Since 2011, the car manufacturer, Mazda, has recalled approximately 92,000 cars—all because of spiders. Somehow, hordes of eight-legged critters had found their way into the engines of these cars and set up home. Obviously, spider silk and pipes meant to channel fuel do not mix and this combination can in fact lead to accidents. The same is true of outdoor grills, the gas kind.

Although Australian winters aren't as harsh as those in the Northern Hemisphere, spiders will seek to shelter inside the cosy, dark interiors of your gas grill's burner pipes and hoses. However, spider silk and gas grill burners do not play nice together.

Clogged Burners Can Cause Fires

When spiders fill a burner with their thick strands of nesting silk, the flow of gas through the pipes is interrupted. This can lead to a number of issues. The least that can happen is that you struggle to ignite affected burners. In some cases, the flames of the affected pipes may be dangerously high or uneven.

In the worst case scenario, gas may be forced back inside the grill via the venture tube, causing the outer surface of the grill to overheat. This can lead to flash fires and painfully hot control knobs. So what do you do to keep spiders from turning your gas grill into a fire hazard?

Maintain and Clean Your Grill Regularly

To make spiders think twice about nesting in your grill, turn it on periodically and maybe even grill a steak or two—even in winter. This will keep you updated as to the grill's status and keep spiders from invading.

You should also focus on cleaning out the burner pipes once or twice a week. This can be achieved by running a flexible grill cleaning brush through each of the burners. Doing this will remove any nests within the pipes so that you aren't unpleasantly surprised when next grilling some food.

Cover the Burner Unit

Prevent spiders from gaining entry to the burner pipes by completely wrapping the burner unit in a material such as plastic. Spiders will no longer be able to access the pipes. Also keep your grill's main gas line sealed shut with a plastic bag to stop spiders nesting in there.

Summer is still a few months away yet. That gives spiders plenty of time to clog up your gas grill pipes with spider silk. Stay vigilant and remember the dangers. If you are worried that your grill and the surrounding area may be infested with poisonous spiders such as redbacks or funnel-web spiders, you need the help of a pest control service to eradicate the infestation.