Maintenance and Operating Tips

Regularly change the aluminum foil on your angled drip pan(s). This will reduce the likelihood of grease fires and flare-ups.
Spray your grease catch bucket with vegetable spray. Then, when you're ready to empty it, the drippings will more easily slide out. Take a wad of paper towels to swab down the inside of the bucket. In hot weather, empty the grease on a more frequent basis---so it doesn't turn rancid.
The easiest way to clean your porcelain coated cooking grids is to take a piece of aluminum foil and rub it over and between the grids. This is best done when the grids are warm. Be careful not to burn yourself! Use a long sleeve barbecue mitt to protect your hand and forearm.
Each month, while your grill is cold, remove the cooking grids, angled drip pan and U-shaped firepot cover and give your grill a good cleaning with a shop-vac. Vacuum out the pellet ash from inside and around the firepot and bottom of the cooking chamber. Use a vegetable brush to knock-off built up scale on the inside walls of your barbecue.
Easiest way to clean your cooking grids is to place them inside your self-cleaning oven and turn the knob to CLEAN. Both the oven and cooking grids will be clean as a whistle, without having to use a lot of elbow grease. This is especially useful if your cooking grids are encrusted with food deposits.
Another way to clean your cooking grids is to place them in a heavy-duty yard debris sack, add one-half cup of ammonia, seal the bag closed. Lay the grids down flat overnight. The next day, remove the grids, thoroughly rinse with hot water and they'll be nice and clean. The ammonia helps to dissolve the grease on the grids.
If you own a stainless steel grill, remember to ALWAYS clean dirt and dust off the surface of the grill BEFORE you begin cooking. Use a damp cloth to do this job. Otherwise, the dirt cooks into the metal and discolors it.