

This may change depending on the weather and the amount of meat you have inside the smoker. A good starting point would be to put in some unlit charcoal briquettes and then 30-40 briquettes lit for an hour of smoke remaining. The amount of charcoal you need will depend on the length of time remaining. If you do need to reload your Weber Smokey Mountain then you can do so via the chute method.
#WEBBER SMOKER PLUS#
You should always aim to start your WSM with enough charcoal to see you through the smoke, plus a little extra. Some WSM users claim to have reached temperatures of well over 500 degrees. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on several factors including the fuel you use, outside temperatures, and airflow. How Hot Can You Get A Weber Smokey Mountain? Charcoal briquettes are beginner-friendly so if you are using lump coal, try switching and see if this helps. If you are still struggling to increase the temperature, it might be time to look at the type of fuel you are using. Adding fuel mid smoke will involve opening the chamber door which could decrease the temperature inside the smoker. You should also add more fuel than you need at the start. Your exhaust vent should always be open more than your intake vents to encourage maximum airflow. If the temperature rises up sharply you can adjust the vents bit by bit until you reach the temperature you require. If you find the WSM is running a low temperature open up your exhaust vent and intake vents fully, Let the WSM run like this for 15 minutes to see if the temperature starts to go up.
#WEBBER SMOKER HOW TO#
How To Increase Heat In Weber Smokey Mountain It might be worth creating a windbreak or an insulated smoking box. If none of the above work, consider the elements your WSM is exposed to. Remove water – you could try to remove the water from your water pan or take out the entire pan In severe cases, you could also open the access door a little. Increase airflow – check your exhaust vent is fully open and then increase the airflow by opening your intake vents.

You will need to increase fuel for larger cuts of meat. You can check the accuracy of your built-in thermometer with boiling water.Ĭheck your fuel – if you aren’t using enough fuel then your WSM will not reach the temperatures you need. If you are struggling to get your Weber Smokey Mountain to heats above 200 degrees there are a few things to do.Ĭheck your thermometer – the first place to start would be to ensure your thermometer is reading correctly. Let’s take a look at some of the issues people have. Weber has done everything it can to make temperature control simple and effective but, no matter how much experience you have, things can still go wrong. The exhaust vent can also be partially closed to decrease the temperature. The intake vents have four holes that can be closed independently to increase or decrease the flow of oxygen under the fuel. The WSM is also equipped with a fantastic venting system that can be used to make changes to the temperature. Water pans also help make temperature control easier, particularly on the longer smokes. Wind blowing up through the bottom vents could stoke your fire, using more of your fuel and increasing the temperature.Īs your meat cooks the temperature will rise also. However, it is still an art that requires practice.Ī new WSM may run hotter than a used one. Novices can learn how to manage temperatures and how to maintain heat. The Weber Smokey Mountain has a huge following and part of the reason for this is the ease of use. You may also find that outside conditions affect how quickly your Weber heats up or cools down. If your WSM is new then there is a good chance you need to season it a little before it will begin to settle down. It is much easier to gradually increase the temperature of your smoker than it is to decrease the temperature. This is why learning the point in which you need to start maintaining the temperature is something you will only master over time. It’s very easy to get your barbecue to the desired heat and then go over this. Temperature control can be hard to master. It’s also essential to learn how to maintain heat, how much fuel you need, and when to refuel on longer smokes. Understanding how to make your Weber Smokey Mountain hotter or colder is a vital part of your barbecue learning journey. Too cold, and you could leave your guests hungry or worse, make them sick!

Too hot, and you end up with burnt, ruined, or tough meats. Heat is one of the three most important parts of your barbecue.
