Sierra Madre is a small foothill town, about three square miles, with the San Gabriel Mountains rising directly behind it. Streets get steeper as they climb north of Sierra Madre Boulevard, and the homes at the top, along Sierra Madre Canyon and the upper parts of town, sit right at the edge of the wildland.
The Eaton Fire in January 2025 burned up to the town's western edge, and much of Sierra Madre was evacuated. Most homes here came through with smoke and ash rather than fire damage, and some grills sat under that ash for weeks. If yours never got a proper cleaning afterward, it's worth having the inside and the gas components checked before regular use. Damp ash is corrosive to steel and stainless, and heat exposure can harden hoses and seals.
Older homes, older grills
Much of Sierra Madre's housing is older: Craftsman cottages, 1920s Spanish homes and modest mid-century houses on wooded lots. Outdoor setups tend to be practical rather than showy. A freestanding grill on a flagstone patio. A small built-in under an oak. A charcoal kettle for weekends. These grills often have years on them and plenty of life left if the burners and ignition are kept up.
We're happy to work on whatever you've got, and we'll be honest if something isn't worth the repair. Common parts like burners, igniters and heat plates are on the truck, and we can track down many harder-to-find parts for older models.
What Sierra Madre homeowners call us for
Ash and smoke cleanup
Grills that sat through fire-season fallout cleaned inside and out, gas parts checked.
Learn moreRestoration
Older grills brought back with new burners, heat plates and a polish.
Learn moreRodent and wildlife damage
Nests cleared and chewed wiring or hoses replaced.
Learn moreBurner replacement
Rusted or cracked burners swapped for a clean, even flame.
Learn moreOur process for an older or ash-exposed grill
- 1
Safety check
We inspect the hose, regulator and valves and leak-test before lighting anything.
- 2
Teardown
Grates, heat plates and burners come out. Ash and debris are bagged rather than blown into the yard.
- 3
Degrease and scrape
Biodegradable cleaners and hand scraping remove grease, carbon and crusted ash.
- 4
Replace worn parts
Anything cracked, rusted through or heat-damaged gets swapped.
- 5
Fire it up
Each burner is lit and checked for an even blue flame, and we walk you through what we found.
Protecting the canyon
Sierra Madre's drainage runs straight down from the mountains through town. We keep grease and dirty water out of it by catching all rinse water and taking it with us, and by using degreasers that are biodegradable and non-toxic. See our eco-friendly cleaning page for more.
Sierra Madre questions
My grill was covered in ash but looks okay now. Should I still have it checked?
It's a good idea. Ash gets into the burner area and under the heat plates where you can't see it, and heat can affect hoses and seals.
Can you get up to homes in the canyon?
Yes. Let us know about parking and access when you book. Our techs carry their tools in.
What does it cost to restore an older grill?
It depends on the grill's size, brand, condition and how many parts it needs. Send photos or call or text for a quote.
Neighboring towns
Let's take a look
Call or text, or send a couple of photos of the grill, and we'll get back to you.