Should You Repair Your DCS 27” Built-In Grill or Replace with an Artisan or Solaire Grill?

If you have a DCS gas grill, you’re likely already familiar with many of the amazing features this brand has to offer. With uncompromised performance, these grills are a popular go-to for chefs and restaurants. DCS was the first manufacturer to bring commercial quality cooking to the outdoors.

Specifically, the DCS 27” Built-In grill was handcrafted for professional cooks, offering smoke, sear, and rotisserie features, high-quality stainless steel, and unmatched heating capabilities. It was an extremely popular BBQ grill before it was discontinued. So, if you have this particular grill, you may at some point face the decision of having to buy new parts or replace your grill altogether.

So, how do you decide which route to take if your DCS 27” needs some TLC? Tips on repairing your old DCS Click Here.

If you aren’t sure whether you should repair or replace your DCS 27” grill, our guide will help you decide. Plus, we at The BBQ Depot offer both repair parts and Alfresco Artisan 26” or Solaire 27XL replacement grills to suit your needs, no matter what you decide.

Repairing vs. Replacing Your DCS 27” Built-In Grill

First, you will need to determine the total cost of the replacement parts if you are considering going that route. It if adds up to more than the cost of buying a new Alfresco Artisan 26” or Solaire 27XL ,then replacing your grill entirely is the most affordable option. You also may just want a new grill with a warranty as well.

We feel it is time to replace the grill when the cost to rebuild outweighs the cost of purchasing a new one. And since the DCS 27” grill has been discontinued, that means going with a different (yet similar) grill option. The replacement grill we recommend is the Alfresco Artisan American Eagle 26” Built-In grill or Solaire IRBQ-27XL.

Repair – Determining the Costs of DCS 27” Grill Repair Parts

If you think your grill may be in a repairable condition, then your next step is to determine which new parts you need and how much they will cost. Note that if the manifold (the metal tubing that supplies gas to the valves) goes bad, the grill must be replaced.

Here is a breakdown of the most common DCS 27” Built-In grill parts you may need in order to restore your grill to working condition:

Burners

DCS 27” series burners have either Cast Iron or Stainless Steel Burners (depending on how old the grill is) and cost around $61.95 for the Cast Iron $73.95 for the Stainless U per burner for an aftermarket replacement. For OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts, you can expect to pay 4 times the aftermarket price each, depending on the exact grill model. You’ll want to determine the right size for your specific grill. At The BBQ Depot, we offer lower prices on aftermarket DCS grill burners.

Lave Radiant Tray or Trays that use Ceramic Rollers

The Grills that have the cast iron burners use lava radiant trays that sit on top of the burner. Grills with the Stainless U burners have the Ceramic Roller Trays. You can find DCS radiant trays for approximately $50 each, aftermarket (OEM $115.00), along with ceramic rollers for $42.99 for a box of 10. Each tray takes 18 Ceramic Rods. The best way to determine the right replacement tray is to look at your grill’s model number.

Cooking Grates

Replacement grill grates for the DCS 27” are available in the Porcelain Coated Steel for approx $142 OEM each. What we are finding is that these grates are no longer manufactured by DCS and are consistently coming in chipped. There are aftermarket alternatives in Stainless Steel which are not only Made in the USA but, will last much longer. Be sure to select your correct depth. There were 2 choices in the 27" : 18 1/2" or 19 1/2" depending on the age of the grill. 

Warming Rack

Warming racks are used to keep your food warm, typically after they have already been grilled. They’re great for finishing off steaks, melting cheese, keeping hamburger buns warm, or warming your vegetables while you grill meat.

A replacement DCS warming rack will cost you about $225. Older 27" Grills that used the cast iron burner, a warming rack is no longer available.

Valves

Gas grill valves attach to the grill’s manifold. When you turn on the valve, gas flows to help ignite the grill. For your DCS grill, these will cost you about $19 for an aftermarket replacement. 

Ignition

Grill not starting? You may need a new ignition. Before going online to find a replacement ignition, look to find your model number to determine the exact ignition component you need. Older DCS Grills used Rotary Spark Generators and Newer Grills used a Battery Operated. Once you do, you can find ignition parts on our website starting at $17, depending on the spark generator used.

While replacing the parts on your DCS grill could bring it back to working condition, you should keep in mind that replacement parts do not carry a warranty, thus leaving you with no protection on your investment. This is worth considering if you are trying to decide between repairing your DCS 27” grill or replacing it with an Alfresco Artisan 26" Grill or the Solaire 27XL.

Not sure what parts your grill needs? Contact us – we’ll be happy to help!

Replace – Should You Invest in an Alfresco Artisan 26” Grill or Solaire 27XL?

Say you’ve done the math and found that it will cost hundreds of dollars in new parts in order to fix your DCS 27” Built-In grill. That’s a lot of moolah to invest in making an old grill as good as new.

