Q&A: Springs man launches barbecue grill cleaning service

It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.

And David Thiele wants to be that somebody.

The Colorado Springs man has bid farewell to a career in information technology to launch his own business, Colorado BBQ Cleaning.

People love to grill, he reasons, but nobody wants to spend the time cleaning the grill — even though a greasy, dirty grill is both a fire danger and a health hazard, he says. Thiele’s mobile service employs a deep-cleaning system called The BBQ Cleaner.

Thiele, 41, grew up in Indiana and moved to Colorado in 1994, drawn in part by its natural beauty. He is attending DeVry University, majoring in network systems administration.

Question: After more than 20 years in information technology, you’re cleaning barbecue grills. Why the change?

Answer: Being in the information technology field is a very tough and challenging job due to the fact you have to keep up on everything new while still working with the older technology. I got tired of working for other people and wanted to control my own destiny. For years now, my wife and I have been looking for a niche in the market — trying to find a service that no one else provides and is a much-needed one. A clean barbecue grill is vital for your health and safety.

Q: What is The BBQ Cleaner system? It appears to be similar to a franchise, though it’s not, correct?

A: This system was developed by Ovenu in Europe and has been around since 1994. It was originally developed for cleaning household ovens. It was brought to the United States several years ago, where it incorporated BBQ Grill Cleaning. The BBQ Cleaner system is not a franchise. It’s a business opportunity. That is what attracted me to this service. There are no franchise fees or royalties. I run the business the way I want to.

Q:How did you learn about The BBQ Cleaner system? What kind of investment did it require?

A: I learned about the system through a business opportunities magazine. I was looking for a service that was unique. After extensive research to see if there was any competition, I found no other company in Colorado Springs offers it. The investment was significant due to the fact I wanted top-of-the-line equipment.

Q: The BBQ Cleaner website touts that “you can earn $77,000 a year, working just four to five hours a day.” What are your expectations? Are you hoping to make your living out of this? What about the winter months?

A: People barbecue year-round in Colorado due to the great weather. Thus we will be available to clean year-round to make it. A huge benefit of this system is that it was originally developed to clean ovens. I expect to be busy not only cleaning barbecue grills, but also cleaning ovens. I plan to offer other services as time goes on.

Q: What does the cleaning entail and how long does it take, or does it just depend on the condition of the grill? And what’s the typical charge?

A: We take the cooking racks or grill grates along with the flavorizer bars and place them into the back of my trailer, which cleans them using water and steam. This takes about 45 minutes. While that process is taking place, we wipe down the remaining parts of the grill with our special degreaser.

We then use an industrial-style vacuum cleaner to clean out the inside of the grill that removes the carbon buildup and burnt food inside. Lastly, we clean the drip pan, and then put it all back together and apply our special polish to make it shine. It’s a very simple yet effective process. The average job is about 2 1/2 hours.

The typical charge is $149.95 and largely depends on the size of the grill. I’m offering discounts for all new customers and senior citizens 55 and older.

I try to concentrate on the higher-end grills where people have made an actual investment as opposed to purchasing a “low end” or “throw away” barbecue grill from a discount store. I focus on residential only.

Q: Do you do any grill repairs?

A: I can replace worn or damaged parts on most grills such as grates, igniters, flavorizer bars, burners etc. Any problems with the gas line coming from the customer’s house needs to be diagnosed and fixed by a licensed plumber and/or heating and cooling specialist.

Q:  Your LinkedIn profile lists you as the owner of PikesPeak.org. It looks like an active site. What is it?

A: I bought the website due to the premium name. I figured that PikesPeak .org was a website that would be invaluable. It’s easy to remember and is the perfect site for a nonprofit organization.
I have it active and it has my personal business contacts as well as my barbecue cleaning business advertised on it. The site is for sale and I will consider all offers. The website is registered through May 8, 2019.

Q: You also have another website, ColoradoScenery.com. Is that a way to make money or simply an outlet for an apparent passion for photography?

A: I’ve actually had the website since the mid-1990s and I use it to showcase my photography. I enjoy getting e-mails from people commenting on my pictures.
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Questions and answers are edited for clarity and brevity. Contact the writer at 636-0272.

TO LEARN MORE
Colorado BBQ Cleaning: 339-2604 or www.coloradobbqcleaning.com
The BBQ Cleaner system: www.thebbqcleaner.com