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N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sat May 18, 2013 3:52 pm
by Cedaronics
OK, so I'm thinking about building a brick cabinet inside the garage to house a smoker of some kind.

Now, it might seem like a daft question, but I promise I'm not trolling! Should the 'thing', ie the cabinet, be vented with some kind of chimney?

I mean, isn't the idea to keep the smoke inside an enclosed place while it does its job?

Or am I missing the blindingly obvious?

TiA

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sat May 18, 2013 6:31 pm
by wheels
You need a vent. Stale smoke will give a bitter product. I like to have thee smoke leaving the chamber as quickly as it's coming in.

Phil

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sat May 18, 2013 6:39 pm
by Cedaronics
ok, thanks. Second question then: with smoke exiting the building - is it particularly intrusive?

I mean, it's hardly going to be like a bonfire amount of smoke is it?

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sat May 18, 2013 6:56 pm
by wheels
A little bit of smoke goes a long way - IMO you'll need to vent it to the outside, but it shouldn't be a problem if you do that. Best to check that you're not in a smokeless zone though!

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sat May 18, 2013 7:09 pm
by Cedaronics
Well, it is a smokeless zone, yes.

Could it offend neighbours? We live in a semi.

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sat May 18, 2013 7:38 pm
by crustyo44
Hi,
Phil said it all, you need to have a chimney through the garage roof with an adjustable slide in it. Smoke has leave your smokehouse rather quick after doing its job. Only a little smoke is required but you have to be able to regulate how fast it leaves your smoker. Too fast and it won't do its job.
The adjustable slide will do this for you. The intake of fresh air has be regulated as well.
Neighbours won't complain if you sometimes share some of your smoked produce.
Good Luck.
Jan

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Sun May 19, 2013 9:41 pm
by Banjoe
Burning material in an enclosed space is very dangerous if you don't have proper air intake and venting in place.

Don't mess around trying to keep the smoke from escaping. If you try to keep it in the garage, you will not enjoy the results......and your surviving family will be really mad at you for being such a coocoobat.

Make sure you're being safe before you start fooling with trying to keep the neighbours happy. If they get a bit upset about some smoke, share your product and make some new friends. Trying to take shortcuts will only get them involved in attending your wake.

Long way around to say - don't fool with this stuff if you're not 100% sure you're doing the right thing.

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2013 12:13 pm
by wheels
Cedaronics

On that question, is there a particular reason that you want to do it indoors?

Phil

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2013 12:24 pm
by Cedaronics
Only that I'm planning on building a (brick) enclosure inside the garage, more like a shed within the garage, and it seems ideal to build a similar structure adjacent to this shed, like two sheds if you like. I can access a hole in the side of the garage for venting, that's not a problem.

I was seeking to take advantage of the construction that I will be carrying out.

Tim

Re: N00b question about venting, or not, a smoker

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2013 8:45 pm
by Wunderdave
If the vent goes out the side of your garage and not out the roof make sure you give it adequate clearance as it WILL stain the area where it vents if not.

Also for safety's sake you should seriously consider installing a CO detector in the area. Combustion indoors is dangerous.