Clean your cookers!

[Big Poppa]

Just a little reminder that regardless of your cooker you should routinely make sure that the fire pot is empty and your airflow isnt being restricted....This time of year we get calls for owners...."I had a hard time with temp" "he smoke was a different color" I started smoking like crazy and then there was a loud pop"

Panic is setting in with these people and it is the easiest cure.....The pellets need air to burn correctly.....the intelligent controllers can compensate for everything but a burn area with clogged airways.....

If you have done a long cook....just do a quick cleanup before your next cook....at the very least it should be checked every third cook

 

[FLBentRider]

I've gotten into the habit of cleaning out the firepot after every cook.

make that before every cook.

 

[TentHunter]

Great advice!

Like Randy, we've just gotten in the habit cleaning out the firepot before starting each cook. The firepot is cool then and it only takes a minute. Not only does it keep air flowing better but consider this. If the ignitor rod isn't buried in ash, then it can ignite pellets easier and will in turn last longer.

 

[muebe]

I find that my fire pot on my Memphis stays much cleaner than my old Traeger. I think the cool down function really helps contribute to that. I did have my Traeger modified with a fan switch for cooling down. But one time I had a pellet hopper fire due to I shut it down around 500F and left the fan on for cool down. The pellets burned all the way up the auger and into the pellet chamber. Don't have that problem with my Memphis though

I still clean it out every couple cooks

 

[squirtthecat]

Ditto.

Been down the 'smoke like crazy then pop' route. Although mine when 1 step further.

 

[Big Poppa]

Muebe here is why I did this post...heheheh I have to come clean so to speak....besides fielding a coupe of new customers panic calls over the weekend...I went to do a pizza on the memphis advantage...I am at a different house for the summer and kind of knew that the smoke was a little funky....ahhh I should have cleaned it...."it will be fine for this cook" ruined two pizzas....It is very clean now!!!!!

 

[Chili Head]

I clean mine after every other cook at least.

 

[fishingbouchman]

I try and keep it looking clean. Most of my cooks are short so I clean it evey other use. Expensive and want to keep it running good.

 

[Thom Emery]

a little shop vac dedicated to ash duty does the trick

 

[El Guapo]

a little shop vac dedicated to ash duty does the trick

I bought one on sale at Lowe's that is my smoker vac. Makes cleaning very easy.

 

[squirtthecat]

True Value has a little one on sale for Father's Day. 2 gallon, I think. Mine is about to be retired, as it has pulled so much 'mud' in, that the hose it almost sealed shut.

 

[Jaybaer]

You got that right. Had a couple of crazy scenarios with my Memphis Elite this week on clogs in the burn pot and igniter tube. Need to get a hand-held vacuum with attachment and keep it underneath.