I am in South Florida visiting my family and my dad’s Weber Spirit (I think it’s the E-310) has hit the skids. He’s had the grill for 4-Years and has had to replace the grates three times already.
Safe to say he wants to stay clear of a Weber this time around. Budget is not big (under $600) and it has to be natural gas.
What would you you guys recommend? Any idea why the grates need to replaced all the time? They are literally falling apart and they are terrible to grill on.
Something sounds wrong with that. I’ve got a Weber here in Alabama with 15 year old grates. They are porcelain coated cast iron, but stainless steel is also available. Is he scouring the porcelain finish off in some way so that they rust or something?
If the grill still functions and the grates are the issue, I really recommend Grillgrates (Grillgrates.com). They are anodized aluminum and will never rust. While I still have the original grates from 2002 for my Weber gas grill, I swapped them out for a replacement set of Grillgrates this past summer and couldn’t be happier. Makes grilling on a gas grill much easier. You can read a review of them here in the site, and I usually see them up top and In the sidebar.
Back to the problem at hand - there is no way your dad should have had to replace the grates even once in just 4 years unless he did something to damage the porcelain finish on the Weber coated cast iron grates, or was using some non-Weber grates. Damage to the finish could cause rust, especially on the Florida coast.
jfmorris, I did the Same To a A Barely Used 2010 4 Burner Char-Broil Stainless Steel from a Ladyâ—ï¸ Grates and the Heat Deflecters were Rusted & Shot IMHOPâ€¼ï¸ New Deflectors, Full Replacement Grill Grates from GrillGrate & a Rotisserie Kit, We have A New To Us Grill and
Few $'s Investedâ€¼ï¸ A Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan
Danjohnston949, yep, the Grillgrates made the 15 year old Weber Genesis like a different grill. I had replaced the flavorizer bars and original burners a couple of years earlier. I like the ease of cooking small stuff like veggies on the Grillgrates too, not to mention searing.
Also don’t think there are many quality gas grills under $600 that are not Weber. I would suggest Broil King, but their cast iron grates are not coated at all in that price range.
Someone posted a link on here to a Weber Genesis natural gas grill in that price range this week, from Amazon.
You do know the grates and all other parts have a 10 year warranty from Weber if I am not mistaken? They will replace damaged grates if they are in warranty, no questions asked. Their customer service is very good.
Last edited by jfmorris; January 14, 2018, 12:02 AM.
jfmorris, I Decided to Post Some Pic's of My Commercial Series 4-Burner Char-Broil Used Gas Grill for @EZCUSEâ—ï¸ The Char-Broil Grill is Available at Lowes, Home Depotâ“ and â“â“â“in Various Levels & Price Rangesâ€¼ï¸ Natural Gas Conversion Kits are Available‼ï¸
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan
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Last edited by Danjohnston949; January 14, 2018, 07:41 AM.
Looks good Dan! I wasn’t sure the commercial series like that was under 600. Regardless, a 4 year old Weber still has 6 years left on the warranty, and those grates would be replaced by Weber if truly defective. I use a wire brush to clean mine after I’ve burned off things as much as possible, and been on the same grates for 15 years, and grill a lot.
I don't disagree with Your Weber Assessmentâ—ï¸ I was just Trying to Point Out the $ Savings Starting With a Used But Still in Production Grill
Like the Char-Broil Commercial Seriesâ€¼ï¸ I Believe Max Good Gives Both High Ratingsâ€¼ï¸ See AmazingRibs.Com/RatingsandReiviews â—ï¸ Dan
I have a 20+ year old Weber Genesis 1000. I've replaced the flavorizer bars several times, and the cooking grates at least twice. My mistake was scraping the porcelain grates. I now use GrillGrates, and I do a "regular cleaning" twice a year, with an intermittent brushing/scraping the rest of the year. I've also replaced the burner assemblies (a few years ago). All the fixes have breathed new life into the grill. I think that I'll have it for a while.
Scraping or something other than brushing is likely what the original poster’s father is doing. Once you damage the porcelain, rust will form on any cast iron not properly seasoned and maintained. Also a consideration is how well the grill is maintained and cleaned. Lots of fires and grease building and burning could decrease any grates lifetime.
I agree with jfmorris just go get some Grill Grates or get the Weber 3/8" bar stainless grates. I have those on my Summit and they are virtually indestructible. They also clean up quit nicely. Quit throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Also, is natural gas a must? Propane with its extra oxygen molecule burns much hotter and efficiently then it's natural cousin. Just saying. I know natural is much more convenient, no bottles to mess with.
Actually Jerod, you’re statement proves what I’m saying is true. Propane as a gas burns higher and hotter than natural gas. However, when a barbecue is manufactured for use with natural gas, specific valves are used. These valves allow more natural gas to enter the barbecue’s burner systems. So, while natural gas is slightly cooler than propane, more of it is being burnt and the heat produced by the barbecue turns out to be identical. I believe that’s what Blonder is saying. Propane is thus more efficient as well.
Yeah, that's what I meant. On a grill they are both burning the same. I think most people prefer NG if possible so they can hook up to the home supply and not run out and have to plead to the BBQ gods.
1. Weber makes a quality product. It’s also backed by a 10 year bumper to bumper warranty on the Spirit series. Call them about the grates before buying more.
2. Maintenance is likely the culprit. If you damage the porcelain coating with some form of scraper versus a standard grill brush, or allow lots of grease buildup or fires, any grill is going to have issues.
3. If Weber won’t help with replacing the grates, or at least clue him into why these grates are not lasting at least 10 years or more, consider either stainless steel replacements, or Grillgrates.
4. Don’t limit the search to natural gas grills, as there may be LP grills that are convertible.
i like Grillgrates personally as it definitely increases the grate temp I can reach on my 2 burner Genesis Silver A from about 550 to 700 degrees at the grate.
