WSM 18" Low Temperatures

[BeeRich]

Hi folks. Just wondering if anybody knows how to raise the temperature of my WSM 18". I've owned it for over ten years, use it multiple times a year, even in the winter during Toronto snow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esRaYb7AQgA&ab_channel=BeeRich33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH6c5aMusYw&ab_channel=BeeRich33

I'm mid way through a brisket and it hovered around 200 maybe for 5 hours. So it's into the oven at 250 wrapped.

I've been using lump but it's often bashed in the bag until it's small stuff and I haven't been able to get temps with that either. I thought it was because it couldn't breathe.

So I bought some Kingsford and it too hasn't worked. So now I'm lost.

All vents completely open, and not blocked. Minion method.

If you have any idea how I can get this temp up, I would love to hear it.

Cheers

 

[Shadowdog500]

What is the outside temp and how many briquettes are you starting the minion method with? Possibly start with more briquetts.

I assume you have water in the pan? I always do and don’t have problems reaching temp.

 

[smoke ninja]

are you using water in the pan? this will keep the temp lower.

how are you measuring temps? there are a lot of variables here, dome/lid therms are notoriously inaccurate

are you starting with enough lit coals? maybe your base fire is too small, try starting with more lit coals

a wsm should be able to hit 300+ with no water in the pan.

 

[BeeRich]

What is the outside temp and how many briquettes are you starting the minion method with? Possibly start with more briquetts.

I assume you have water in the pan? I always do and don’t have problems reaching temp.

Outside temp is ~15°C. I've used this smoker with the same charcoal at -20°C and it worked fine.

The charcoal ring is pretty much full, minus the space needed for the chimney. The water pan is filled with ceramic briquettes, as I have always had. That hasn't changed.

 

[BeeRich]

are you using water in the pan? this will keep the temp lower.

how are you measuring temps? there are a lot of variables here, dome/lid therms are notoriously inaccurate

are you starting with enough lit coals? maybe your base fire is too small, try starting with more lit coals

a wsm should be able to hit 300+ with no water in the pan.

I never used water. I have charcoal briquettes. Always worked. Only recently is it getting colder. I use a chimney and it's red hot glowing, as it should. Even with a small lit fire base, it should get up to temperature.

Using the normal dome temp, which I've found is accurate. Sub 200°F is not 250°F on the top grate. I've measured this often using third party thermometers.

 

[Shadowdog500]

If your WSM is intact and fully functional and you are doing everything exactly the same way that you’ve done it successfully for 10 years, and you now have a new problem that you can’t reach temperature I would expect it to be either the fuel or the thermometer.

Is there any chance that you have a faulty thermometer since you had the same problem with two different fuels.

 

[BeeRich]

If your WSM is intact and fully functional and you are doing everything exactly the same way that you’ve done it successfully for 10 years, and you now have a new problem that you can’t reach temperature I would expect it to be either the fuel or the thermometer.

Is there any chance that you have a faulty thermometer since you had the same problem with two different fuels.

Well, I can definitely have a look at it. I can calibrate later today in fact.

 

[SMOKE FREAK]

Remove the water pan so there is no barrier between the fire and the meat :thumb:

 

[Happy Hapgood]

Wind, not temp is the enemy of a WSM. Start with a windbreak and a full ring of KBB. No water in pan.

 

[4ever3]

Loose the water pan and start with more light coals for the minion method.

 

[BeeRich]

Remove the water pan so there is no barrier between the fire and the meat :thumb:

Then it's roasting. I've actually made steaks like this before. That's direct heat.

I'm focussing on cleaning the thermometer probe, which I didn't get to today.

 

[Shiv]

I had a day of troubles with my drum. (basically the same working as WSM)

There was only the position of the drum.

The intake was placed in front of pots I have to separate patio from drit and the air flow /currents between that were messing it A LOT.

Just shut that hole and open other and the temps was steady

 

[BeeRich]

Wind, not temp is the enemy of a WSM. Start with a windbreak and a full ring of KBB. No water in pan.

There is no wind overnight.

 

[BeeRich]

Loose the water pan and start with more light coals for the minion method.

A full chimney was used. It simply did not get up to temperature. 100% of those briquettes are now gone. I used to light the charcoal with a torch before, and it went fine.

 

[BeeRich]

I had a day of troubles with my drum. (basically the same working as WSM)

There was only the position of the drum.

The intake was placed in front of pots I have to separate patio from drit and the air flow /currents between that were messing it A LOT.

Just shut that hole and open other and the temps was steady

Nothing blocking any side of my WSM.

 

[Shiv]

Nothing blocking any side of my WSM.

It wasn´t blocked.

There was an airstream going right to the intake.

I saw it because when wind blowed, it inverted the airflow and smoke came out through intakes.

 

[BeeRich]

It wasn´t blocked.

There was an airstream going right to the intake.

I saw it because when wind blowed, it inverted the airflow and smoke came out through intakes.

I don't have any airstreams blowing into my WSM, nor blockage. There is no wind, especially at 4 am.

 

[timzcardz]

Here's what I do, and my logic for it, when I want higher temps (350-375+) in my WSMs.

There are three vents in the bottom, but only one in the dome. The dome becomes the restrictor when you want more air flow for greater combustion.

Want/need a higher temperature? All vents wide open and offset the dome slightly to create a greater air flow through the coals.

 

[BeeRich]

Here's what I do, and my logic for it, when I want higher temps (350-375+) in my WSMs.

There are three vents in the bottom, but only one in the dome. The dome becomes the restrictor when you want more air flow for greater combustion.

Want/need a higher temperature? All vents wide open and offset the dome slightly to create a greater air flow through the coals.

I used to use this to get higher temps, but it dips back down for me. I also just want normal smoking temperatures.

 

[smoke ninja]

this thread seems exhausting