What the ocean does to a grill
Most of Santa Monica sits within a couple of miles of the water, and the marine layer that rolls in most mornings carries salt with it. Salt settles on stainless, mixes with the grease film on the hood and grates, and holds moisture against the metal. Give it a year or two and you start seeing tea-colored staining on the hood, rust bloom around the knobs, and burners that flake when you lift them out.
The fix isn't complicated, but it has to happen regularly. A grill north of Montana or up in Sunset Park gets a little more breathing room than one on an Ocean Park patio a few blocks from the sand, but none of them get a pass. For most homes here we suggest a cleaning once or twice a year, and a quick look at the burners and valves while we're in there. See our coastal grill care guide if you want the details.
Grill service in Santa Monica
Deep cleaning
Burners, grates, heat plates and the firebox come out and get cleaned properly. The grease path gets cleared so you stop getting flare-ups.
Learn moreRepairs
Igniters that click and never catch, uneven heat, a burner that won't stay lit. Common parts for most premium brands ride on the truck.
Learn moreRestoration
For grills that sat through a few seasons of salt and neglect. Worn parts replaced, stainless brought back, heat evened out.
Learn moreReplacement
When a 20-year-old built-in is past saving, we can match a new grill to your existing island cutout and install it.
Learn moreFireplaces and fire pits
Gas fire pits and outdoor fireplaces get the same salt and spider problems. We service those too.
Learn moreCondos, rentals and small patios
A lot of grills in Santa Monica live on balconies and small back patios, or on a shared rooftop deck run by an HOA. We're used to working in tight spaces, hauling equipment up a stairwell, and leaving the area cleaner than we found it. Building managers can put shared grills on a schedule through our HOA and community grill program.
If you rent out a place short-term, a grill that guests have been cooking on all summer usually needs more than a scrape. A cleaning between busy stretches keeps it from becoming the thing guests mention in reviews. We wrote up a few tips in grill care for rentals.
Before and after
Real grills, cleaned and repaired by our techs.
Where we work in Santa Monica
We cover all of Santa Monica: North of Montana, Wilshire Montana, Mid-City, Pico, Sunset Park, Ocean Park and the Downtown condos. We're in the area most days, so it's usually easy to find a time that works. The brands we see most here are Lynx, Viking, DCS and Weber, but we work on just about everything.
Santa Monica grill questions
My stainless has brown spots. Is the grill ruined?
Usually not. That's surface staining from salt and grease. Most of it comes off with a proper cleaning and polish. If there's pitting underneath, we'll show you and tell you whether it matters.
Can you work on a grill on a balcony or rooftop?
Yes. We bring drop cloths and contain the mess. If the building has rules about service hours or elevator use, let us know when you book.
How often should a grill near the beach be cleaned?
Once a year at minimum. If you grill a lot or you're within a few blocks of the water, twice a year keeps the burners and stainless in much better shape.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the size of the grill, the brand and what shape it's in. Call or text us, or send a couple of photos through the quote form, and we'll give you a straight answer.
Also serving nearby
Get your grill back in shape
Call or text, or send a couple of photos and we'll get back to you with a quote.