Recent warm weather had people across Lawrence breaking out their grills for the season.

And while it’s been colder since then, there’s no doubt temperatures will rise soon – and the grills will be fired up again.

That means it’s time for an annual checkup of your patio cooking device.

That checkup could be a serious thing. The U.S. Fire Administration says accidents involving grills cause around 6,000 fires, 170 injuries, five fatalities and $35 million in property loss each year.

So before cooking out for the first time this spring, here are some easy tips for making sure your grill is both safe and working its best:

¢ Cleaning the grate: Use a grill brush or a piece of aluminum foil to remove any charred residue that remains from the last grilling season.

There probably aren’t any bacteria on the grate. The grill gets hot enough to kill those, says Karen Blakeslee, an extension associate for K-State Research & Extension in Manhattan.

“But it could catch on fire,” she says, “which could catch your food on fire.”

Leaving some of the charred residue on the grate can help with flavor enhancement. But Blakeslee says it doesn’t take much of that to work.

Also, the less black residue on the grate, the hotter it can become. And it will help the grate from rusting.

¢ Start from scratch: Remove charcoal from the grills and start with new coals. Also remove grease from the drain, if your grill has one.

¢ Burn, baby: Check your gas burner for buildup. If there is enough gunk on there, you might need to replace the burner, Blakeslee says.

The National Propane Gas Association suggests cleaning out the gas ports of the burner with a toothpick.

¢ The NPGA suggests sanding or scraping chipped areas of your grill’s paint, then painting over it with a coat of primer and a paint made to withstand high heat.

¢ Gas problems: Rich Barr, fire marshal for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical, suggests inspecting propane-line hoses to see if they need replaced.

“You should make sure they haven’t developed cracks in them in the cold weather,” Barr says. “You could have flames coming out from under the grill.”

The NPGA suggests brushing soapy water on gas connections, and then turning on the gas. If there are bubbles, turn off the gas and tighten the connections.

¢ Shutting it off: Barr suggests always turning off the propane at the tank, not just the valve at the burner.

¢ Grill location: When deciding where to put your grill for the spring and summer, Barr says to choose a location that’s at least 5 feet away from any combustible wall or overhang.