tape to seal it shut. Then wrap the grill in a moving blanket and secure the blanket with packing tape as well. Leave the base/wheels uncovered because this will make it easier to transport the grill and keep it steady in the truck. If your grill has side handles, leave these uncovered as well.

Moving the Grill

Moving day is here, and you’re in luck since your grill is already prepped and ready to go.

Fortunately, most grills are light enough that they can be safely moved by just one or two people. And if you’ve hired a moving company, they’ll be able to handle this part for you and get your grill into the truck.

For wheeled grills, have one person push from the back and another person guide from the front. If there’s only person moving it, pull from the front instead of pushing from the back, tilting the grill slightly so it’s only moving on two wheels. Slowly guide the grill to the truck and up the ramp. Grills with handles should be lifted instead of pulled, and kettle grills are often small enough to just pick up and carry to the truck. Once the grill is in the truck, secure items around it to keep it from shifting around during transport, and be sure not to place anything on top of it.

And there you go. Setting your grill up at your new home should be a cinch, since it will already be clean. All you’ll have to do place it where you want it and then either hook it up to a gas line or its propane tank, or fill it back up with charcoal briquettes. Make sure to secure back on all parts that you removed, then fire up and get to grilling!