If you bought a Weber grill, you might think the best option is to buy the grill cover they sell to fit it, but often these sell for more than a generic grill cover. Learn what should you look for in a grill cover and when to choose a third-party option.
Use a Grill Cover to Extend the Life of Your Grill
The first piece of advice is that you definitely need a grill cover. A grill cover will help keep your grill looking good for years to come. You should cover your grill after every use once it has cooled down. While some worry that a grill cover will encourage rusting, this is a myth. Stainless steel grills must be kept covered between uses to ensure lawn chemicals and other corrosive agents won't act on the metal and tarnish it.
Avoid felt-lined or flannel-lined grill covers because mice and squirrels will use the fabric for nesting material. They will tear away at it, and the cover will soon enough be in tatters. Instead, look for unlined vinyl, polyester, oilcloth, or weather-proof nylon covers.
Weber Grill Covers
You pay a premium for the Weber branded grill cover compared with buying a third-party cover. The advantage would be that it will fit your grill snugly as it is designed for that model. Weber grill covers get good user rating from hundreds of buyers on Amazon.com. They are tough but lightweight and are made from durable polyester fabric. Many people report using them for five or ten years without needing to replace them.
However, some buyers report that the Weber Summit grill cover has venting holes on the top, which allows rain in if you aren't keeping your grill in a covered area. Moisture infiltration can be a problem with the cover freezing to the top and side of the grill in cold weather,
Third-Party Grill Covers
Buyers report buying less-expensive universal grill covers from Lowe's and Home Depot and having to replace them each year. In this case, you may get off with a lower price, but if the cover is flimsy and deteriorates after only a season, you would be better off buying a more expensive, better-made grill cover.
The flip side of a flimsy grill cover is getting one that is so thick and heavy it is hard to wrangle it onto and off of the grill. This can be a case where you need one that is just right, which may be the Weber grill cover.
Check Amazon.com and customer reviews for a grill cover before you buy one to see what others are saying about it. If you have any difficulty in lifting a heavy cover, you may want a lighter one.
If you live in a windy area, look for grill covers that have velcro straps to secure the cover to the grill. Vents help keep air moving under the grill cover and ice formation in cold weather, but they need to be positioned so they also keep rain out.
Custom Grill Covers
You can find makers of custom grill covers online. One such is Vinyl Coverings by Mel, LLC. This may be a good option if you have a non-standard grill, especially if you've built it yourself. If you are handy at sewing and good with building your own patterns, it is certainly possible to sew your own.
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