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Winterizing Your Outdoor Kitchen: Protecting Your Investment

You have invested time and money into your outdoor kitchen. Now, as winter approaches, it is crucial to protect that investment. Do not let the cold weather wreak havoc on your appliances and surfaces. With some careful preparation and regular maintenance, you can ensure everything is in great shape for spring. Winterizing your outdoor kitchen is easier thank you think!

Assessing Your Outdoor Kitchen

Before you can protect your investment, you will first need to perform a thorough assessment of every inch of your outdoor kitchen. This inspection should include a damage assessment of all appliances, weatherproof cabinets, outdoor plumbing, and safety precautions.

Start by checking your appliances. Do they show signs of wear and tear? Are knobs or buttons missing or broken? Inspecting your grill, for instance, could reveal rust or corrosion that needs addressing.
Next, evaluate your weatherproof cabinets. Look for signs of moisture damage or decay. It is essential these cabinets remain dry and secure to protect your utensils, dishes, and cookware from winter’s harsh conditions.
Your outdoor plumbing should also be on your checklist. Check the sink and outdoor fridge for leaks or drips. Frozen pipes can cause significant damage, so ensure they are properly insulated.
Finally, review your safety precautions. Are electrical outlets properly covered? Are your anti-slip rugs in good condition?

Preparing Appliances for Winter

Once you have assessed your outdoor kitchen, it is time to start preparing your appliances for the winter months. This involves considering several aspects to ensure your investments are not damaged by the harsh weather.

Here are the steps to follow:

Cleaning: Cleaning is a must-do! Before winter sets in, give your outdoor kitchen a deep clean. This includes removing any food residue, cleaning the grates, and wiping down surfaces. Not only does this maintain hygiene, it also helps prevent damage from accumulated grime and dirt.
Drainage considerations: Empty all water lines to prevent freezing and bursting. This includes faucets, ice makers, and refrigerators.
Insulation methods: Insulate all water pipes to further protect them from freezing.
Weatherproof covers: Invest in high-quality covers for your appliances. They will protect from snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, keeping your equipment in top shape for spring. Ensure covers fit properly to provide maximum protection. Regularly check for tears or wear.
Appliance storage: If possible, move smaller appliances indoors. This presents the least risk of damage over winter.
Winter friendly upgrades: Consider installing freeze-proof faucets or upgrading to appliances designed to withstand winter weather.

Protecting Outdoor Kitchen Surfaces

While you are taking steps to safeguard your appliances from winter’s chill, do not forget that protecting your outdoor kitchen surfaces is just as essential to maintain the longevity of your investment. These surfaces, from countertops to cabinets, require specific care to endure the harsh elements.

Surface sealants are your first line of defense. They provide a protective layer, enhancing the material’s durability and preventing damage from moisture, temperature shifts, and even UV rays. Choose a sealant tailored to your surface material, be it stone, wood, or metal.

Next, invest in weather-resistant covers. These shields protect against snow and ice accumulation, which can lead to cracking or warping. They are especially useful for areas that are not in use during winter.

Do not overlook the importance of anti-rust treatments for metal surfaces. These treatments inhibit the corrosive effects of winter weather, keeping your surfaces looking fresh and new.

One thing to consider is freeze-proof countertops. These are engineered to withstand freezing temperatures without cracking, a common problem in colder climates. They are a bit more expensive, but they will save you on repair costs in the long run.

Care for Outdoor Kitchen Accessories

You will also need to pay attention to your outdoor kitchen accessories, as they too can suffer from the harsh winter conditions. These items are a significant part of your investment, and preserving them can extend their lifespan and ensure their functionality for future use.

Consider the following steps for care:

Accessory Storage: Proper storage is vital. Where possible, store grilling tools, dishware, and other portable items indoors. This prevents exposure to harsh elements and prevents damage. Choose a dry, clean space for storage. Keep items organized to prevent accidental damage.
Cover Solutions: Invest in quality, weatherproof materials for covering items that remain outdoors.
Cleaning: Clean items before winter storage using appropriate cleaning products for each accessory type.

Regular Maintenance and Checks

In addition to caring for your outdoor kitchen accessories, regular maintenance and checks of the kitchen structure and appliances are crucial for protecting your investment against winter damage. It is important to schedule maintenance to keep your kitchen in top condition. Maintenance scheduling should be a routine part of your kitchen care, and should not be ignored.

Conclusion

You have assessed your kitchen, prepped your appliances, protected surfaces, and attended to accessories. By keeping up with these steps, you will ensure your outdoor kitchen withstands winter’s wrath and is ready for action when warmer weather returns.