Much like fixing up your old car, if you are spending more money on parts than it would cost to buy a new one, it may be best to just opt for a new grill. Even if the cost of parts come in below the cost of a new grill, you should consider the long-term investment as well. Remember that replacement parts do not include a warranty and a new grill will.

For these reasons, you may decide to replace your DCS with a different brand or model. If you love the features of your DCS, then we highly recommend the Alfresco Artisan American Eagle 26 (with Trim Kit) or the Solaire 27XL as a replacement.

About Alfresco Grills – Artisan Series

Alfresco is nationally renowned for making some of the highest quality, USA-made commercial grills on the market. They have been making grills for decades, and have near perfected the art of outdoor grilling.

We are a proud partner of Alfresco not only because of their grill quality, but also their commitment to providing the most refined grilling experience possible. They even work with gourmet chefs to create appliances that suit their needs and live up to their high expectations.

The Artisan grill line is the younger child of Alfresco Professional Grills. It encompasses the same quality you expect from the Alfresco line, just with slightly scaled-down features.

Alfresco Artisan 26" Built-in Grill Features

The Alfresco Artisan 26" Built-in Grill, with trim kit, is the perfect fit for lovers of the DCS 27”. It’s an aesthetically appealing grill that’s about the same size as the DCS 27” grill. It has two burners, boasting 20,000 BTU's per burner.

The grill utilizes a briquette tray and ceramic rods to spread heat evenly across the grilling surface. The ignition is a 9-volt system, eliminating any need for electricity. The stainless-steel warming rack has a two-position setting so you can lift it up and out of the way while grilling.

Specs:

• Made in the USA
• 2, 20000 BTU stainless-steel U-burners
• Ceramic heat delivery system
• Stainless-steel cooking grates
• Seamless welded double skin hood
• Built-in thermometer
• Attractive chrome knobs and embossed logo
• Stainless-steel warming rack
• Attractive high-touch bullnose
• 9-volt electronic ignition with heat resistant encased wiring
• Cut out: 24 1/2" W x 19 " D x 9 1/2" H

Cost:

$1,698 with trim kit (at TheBBQDepot.com)

Warranty:

• Stainless U Burners: 15 years
• All Stainless-Steel Parts: 10 years
• Briquette Trays (ceramic briquettes excluded): 3 years
• Ignition Systems (Batteries excluded) and Thermometer: 1 year

In summary, the Alfresco Artisan Series 26 grill is a near-exact replacement for the discontinued DCS 27” grill. It offers many of the same features, with gourmet outdoor cooking quality. If you choose to replace your DCS grill, feel free to contact us if you have any questions during the process.

About Solaire AGBQ or IRBQ-27XL

Solaire has been manufacturing grills for decades. They manufacture high quality commercial grade stainless grills with a lifetime warranty to back it up! The 27 XL is an almost perfect replacement for the DCS 27. 

Their grills are known for for their infrared cooking system which delivers more juicer foods though, you can select a grill with a Convection (U Burner) if open flame grilling is your preference. If at any time you want to switch out your burners giving you greater versatility, you can with Solaire and Artisan.

Specs:

• Made in the USA
• 2 - 16000 BTU Burners (Choice of Stainless U, Infrared or one of each)
• Stainless-steel V cooking grates
• Metal Control Knobs
• Double Skin Hood
• Hand Polished Mirror Accents
• Stainless-steel warming rack
• Battery Ignition
• Cut out: 26" W x 21 " D x 8 7/8" H

Cost:

$1,897 without no Rotisserie (IRBQ) and $2297 with Rotisserie (AGBQ)

Warranty:

• Burners: Lifetime
• Stainless V Grates : Lifetime
• Ignition Systems (Batteries excluded) : 2 years
• One Year Remaining Parts

Outdated DCS 27” Grill – Fix it or Nix it?

You may have gotten a lot of love and fond grilling memories out of your DCS 27” grill, but wear and tear can take its toll throughout the years. Then you may need to decide whether it’s worth it to repair your grill by buying new parts or buying a new grill for a long-term investment.

The costs of repair parts can add up to hundreds of dollars or more, and while this may still be under the cost of a new $1,500 grill, you need to consider what’s going to last for years to come.

Plus, replacement parts for the discontinued DCS 27” grill are hard to come by. Years from now, you may not be able to make the same repairs.

If you are in it for the long-term investment of a high-quality grill, we recommend the Alfresco Artisan 26” grill or Solaire's 27XL. The Artisan 26" with trim kit will be an exact replacement while Solaire 27XL is a close match, but with the benefit that you can still find these grills and parts sold online. In addition, all of the grills come with a warranty. This is your best bet for a commercial-grade grill that will last.

No matter what you choose, The BBQ Depot is here to help! Got questions about repairing vs. replacing your grill? Contact Us today.

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The article “Replacing Your DCS 27 Built-in Grill” was originally published July 2017 but has since been updated to reflect new information.