Should I Buy An Extended Warranty On My New Grill?

See for Yourself on Consumer Reports

Buying a new grill can be big. There are so many things to consider. What size? How powerful? Do I need a rotisserie? A smoker? Oooh...some grills come with LED lights for nighttime cooking! Do we go with all the bells and whistles, or should we scale back a bit? Built-in or freestanding? And, of course, the old debate: charcoal or gas.

With all of the options, the time spent considering them, and of course, the expense, you may think that an extended warranty is the perfect way to protect yourself and your grill. So, should you buy an extended warranty for your grill?

Conventional wisdom says no. Why not, you may ask? You’ve spent the time and money sweating over which grill you want to commit to (because we all know it’s a long-term relationship). Why not purchase an extended warranty to make sure your grill is going to be okay for many happy years to come?

 The Reasoning

Most grills will come with a great warranty already included, straight from the manufacturer. Which components are covered and for how long will vary depending on the manufacturer and, in some cases, the model.

You’re doing your research on the grill that’s right for you; make sure you research the grill’s warranty. At Barbeques Galore, we don’t offer any extended warranties. Doesn’t seem reasonable? Wanna know why? Here's the breakdown:

• Most extended warranties are just big money makers for the retailer, with profit margins of up to 50%.
• Many extended warranties are contracted out to a different company, with no guarantee on the work done.
• Many platinum or gold credit cards offer warranties above and beyond any manufacturer warranty. Check with your credit card company while you're doing your research on your grill.
• Many “extended” warranties begin from the first day of purchase, meaning a two-year extended warranty may overlap with the original manufacturer’s warranty.
• If you’re an experienced grill master, and you’re willing and able, you may be able to source the parts for and fix anything not covered in your warranty. Just make sure this doesn’t render your warranty null and void first.

The Roundup

So what exactly does your grill’s warranty offer? It depends entirely on which grill you go with. It’s another important factor to take into account when you’re looking at buying a grill.

Here’s a list of some of our products and the warranties offered on them:

• Barbeques Galore: Yes, this is our brand, so it makes sense that we would back it. We offer a lifetime limited warranty on the cooking grids, stainless steel burners, flame tamers, valves, plastic and electrical components, and all other stainless steel parts.
• Hestan: These are high-quality grills, and their warranty guarantees a lifetime limited warranty on the exterior housing, valves, cooking grids, and burners. Flame tamers and valves have a five-year warranty, and ignitions and labor have a one-year warranty. Hestan also guarantees their painted exteriors for one year.
• Alfresco: Like the two brands above, Alfresco offers a limited lifetime warranty on the exterior of their grills, cooking grids, and burners. Flame tamers and valves get five years, and Ignition and labor are covered for two years.
• American Muscle Grills: These guys offer one of the most comprehensive warranties in the business, with exterior housing, valves, cooking grids, burners, and flame tamers on a lifetime limited warranty. The ignition is covered for a year. Labor is not covered.
• Broil King: Broil King offers a warranty that is a bit varied but would still cover all the bases. The grill exterior gets a limited lifetime warranty, while the burners are guaranteed for ten years. Cooking grids and flame tamers are under warranty for five years, while valves and ignition get two years.
• Weber: Weber’s warranties vary depending on the collection. Most of their collections receive a solid ten-year warranty on all components, while their “Spirit” collection offers a ten-year warranty on the exterior housing and burners, five on cooking grids and flame tamers, and two on the ignition and the valves.
• Napoleon: Like most of the other brands, Napoleon offers a limited lifetime warranty on exterior housing and cooking grids. They offer two years on valves and ignitions, and for their burners, they offer a ten-year warranty plus 50% off parts for life. Their flame tamers come with a five-year warranty plus 50% off parts for life. 

The Upshot

A grill is more than likely not going to be a spur-of-the-moment purchase. You’ve probably been looking at a particular grill or two for a long time, and you’ve probably heard from all of your friends and neighbors about their experiences with the different grills they’ve had over the years. You know what you’re looking for.

Most grills and grill accessories manufacturers are going to stand behind their products, and they back that up with warranties that allow you to make your purchase with confidence.

At Barbeques Galore, we only sell grills that we know are high-quality and stand the test of time. There will always be unforeseeable circumstances, but any quality grill will be backed by a quality warranty.

We want you to walk away feeling confident in your purchase and looking forward to the many happy grilling years to come.