Last edited by jfmorris; January 14, 2018, 03:55 PM.
Couple things. First, those are not Weber grates that I have ever seen on any of their gas grills. Anyone here know of Weber putting out a nickel plated steel gas grill grate? I’ve not seen one. It should have come with either cast iron porcelain coated grates, or stainless steel grates. Below is an image of the grate Weber sells for a Spirit 300 series grill. Looks nothing like what you are showing.
Here is the URL for the right factory supplied grates for a Spirit 300 series grill: https://www.weber.com/US/en/accessor...oking-grates-4. I think what your picture is showing are 3rd party nickel plated steel grates. That type will have to be replaced every year or two. I’ll bet he got them as some type of universal grate at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Sad part is that either he got the grill with the wrong grates on it, or tossed the original grates for some reason and replaced them with cheap grates.
The other thing to consider is maintenance. The flavoriser bars could be pulled out and scraped annually with a putty knife, and the firebox hosed out. I would get decent grates - either the Weber or better the Grillgrates, and not a new grill, if he is the original owner, the burners and other parts have a lot of warranty left. Cheap grates like he has are never going to last more than a year or two. I cannot say why he didn’t get the real Weber grates with this grill.
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Last edited by jfmorris; January 14, 2018, 05:37 PM.
Another comment - those grates are pretty burned up. That indicates he's had a lot of grease fires on the grill most likely. Any nickel plated steel cheap grate will do that over time, but those are pretty rough. Stainless won't do that, and neither will coated cast iron. I would recommend he get a full replacement set, cut for his Spirit 310, assuming that is the model, at grillgrate.com - assuming it is a Spirit 300 series 3 burner grill, here's the link:
That may seem like a lot, but those grates have a number of things going for them, and are certainly cheaper than a new grill. Here's why:
1. The anodized aluminum will never rust and have to be replaced.
2. The perforated metal plate blocks flareups from burning your meat.
3. The grate temperature is greatly increased, for infrared searing on the raised rails.
4. Things stay juicier than with typical direct grilling.
5. Small items don't fall through the grate.
6. The workings of the grill stay MUCH cleaner with the Grillgrates in place.
I would get the replacement set, and then remove the existing grates, take out the flavorizer bars (heat shields), use a putty knife to scrape the firebox out, down into the removable drip pan area. Pull the drip pan out with all the debris and dump, and clean it. Scrape the flavorizer bars good with the putty knife before putting back, or get a replacement set if they are burned up. Reassemble and install the new Grillgrate grates, locking the panels together.
I did this back in June with my much used Weber Genesis (bought in 2002), and the burners, heat shield and firebox have stayed very clean through a summer, fall and winter of weekly grilling by my son and I. With the original grates, which I saved as they are still in good shape after 15 years, I would have to break things down to clean out monthly during heavy summer use. I use the crazy looking spatula thing in the picture above - the "Grate Tool", to shovel out and scrape any debris out of the valleys in the grate, dumping into the trash can or throwing out in the yard. The raised rails I clean with a scraper/putty knife tool (they sell one on that site as well called the "detailing tool").
Thanks @Danjouhnston949, its actually Jim, not Brad. I think I just cooked a bunch of burgers or chicken legs to season my Grill Grates on the gas grill. I never even knew about these until I bought a used Weber Performer Deluxe charcoal grill from a buddy for $100, and he included a full set of Grill Grates. Obviously I liked them enough to pop for them on the gas grill after that.
Mia Culpa, Jim, My Badâ“ I learned about the Grill Grates here in
"The Pit" and Didn't Have A Need Until I Bought the Used Gas Grillâ—ï¸
OBTW, If You Bought Your Weber Performer Deluxee for $100.00 with
the Grill Grates, You Made the Buy of The Centuryâ€¼ï¸ I have One with
a Vortex Accessory, I Love It for Chicken, Steaks, Seafood & â“â“ Dan
Danjohnston949 - yes, I got a heck of a deal. For $100 I got an immaculately maintained Weber Performer Deluxe (green) with 2 charcoal baskets, full set of Grillgrates, cover, and an adapter hose to allow use of a 20# LP tank instead of screwing in those silly little bottles. My friend's wife told him SOMETHING had to go when he ordered a Yoder 640 and already had 5 grills out on their patio.
Bottom line to all that Brad, er Pete, er Jim has said points out the fact that when I look at any cooker with the intent to buy, the grilling grates are the first thing I examine. After years of cheap crap that falls apart like the picture above, I insist on 1) stainless steel with the thickest bar stock available or 2) aluminum similar to grill grates. Even the porcelain coated ones suck after about 2 years of use. I also agree with Brad/Pete/Jim (just playing dude!) that Weber has always had a decent product across their entire product line, have owned several and never had issues unless it was by my abuse or laziness in maintenance.
I appreciate everyone’s responses. What grills would you guys recommend under $600? My dad has a natural gas line so it either needs to be a natural gas grill or be able to be converted to natural gas.
We are recommending he just replace the grates on his current grill. It’s got a lot more life in it. Spend $111 on good grates that will last forever, versus $600 on a new one in other words.
If he is set on another grill under $600, that limits your choices a lot as far as quality grills. I would have recommended the Weber Genesis natural gas grill on sale on Amazon. Aside from that, I guess you would have to go with Charbroil or something similar, but don’t expect a 10 year warranty like the Weber. And if it’s not a stainless grate, it will be looking the same as the pics you showed us in a year or two. The only grill probably in the big box stores that is made in North America is Broil King, and it’s got uncoated cast iron grates in the ones I’ve seen, which will rust if not properly cared for.
Any idea how he got these non-Weber grates?
There are a lot of gas grill reviews on here, I would start there.
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