Grilling is a popular outdoor activity enjoyed by many during the whole year. The weather sometimes gets very hot, and sometimes it’s freezing cold. However, there is a season when the sky is crying, and you have a craving for that sizzling sound of steak that you grill when the weather outside is favorable. Now, your only option seems to be the garage.
You have random thoughts about fire, smoke, and mess, but the main question in your mind is: Can you grill in the garage? Will it be safe, or will I make a mistake doing that? In the following post, we will go through different grills, their potential risks, and safety considerations, and share some other options for grilling in such hot, cold, or rainy weather.
Can you Grill in the Garage with the Door Open?
Many of us think it is okay to grill in the garage with the door or shelter kept open. But the reality is different from what we think. There are many reasons why we should avoid grilling in a garage. There are other alternatives for grilling in the garage as well and you have to focus that as well.
1. Give of Certain Chemicals:
It is important to note that grills emit dangerous gases like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, regardless of the type you use. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that can cause suffocation and headaches. Since it has no color and odor, it is difficult to detect until you feel a headache. These gases can be extremely dangerous if produced at a high level. These gases can be extremely dangerous if produced at a high level.
Even when the garage door is open, it can still accumulate since the area is enclosed with walls on three sides. Being gaseous it can vent into other parts of the house, endangering the rest of your family members.
2. Create a High Risk of Fire:
The garage is an alternate area for storage. Most of them have oil (either brake or engine oil) that sometimes also spills on the floor, gas for lawnmowers, papers, and many other flammable things. If we use a grill, especially gas and charcoal ones, it can pose a significant risk. This is because most grills reach temperatures well above 500℉ or more.
Therefore, even if you are one of the finest and safest grillers, there is a high chance that a spark or an ember can escape from your grill, which will be enough to ignite the whole area, including your home, even if the garage door is open, which won’t help.
3. It Makes a Mess
Carbon monoxide poisoning and fire are the main risks while grilling in the garage, but I want to mention this point here, as I think it is also important to discuss. Grilling is one of the things that people enjoy during holidays or get-togethers, which results in a pretty messy area around it.
The grease sometimes spills over the grill and onto other items nearby, the embers of coal or the ashes disperse if you are using a charcoal grill. The smoke will stain the walls and the ceiling of the garage and will smell like grilled food and smoke.
4. The Grill Options for the Garage
When it comes to grilling, our minds strike for the options of grills available. The four primary types of grills are electric, gas, pellet, and charcoal. Every grill has advantages and disadvantages, and the decision is based on the cook’s abilities and grill handling techniques.
Some of the grills are used anywhere, and in any condition, while some have restrictions because of their heating source. We will not discuss everything here; instead, we will go through the main points necessary for one who is going to use any one of them in a garage.
Charcoal grills:
Charcoal grills are the traditional grills that are used almost everywhere in the world. Charcoal serves as a heating source, and is available in three different forms: hardwood charcoal, pellet charcoal, and charcoal briquettes. Every one of them has a unique temperature range and level of heat.
The Charcoal grills are not recommended due to their open flame and more chances for embers to scatter over the surrounding area during cooking.
Gas Grill:
Natural gas or propane serves as a fuel source for gas grills. These grills are user-friendly and practical. Most people love to purchase gas grills because there is no mess while heating the grill. You just need to on the burners and let the grill heat up. They heat up quickly and are versatile in nature, making them suitable for grilling.
The reason for not using the gas grills indoors is the instant flammable nature of the propane gas, which could be dangerous if there is a leak in the cylinder.
Pellet Grill:
These grills use pellets as a heating source. It is convenient in use and greatly in demand because of its gas grill-like ignitions and charcoal grill-like flavor. It should be avoided for use in the garage because it can get very hot but you can manage the heat according to your requirements.
Electric Grill:
Electric grill is the only option for grilling in a garage or in a small area. They can use electricity as a heating source, and it cannot produce open fire and toxic gases while grilling. There is no concern about carbon monoxide production that comes with other types of grills. Due to these reasons, they make grilling a clean and safe option.