Important Elements Every Outdoor Kitchen Should Have

Outdoor kitchens continue to grow in popularity among American homeowners, especially in the Chicago area. From expanding usable living space to increasing property values, there is no downside to installing a fully-functional kitchen that you can use for your family or your friends. Here are the five most important elements to include in your outdoor kitchen plans.

Comfortable & Functional Seating

Seating is a must-have when it comes to an outdoor kitchen. After all, outdoor dining is the goal, and you do not want your guests sitting directly on the patio or lawn. There are a wide-array of seating options to consider. Having a large family-size table with six to eight chairs depending on the number of people you host is common. Do you want a counter with bar seating as part of your outdoor kitchen? It is also a great idea to keep folding tables and chairs in a storage shed for those bigger get-togethers.

High-Tech Grills & Cooktops

The grill is the star of the show, and if you are struggling to choose between charcoal and gas, there’s no reason why you can’t use both! In fact, modern outdoor kitchens may feature all sorts of cooking options, including a classic charcoal grill, a wood-fired pizza oven, and a classic gas rangetop. This way, you can prepare your entire meal outdoors – the main course, the sides, and even the dessert!

A Sink & Wet Bar

Outdoor food prep and dining can get messy, especially if there are children involved. Do not run in the house every time you need to rinse a dish or wash your hands; instead, install a full outdoor sink! While you are installing the plumbing for the sink, it is easy enough to accommodate a wet bar, too. These functional spaces are designed to provide hot and cold water on demand, which makes cooking, serving, and bartending much easier. Freestanding bar and sink combos are quite affordable and functional, even for small outdoor living spaces.

Beautiful Lighting

Outdoor entertaining during the summer months is easy enough thanks to extended daylight, but as the days get shorter, there is no need to move your gathering indoors. Beautiful outdoor lighting can keep the get-together going well beyond sunset, and when installed by a landscaping and lighting professional, you can rest assured that the accents, focal lights, and safety lighting are all perfect.

Firepit, Fireplace, or Patio Heaters

While your grill, rangetop, and pizza oven provide ample cooking options, you will also want to think about keeping your guests and family warm as the temperatures begin to fall. A centrally-located firepit or fireplace will provide ample heat in smaller spaces, but if you are building a large outdoor kitchen to entertain bigger groups, patio heaters may be the better option. You can place these several feet apart to keep everyone nice and warm, even in the coldest months.

Outdoor kitchens bring the indoors out, which is ideal for hosting barbeques, birthday parties, and other celebrations. Your home will be the envy of the neighborhood, and thanks to these five elements of a successful outdoor kitchen, you may find yourself preparing every meal in the backyard.

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Plan that Outdoor Kitchen before Summer Gets Here

Have you been considering the option of having an outdoor kitchen installed, but thought it would be best to wait until summer to plan it? If so, you may not be doing yourself any favors because summer will be the time that you’ll want to entertain friends and family – and it will be when you need your outdoor kitchen the most.

Here are some reasons why now is the right time to plan that fabulous outdoor kitchen for your home:

Lead Time Is Crucial

It takes time to get plans created, permits approved, and materials ordered and delivered. The sooner you work with a professional landscaper designer to discuss and finalize your plans the better. Additionally, landscapers start to get really busy once the weather turns nice. Finalizing your plans now allows you to get on the landscaper’s work schedule ahead of those that wait to the last minute.

Be Ready to Entertain as Soon as Summer Arrives

Most households look forward to summer because they know that they’ll be able to spend as much time as possible outside – and if your outdoor kitchen has already been installed and set up, this will allow you to spend even more time out in the fresh air than planned.

Increase your Home’s Value

Once your outdoor kitchen has been established, you’ll not only improve your family’s quality of life; this additional entertainment space will increase the overall resale value of your home as well – which will come in handy should you ever decide to sell and move elsewhere.

Enjoy Several Advantages of Cooking Outside

Homeowners who had outdoor kitchens installed have noted that there are many benefits that can be enjoyed when taking food prep and cooking outside, such as:

Not being stuck inside while everyone else is outside. An outdoor kitchen allows you to stay connected with your family and friends while preparing the meal.
Keeping the heat from stovetops and ovens out of the house, resulting in less air conditioning being required inside – causing a drop in summer energy bills.
Preventing food smells from lingering inside your home long after meals have been prepared.
Less time will need to be spent keeping your inside kitchen clean because most meal prep and cooking will be done outside instead.