In the spring and summer, everyone seems to want to go outside and have some barbecues. Everybody is setting up their grilling stations in their backyards and inviting some family and friends to come over.
One of the golden rules of eating healthily is to choose grilled food over fried ones as grilled food has no batter coating and dripping grease. Besides, grilling makes the food look and taste wonderful.
Before putting up a grill in your backyard, make sure to abide by the standard rule that recommends keeping 10 feet between the grill and your house’s walls and sidings. Following the standard distance is one step to prevent fire hazards.
Also, consider where you want to put your grill, including the safety distance and use, and ensuring that your surroundings are nowhere near flammable objects.
In this article, we’ll reveal where to place your grill in your backyard and how far away it should be from your house. We will also include safety tips to help set up your outdoor grilling activity.
How Far Can You Grill in Your Backyard?
According to the standard agreement, your grill must be 3 feet away from any house’s walls. However, some grill manufacturers provide buyers with guidelines to follow. Also, your grill must be placed 10 feet away from any flammable objects or materials that could easily catch on fire due to the ignition.
However, according to U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) guidelines, the grill must be placed no closer than 10 feet away from the house’s siding or walls. This rule is perceived by consumers as very conservative, and to some grill manufacturers, a 3 feet distance is already safe.
How Far Should a Grill Be from Your House?
No matter what type of grill you use, you should keep it at least 3 feet from your house, walls, and sidings. This distance should be followed for safety reasons and to prevent things from catching on fire.
How Far Should a Grill Be from Your House’s Covered Areas?
Whenever possible, avoid using your grill in covered areas such as carports and awnings, unless there’s an 8 feet space above it and enough ventilation for the grill, in which case you can safely use it in such places. However, a space closer than that can pose smoke damages to your awnings and carports over time.
If the weather is bad and you’re tempted to grill in your garage, don’t. Aside from the smoke and fire risks, another danger it can pose to you is a buildup of carbon monoxide.
The best thing you can do in such cases is postpone the use of your grill or invest in a BBQ canopy. Indeed, if you want to grill in rainy weather and are looking for a cover, a BBQ canopy is the best solution. These canopies are made and designed for grilling and provide good ventilation.
You should never try grilling in any enclosed area, especially indoors, as it is too dangerous and not worth the risk.
Looking for ways to improve your patio’s design and functionality? One of the most common ways of doing this is adding a fire pit to your outdoor space. But, is it safe to install a fire pit in this area of your home? Can you install a fire pit on a patio? Read our article to find out.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Place for Your Backyard Grill
Barbecue parties are a fun way to connect with people and enjoy your outdoor setting. However, before hosting such events, you have to consider multiple safety factors. Among these is finding the perfect location to put your grill to ensure the safety of your area.
Where you place your grill can affect the quality and productivity of your setup. Fire, people, and flammable materials are a recipe for disaster if you are not being mindful and careful.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a place for a backyard grill.
1. Be aware of your surroundings
Grilling consists of an open-fire outdoor cooking experience, so be aware of your surroundings. Make sure to keep a 3 feet distance between the grill and your house for safety. Also, do not put the grill right in front of the back door since kids tend to run in and out of the house.
Instead, put your grill in a secure, flat, clean area, away from flammable objects such as mulch or bins. Avoid putting your grill somewhere with low-lying trees and hedges, and make sure that there are no low-hanging branches in the grilling area.
2. Safety distance
Before throwing a BBQ party in your backyard, always ensure safety. Check for possible materials that would easily catch on fire. Keep the standard distance of the grill from your house and never place it near windows and doors. Finally, be extra careful and vigilant when there are children in your house.
3. Look out for smoke
Grilling emits a visible vapor called smoke. It is inevitable, and it sticks to your clothes, hair, lungs, and even enters your home. However, you can prevent the smoke from entering your house and sticking to your walls and ceilings. Learn the wind way first, and then, position your grill where the smoke will not move into your home.
Smoke blows downwind, so be considerate of where you will put your grill. Make sure that smoke doesn’t blow on you, your guests, or any passerby. Also, consider the proximity of your grill to windows, doors, balconies, and neighbors.
The fumes contain carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances, which form when greases are burnt, whether on hot charcoal or an open flame.
4. Be safe, be seen
It is ideal to consider the area and sightlines where you’re setting up your grill. Make sure that people inside the house can see the grill outside through windows and doors for safety reasons. Doing so can save you and your guests in case of a fire when everyone is indoors, as it can be easily seen.
5. Types of grills
There are different types of grills. Every item has its own positive and negative aspects. Many homeowners use charcoal grills, while lately, infrared or gas grills have gained popularity.
A gas grill can be controlled and is designed with safety as the main factor. However, it requires access to home gas lines. If you do not have this option, you can choose another grill that can be safely stored when not in use.
6. Look and materials
If you are someone who loves to grill every now and then, you must create a nice setup. You might want to consider going with a permanent shade canopy. On the other hand, if you don’t always grill, you can put up your grill under a tree.
Also, to avoid accidents, consider the materials around the area where you will place the grill. Granite and stone prevent your grill from heating fast thanks to its high heat resistance. When grilling under a tree, be cautious of the low-hanging branches.
The grilling area must be clean and tidy to prevent flammable materials from catching on fire. Finally, avoid keeping plastic near the grilling area.
7. Where can you install a range hood?
To vent out all the smoke and grease out of your cooking area, you can install an outdoor range hood. Look for the best place to install it. Remember to only purchase a professional quality range hood in your local home store.
8. Sunshine and shade
Another thing to consider when grilling is to place your grill in a shady area, especially if it’s already sunny outside. Trees provide natural shade and good ventilation. But again, be aware of the low-hanging branches, as they can catch fire easily.
Place your grill in a space that receives shade throughout the day. Indeed, setting up a grill in a shady space is one thing, but to keep it there is a whole other discussion.
If you have a large space to build your grill in your backyard, consider adding a shelter to the setup. Make sure that there’s enough space between the structure and the grill.
Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby to ensure stringent safety at your BBQ party. You don’t need to buy an expensive one as an inexpensive option is a bucket full of sand.
Conclusion
Grilling is one of the top outdoors activities that you can enjoy with your family and friends in the comfort of your own backyard. But, since grilling makes use of fire, there are safety precautions that you need to follow to make sure that you and your company will be safe. One of these factors is the location of your grill, specifically how far it is from your house and other flammable objects.
The standard rule of thumb is to make sure your grill is 3 feet away from your house’s walls and sidings. If you’re bothered by the short distance, you can move it to a much further and safer area. You should also have options to put out accidental fires nearby, like a fire extinguisher, a source of water, or a bucket of sand. By following these steps, you are able to ensure your safety while grilling.
Although there are a lot of things to consider and follow, setting up the grill doesn’t have to be difficult. Make sure to consider the factors we have tackled in this article regarding where to place your grill to ensure safety and have preventive measures. You will be able to enjoy your grilling experience more if you know that you are safe and ready for anything that can happen.