Safety Tips for Grilling in a Garage
- It is highly discouraged to grill in the garage other than electric ones, as safety should always be the top priority while grilling indoors or outdoors. If you still have in mind to grill in a garage with other types of grills, at least follow these safety tips to reduce the risk to the minimum.
- The first and foremost step is to keep the garage door wide open and install an extremely forceful range hood so, that the carbon monoxide that is being produced will be removed with the ventilation.
- Never leave your grill unattended for a second. Be prepared to take immediate action in case you see flare-ups coming from your grill. These flare-ups are different from the normal flare-ups that you see while cooking food.
- Remove all flammable materials from the surroundings of the grill, including cardboard boxes, oil cans, and other combustible materials. It sometimes catches fire even if it is at a distant place from the heating source.
- If you are using a gas grill, check for gas leaks with a mixture of soapy water to identify any leaks, as the stored gas tank sometimes gets rusted and has a greater chance of leaking and exploding. If you are a regular garage griller, then it’s important to install a carbon monoxide detector and make sure they are in good working order to alert you to dangerous levels of CO.
- Make sure you have in hand a class F/K or wet chemical fire extinguisher (features of which are defined in the types of fire extinguishers) in case you need it. Grease fire is one of the main concerns with grills.
Alternatives to Using a Grill in the Garage Safely
The Grilling in the garage is dangerous, because of the combustible materials present in it, the high heat, and the open flame of the grills make favorable conditions for fire in the garage. Montgomery County, Maryland Fire & Rescue Services (MCFRS) strongly advised that grilling should be avoided in a garage or any closed area instead grill in a well-ventilated area to avoid any type of accidental fire.
We have covered some alternatives to use while grilling in the rain; however, we will go through some of them here in the article.
Get a Grill Gazebo:
A grill gazebo is an affordable and effective solution, offering heat-resistant coverage with top ventilation, ideal for unpredictable weather. It’s readily available at home improvement stores and is easily assembled or disassembled as needed.
Try a Canopy:
Grill canopies are cost-effective and user-friendly, providing sufficient protection for your grill and food from rain or sunshine. Their ease of setup allows for flexibility in use, being simple to erect or dismantle post-grilling.
Covered Outdoor Kitchen Area:
For avid grillers, a permanent outdoor kitchen with a roof is a premium option, providing year-round, weather-resistant grilling space. Although it is more expensive, but it can be a valuable addition to your garden and ensures good ventilation while grilling.
Install a Retractable Awning:
A retractable awning offers a convenient and reliable solution for grilling in open areas. It is similar to those used on RVs, which shield the grill from bad weather. The easy installation process for retractable awnings anywhere in the house makes it the best alternative to grilling in closed areas like garages.
Conclusion
Garage grilling despite seeming like a convenient option, poses significant risks, including the emission of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, increased fire hazards, and the potential mess-up of the area.
We’ve suggested some safer alternatives such as using a grill gazebo, a canopy, etc. These options provide the flexibility to enjoy grilling in various weather conditions while prioritizing safety and enjoyment. To ensure that your grilling experience is both safe and pleasurable, always remember that the key is to adjust to the weather without sacrificing safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
i. It does not produce smoke.
ii. Does not produce carbon monoxide.
iii. Has a good grease management system.
iv. Does not catch fire easily.
v. Electricity is the heating source, so no flammable fuel source is used.
Yes, when natural gas or propane is burned in a limited amount of oxygen it can produce carbon monoxide along with carbon dioxide. The production of harmful gasses is very high in closed or small areas because of poor ventilation.
If you are using a gas or charcoal grill in a garage regularly, then it will definitely damage the concrete. As these grills operate at high heat, they pose a risk of discoloration, cracking, and overall degradation. Therefore, it is better to use a heat-resistant mat for concrete to avoid potential damage.