The summers in Burlington, NC are filled with beautiful, sunny days — the kind that are perfect for a backyard barbecue. Before you invite your friends over for some dogs, burgers, or steaks, take a few minutes to review basic grilling safety. Here are three reminders that may seem basic, but they can help you ensure your time at the grill is fun this summer, and reduce the chances that you have to file a homeowners insurance claim for a grill-related accident.

Stay Safe While Grilling

Like almost all types of cooking, grilling is generally safe. As long as you pay attention, it’s a perfectly fine (and fun) way to cook up a variety of foods. When outside, however, it’s easy to become distracted, which is why you should be extra careful to:

• avoid drinking excessively, as it will impair your judgment
• only turn on the gas when your grill’s top is open, so gas doesn’t build up inside the grill
• properly clean your grill after each use, to prevent foods that could catch fire from building up

At times, you might have to decline an additional beer or delay a conversation for a few minutes while you clean your grill. Making sure you stay safe, though, will let you invite your friends over for another barbecue later in the season.

Check Your Homeowners Insurance

Even if you take every precaution, you can’t completely eliminate a potential grilling disaster; mistakes happen and things go wrong. It’s during these times that you need homeowners insurance.

Therefore, you should also make sure your homeowners insurance would cover a grilling related claim. If you have questions about your policy, feel free to call us at Don Allred Insurance. Even if we didn’t sell it to you, one of our independent insurance agents will review it to make sure you’re completely covered. If you aren’t, they can help you find a policy that provides the protection you need.