I Wonder How Much BBQ Grills Will Cost in 5 Years?

[Ben]

EPA studying potential regulation of outdoor grills, to include catalytic converters.  That's gonna have to nearly double the price of a grill if it happens.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/03/17/lawmaker-calls-for-rebellion-against-epa-pollution-emissions-for-backyard/

[cordex]

Sounds like someone just invested in platinum.

[K Frame]

They've been rattling on about this on and off for years, but it's looking more serious.

How in the hell would you ever get a cat converter up to operating temperature with a grill?

That's insane. But that's the EPA for you.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

How's a catalytic converter supposed to work once it's covered in grease?

[K Frame]

How's a catalytic converter supposed to work once it's covered in grease?

I'd assume that, if it were to get hot enough to actually work as a catalytic converter, it would simply burn off any accumulated grease into a carbon ash.

[Calumus]

How's a catalytic converter supposed to work once it's covered in grease?

They'll end up being just like chain saws. If you want it to run properly, you remove the Cat before you even start the thing for the first time..

[K Frame]

They'll end up being just like chain saws. If you want it to run properly, you remove the Cat before you even start the thing for the first time..

FELONY! YOU'RE COMMITTING A FELONY!

Not to mention you're a rapist of the good mother earth!

Our motto -- The most extreme inconvenience for no measurable gain is the least we can impose on you.

[Hawkmoon]

I guess I should buy a new grille as soon as Lowe's puts them on sale. I haven't had one for several years. Wasn't planning to buy one, but this could be an incentive.

I'll bet the grille manufacturers' association is behind this -- anything to generate panic buying must be good, right? (Hey, it worked for AR-15s and ammunition!)

[mtnbkr]

I wonder if they're going to try and regulate fire pits. 

Chris

[cordex]

Mike, I would have thought you'd be in favor of this.  After all, based on these statistics I just made up, grilling an average steak is as bad for the environment as burning six floppy disks.

What is the wisdom on long-lasting grills?  Is stainless all around still the gold standard, or is there something better these days?

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I have visions of an expensive, finely made honeycomb platinum ceramic structure all plugged solid with hamburger fat.  

Reading the article, it's even better.  They plan to have the grill's exhaust force-fed through the converter.  "[T]he emission removal system includes the use of a 'secondary air filtration system is composed of a single pipe duct system which contains a specialized metal filter, a metal fan blade, a drive shaft, and an accompanying power system with either a motorized or manual method'".

Yeah, no.  I'll build my own grill out of a pile of bricks before I put up with that nonsense.

[K Frame]

Mike, I would have thought you'd be in favor of this.  After all, based on these statistics I just made up, grilling an average steak is as bad for the environment as burning six floppy disks.

What is the wisdom on long-lasting grills?  Is stainless all around still the gold standard, or is there something better these days?

What do you think I fuel my grill with?

I have a Weber kettle that I don't use much these days. The biggest secret to a long lasting grill of any type is to clean out the ashes at the end of the season and give everything a good cleaning. Unfortunately, the spot welds on the legs are eventually going to give out no matter what you do. That's one of the biggest flaws of the Weber.

I tend to prefer cast iron cooking grates, myself. I'd put them in my kettle, but my god they are expensive!



"Yeah, no.  I'll build my own grill out of a pile of bricks before I put up with that nonsense."

Before I read your post I was thinking that very thing myself.

It's not hard at all to cobble together a very workable grilling solution.

[KD5NRH]

Does it even apply to actual grills, or just to those people who think they're "grilling" when they're only using a stripped down gas stove outside?

I mean really, if I want to cook over propane, I'll do it inside with air conditioning and a sink handy.  Outside is for wood.

[brimic]

The day that I'm required to have a cat converter on my grill is the day I burn a tire in my fire pit as protest.

[K Frame]

OH! This is only about propane (at this point).

Good lord.

[230RN]

Where there's smoke, there's EPA.

[T.O.M.]

So, declare the smoke from my Weber gas grill to be hazardous waste, require this super filtration system, and also require that the grill be inspected annually by a certified grill inspector, who will charge me $75 for my annual license.  Oh, and mandate that I wear a respirator while I cook on my grill.  And, I'm sure charcoal would be quickly caught up in this nightmare scenario, or outright banned for reasons I'm too outraged to even think about...

Oh, and for you charcoal purists, I have two grills...a gas grill I use for fast cooks...burgers, hot dogs...simple and easy at the end of a work day.  Weber Spirit, 3 burner.  And, I have my father's Weber kettle that I bought him for father's day in 1989.  Old Smokey gets fired up for anything that is a low and slow cook.  Yeah, the wood handles have rotted away, and the vent covers in the bottom have rusted through, but the history, and the way it cooks...

They can have my grills when they pry them from my cold, greasy fingers...

[Ben]

I actually am surprised that they're focusing on gas grills at this time. The normal modus operandi would be to restrict or require permits for wood and charcoal, moving people to gas grills as "greener" alternatives, then ban charcoal, then start doing what they're studying now, and go after gas grills.

The way they're doing it now (and I recognize it's just a study at this time) would result in people saying "Screw paying $3000 for a Rube Goldberg gas grill - I'll buy a bag of charcoal and a steel fire pit from Costco."

[roo_ster]

Just when you think gov't can;t get more stupid and overbearing, something like this pops up.

Given:
1. Bricks, pavers, or concrete blocks.
2. A grill lattice.
3. A replacement burner element.
4. Metal garbage can lid.
5. Propane tank/bottle & hose to fit burner element.
6. 15 minutes of time and a few beers.

I could put together a nice propane grill.  No mortar needed.

[Ben]

Just when you think gov't can;t get more stupid and overbearing, something like this pops up.

Given:
1. Bricks, pavers, or concrete blocks.
2. A grill lattice.
3. A replacement burner element.
4. Metal garbage can lid.
5. Propane tank/bottle & hose to fit burner element.
6. 15 minutes of time and a few beers.

I could put together a nice propane grill.  No mortar needed.

Well, you'll get away with it until the new 18 bajillion dollar EPA enforcement satellite picks up the heat signature, identifies the gases, then sends an alert to the local EPA black ops team to come to your house and stomp your kitten's head.

 

[SADShooter]

Well, you'll get away with it until the new 18 bajillion dollar EPA enforcement satellite picks up the heat signature, identifies the gases, then sends an alert to the local EPA black ops team to come to your house and stomp your kitten's head.

 

Nah. Predator with onboard sensors plus Hellfire. Done.

[MechAg94]

If this were to happen, you would see a lot of fire pits show up in back yards and maybe more yard and house fires resulting.

[MechAg94]

Isn't most of the smoke emission from the burning grease and oil from the food, not the actual fire?

[RoadKingLarry]

Nah. Predator with onboard sensors plus Hellfire. Done.

Sorry folks, just another tragic accidental NG explosion, nothing to see here, move along.

[brimic]

Backwoods charcoal producers will become the new moonshiners.