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Covers

What can I say about barbecue and patio heater covers, in essence about any cover, beyond the fact that they cover? OK I know what I can say...

You have to accept the fundamental fact of life that all things deteriorate. There are various things that you can do about that. Buy them in better materials to start with ie stainless steel as opposed to ordinary steel that rusts. Put things away in a nice warm dry place having scrupulously cleaned them. Buy a new item when the old one is clapped out. Or buy a cover. A cover doesn't work as well as a nice dry shed (if you don't have one try the lounge), but it keeps the worst of the British weather off and is a lot more convenient than putting it away each time. Obviously leaving it under a tree all winter on damp grass or round the back where it's perpetually damp and no sun reaches, even with a cover on, is not as good as a sunny, well ventilated place.

No cover is 100% waterproof. OK I'll amend that comment, most covers aren't 100% waterproof. They tend to be labelled as showerproof - keeping 90% of the rain and sun off. The few that are 100% waterproof sometimes have the same effect as showerproof ones as moisture condenses under the cover, so still producing puddles of water on and in your barbecue. But as I've said before it does keeps the worst of the British weather off - both rain and sun - and is a lot more convenient than putting it away. Covers certainly help repel the bits of dirt and dust that abrade the surfaces and clog up the burners.

An interesting observation when it comes to patio heaters and covers. Be aware that a strong wind channeling between and around houses etc can blow patio heaters over, especially if the usual ballast of a full bottle of gas is not in the base. We do a nice trade in replacement reflectors in the spring. To this end manufacturers try two piece covers (they let water run down the pole), figure hugging ones (that sometimes are a job to fit) and mini ones (that just cover the burner unit). The main thing is to keep them out of the wind or tie them to something during the winter. You'll kick yourself if, after having read this, yours goes over because you didn't tie it down!