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16 replies

Ventilation Concerns

FM Former Member
I have my Smokette enclosed in a Suncast Storage shed like RichH in the "Show us your Setup". I have 2-2"x4"(one on each side) vents and 5- 1" diameter vents(on the back). The smoker seems to be getting much hotter with it enclosed. Will inadequate ventilation make the smoker heat up to a hotter temp?
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P pagsMember
Are you talking the smoker's internal temperature or the temperature externally? Internally the smoker should run the same with the storage doors closed.

Externally you might expect it to warm up inside the shed and the outside of the smoker getting a little warmer with the storage doors closed. Have you considered venting the smoker like a couple folks have done in the setup forum in order to evacuate smoke and heat? I'm thinking about a setup like Brewbeck or Trucky1008.
S smokinmaineiacMember
quote:
Originally posted by roach8419:
I have my Smokette enclosed in a Suncast Storage shed like RichH in the "Show us your Setup". I have 2-2"x4"(one on each side) vents and 5- 1" diameter vents(on the back). The smoker seems to be getting much hotter with it enclosed. Will inadequate ventilation make the smoker heat up to a hotter temp?


I have the exact same setup. I have a couple of 3" vents in the back like RichH.

The smoker should maintain whatever temp you set it at. Naturally, the exterior of the smoker would get a lot hotter than if it were out in the open.

The only problem I have found is that I have to split the wood chunks quite fine to get them to smoke properly. I mean no bigger than 1/2" by 1/2".

On a really hot summer day I can hardly get any somke at all at 225, so if the weather is not threatening rain I will leave the doors of the storage shed during a cook.

All things considered I like my set-up. I can smoke in rain or snow and not worry about getting the smoker's electronics or insulation wet. Truely a set it and forget it smoker.
FM Former Member
I think there are two questions here.

1) Will it heat up hotter?

I don't think so. The insulation would be the same if you had it outside in a 100 degree day. So I don't think that's it. I think the heat of the exhaust is staying in the cabinet and that's heating up the outside more and that leads to...

2) Ventilation?

I don't think the lack of ventilation will affect the smoke as long as there is good turnover of the air. If it stagnates and it's the same air, then it would affect it. I'd look at cross flow and have vents high and low to allow enough air to move out.
FM Former Member
I have a 3" inch pipe coming down from the top of the shed and ending about 6" from the hole in the top of the smokette like RichH to vent the smoke. Keep in mind i did do my testing without any food so it won't get as hot loaded with food. But externally, it's pretty hot to the touch which makes me concerned about my shed catching fire. Is it reasonable for it to get this hot externally in the shed? Previous posts have said how you can hardly tell it's on by feeling the outside because they are so well insulated. I was concerned i may not have enough airflow and that was making the smoker get hotter internally than normal. I guess i can set it out of the shed and see if the internal temp of the smoker gets as hot.
As long as you have smoke ventilation out the top, shouldn't it produce smoke just the same?
cal 2cal 2Member
When dealing with air movement in house roofs. They say have vents in the soffit and roof vents in the top. The idea is that cooler air flows in the bottom and hot air rises and flows out the top. This will cause a normal draw/circulation of air, guess this would work for a small enclosed shed if you have some vents toward the bottom.
S smokinmaineiacMember
quote:
Originally posted by roach8419:
I have a 3" inch pipe coming down from the top of the shed and ending about 6" from the hole in the top of the smokette like RichH to vent the smoke. Keep in mind i did do my testing without any food so it won't get as hot loaded with food. But externally, it's pretty hot to the touch which makes me concerned about my shed catching fire. Is it reasonable for it to get this hot externally in the shed? Previous posts have said how you can hardly tell it's on by feeling the outside because they are so well insulated. I was concerned i may not have enough airflow and that was making the smoker get hotter internally than normal. I guess i can set it out of the shed and see if the internal temp of the smoker gets as hot.
As long as you have smoke ventilation out the top, shouldn't it produce smoke just the same?


I have a 3" smokestack coming out of the roof of the shed on my set up also. I have cooked at 300 degrees with the shed doors closed and have had no problems with anything overheating. My vents are just above table level on the rear of the shed, and I also have a hole in the bottom half of the shed for the electrical cord.

The exterior of the smoker does get hot, but as long as there is air space between the smoker and the shed thermal convection within the shed will prevent the shed from melting or igniting.

The temperature inside the smoker is controlled by the sensor on the back wall of the smoker and should not overheat. The controller will not call for the heat element to come on as much because the ambient temperature in the shed is so warm. So open the door on hot days and split your wood smaller.

Or, put in more and larger vents Smiler
S smokinmaineiacMember
quote:
Originally posted by roach8419:
Thank you all for your response. The rear of my smokette does butt right up against the plastic on the shed. It doesn't feel like the back of the smoker gets as hot to the touch like the sides, front and top. I've got some air space all around except for the back.


Hi Justin,

My SM025 touches the back of my plastic garden shed in places. I have the same shed you do.

I just checked the back of my shed, inside and out, and found no heat damage of any kind.

My experience leads me to believe you'd be OK to go ahead and use your smoker inside the shed, doors opened or closed, but your experience my not be the same as mine.

Gary
S smokinmaineiacMember
I have the 20cuft garden shed setup. Smoke will come out of my SM025 and up the smokestack in a stream. You do not need any additional fan to get the smoke to pour straight up into the smokestack. In fact, you could actually end up with flames in the woodbox with too much airflow if you are not careful. Without the smokestack the smoke will hang around in the garden shed and not be directed out of the shed.

Sometimes I smoke with the doors open and the smoke drifts out with no problem, but if it is raining or if rain is predicted while the smoking is underway I will close the doors.

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