Smoke leaking through the door

[jpxavier]

Brand new vertical smoker from Lowes.
Smoke is leaking through the door during the burn off. Appears to be gaps in the gasket and the body/door.
Is this normal? Shared the video with Pit Boss support. They say the smoker is doing what it is supposed to be doing.
They say it looks like a demo video for the smoker. I don't believe it.
Isn't the smoke supposed stay in and escape through the smoke stack?

did anyone else experience this? appreciate any comments.

 

[Mike From R.I.]

Is your vent wide open? I have the same smoker and never seen it leak smoke like that.

 

[jpxavier]

Thank you Mike. Yes, I think it was open. I remember adjusting it to be at least 2" high. It must have been a little later... Good point.
I guess I will need to try it again.

Is your vent wide open? I have the same smoker and never seen it leak smoke like that.

 

[mixed up]

mind did that I bent the latch a bit to tighten seal or loosen the screws and try adjusting it back

 

[Steve In Pa]

My vertical did and does leak smoke now and then. Original issue was a cracked gasket that PB replaced. But then I’ve found that when I have the machine cranked up, like for a burn off smoke will still seep out the door just a bit, or even out through the grease trap area. But with normal ops, no big deal.

 

[Redoctapus]

Brand new vertical smoker from Lowes.
Smoke is leaking through the door during the burn off. Appears to be gaps in the gasket and the body/door.
Is this normal? Shared the video with Pit Boss support. They say the smoker is doing what it is supposed to be doing.
They say it looks like a demo video for the smoker. I don't believe it.
Isn't the smoke supposed stay in and escape through the smoke stack?

did anyone else experience this? appreciate any comments.

Hello Xavier,
I have a PBV5 COMP. Raise the stack cover until there is at least 1/4" of daylight visible between smoke stake tube and bottom edge of the Chinamens cap.

Also, on my door latch there is an adjustment to pull the door in closer. The one I was looking at yesterday has a different style than my 2 year old unit. Don't be afraid to get Channel Lock pliers to tweak the tabs on the latch assembly to make the latch pull in tighter. Try manipulating the door with your hands pushing in the door tighter to stop the smoke, if this works you will know an adjustment will work. Worst case scenario is relocation of the latch or getting a latch on AMAZON that has an adjustable turnbuckle latch.

Depending on the weather I always adjust the stack cap or damper. My procedure is to open damper fully. Then start closing it a little at a time until I see smoke leaking anywhere around the smoke chamber. Once you achieve this pause for a minute, then slowly adjust the cap/damper until just the slightest bit of smoke leaks anywhere around the smoke chamber

Sometimes I have to move or turn my smoker to let the wind help the leakage. If the wind is leeward to your vertical smoker it will be more likely to leak around the door. Facing the door windward will lessen smoke loss around the door.

Check this out!
Black Door Latch Kit Replacement Parts 990050222 for Most Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker https://a.co/d/8cWg5GS

Hope this helps.

I have owned 3 different pellet smokers from 3 different manufacturers, and I have built 3 other smokers. My Chinamens hats have two purposes, trust me.

 

[Tim W]

Thank you Mike. Yes, I think it was open. I remember adjusting it to be at least 2" high. It must have been a little later... Good point.
I guess I will need to try it again.

You can take the cap clear off a try it and check for a extra nut caught but I have 6 probe wires running in the door and no smoke iike that.

 

[jpxavier]

Raise the stack cover until there is at least 1/4" of daylight visible b

Hello Xavier,
I have a PBV5 COMP. Raise the stack cover until there is at least 1/4" of daylight visible between smoke stake tube and bottom edge of the Chinamens cap.

Also, on my door latch there is an adjustment to pull the door in closer. The one I was looking at yesterday has a different style than my 2 year old unit. Don't be afraid to get Channel Lock pliers to tweak the tabs on the latch assembly to make the latch pull in tighter. Try manipulating the door with your hands pushing in the door tighter to stop the smoke, if this works you will know an adjustment will work. Worst case scenario is relocation of the latch or getting a latch on AMAZON that has an adjustable turnbuckle latch.

Depending on the weather I always adjust the stack cap or damper. My procedure is to open damper fully. Then start closing it a little at a time until I see smoke leaking anywhere around the smoke chamber. Once you achieve this pause for a minute, then slowly adjust the cap/damper until just the slightest bit of smoke leaks anywhere around the smoke chamber

Sometimes I have to move or turn my smoker to let the wind help the leakage. If the wind is leeward to your vertical smoker it will be more likely to leak around the door. Facing the door windward will lessen smoke loss around the door.

Check this out!
Black Door Latch Kit Replacement Parts 990050222 for Most Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker https://a.co/d/8cWg5GS

Hope this helps.

Thank you very much. All excellent suggestions that I must try.

 

[Freedbyjc]

Brand new vertical smoker from Lowes.
Smoke is leaking through the door during the burn off. Appears to be gaps in the gasket and the body/door.
Is this normal? Shared the video with Pit Boss support. They say the smoker is doing what it is supposed to be doing.
They say it looks like a demo video for the smoker. I don't believe it.
Isn't the smoke supposed stay in and escape through the smoke stack?

did anyone else experience this? appreciate any comments.

Your rain cap on top of the chimney stack ... spin it up all the way to the top and run it wide open for the best air flow. It’s NOT a chimney damper like on a stick burner that you need to adjust to control the heat in the barrel, the awesome PitBoss controller constantly monitors the digital temperature probe readings and its algorithms runs the auger to regulate the heat in the barrel and the combustion fan runs constantly to help maintain the fire... so you don’t have to babysit it.


It is just a rain cap... wide open will give you the best air flow for a quicker startup and the best temperature maintenance. You can adjust it down some to maintain your barrel temperatures in extremely low temperatures.