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Vent: The neighbor's inflatable Halloween display nearly took out my grill
So Tuesday night a big windstorm rolled through our street here in Akron, and I'm watching from the kitchen window as this 12-foot skeleton starts tilting toward my patio. Before I could run out there, the thing snapped its tether and flew straight into my gas grill, knocking it over on its side. Now I've got a dented lid and a neighbor who won't stop apologizing. Anyone else ever had backyard gear wrecked by someone else's decorations?
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fisher.jessica17h ago
Wait, did you check if the gas line got crimped or the valves are still sealing right? I had a similar thing happen a few years back with a neighbor's windblown trampoline that took out my smoker, and I learned real quick to document everything with photos before moving stuff. Your neighbor sounds genuinely sorry, which is good, but a dented lid can mess with the heat distribution or trap moisture inside, so don't let them off the hook with just an apology. For a gas grill, I'd suggest taking the lid off and checking the hinges and the seal around the edge, since those are the parts that need to be tight to work safely. Honestly, if it's a common brand like Weber or Char-Broil, you might be able to order a replacement lid cheaper than the neighbor thinks, but still make them pay for it since their skeleton did the damage.
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luna26117h ago
Did your neighbor at least offer to replace the grill, or is it all just "sorry" and no action? Because a dented lid on a gas grill isn't always a cheap fix, especially if the hinges got bent or the drip tray cracked. Kind of feels like they should be liable for it since their decoration was the one that physically crashed into your property.
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rowan_ross15h ago
Three dented lids and two apologetic neighbors later, I'm starting to think my grill is cursed. @fisher.jessica I'd honestly just take the lid off and hit it with a rubber mallet before bothering with a replacement since the hinges on mine are still good and the seal is intact. The skeleton thing is hilarious though, like imagine explaining to the insurance adjuster "yeah a plastic skeleton flew into my Weber and now I'm filing a claim." If the neighbor is actually sorry they should be offering to split the cost of a new lid at minimum.
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