Ever since I started using my MES 40...

[smoker21]

It has been leaking a good deal of water from the front door.  Without doing the obvious, and not putting water in the pan, what else can I do?  I do keep the flu closed as the instructions say to do.  Should I leave it open a bit??

Thanks in advance.

JD

 

[hkeiner]

The vent should always be open when smoking. You may want to re-read the instructions.

 

[SmokinAl]

Make sure it's on level ground or a little tilted back. Mine did the same thing & I just put some shims under the front legs to tilt it back a little & it stopped.

 

[smoker21]

Ok...  On page 3 of the instruction manual it says "Close the damper on top of the unit to retain moisture and heat...  So  what are trying to tell me????????????????

 

[gotarace]

I only close my top vent when heating up the unit on a cold Wisconsin day. Any time I'm smoking in my MES the top vent is left wide open to let the smoke and steam escape. Please try this on your next smoke you won't be disappointed.

Also i drop my probes from my Maverick through my top vent to monitor the chamber and meat temps while smoking. Makes it easy to use your Maverick that way.

 

[Fife]

I have that smoker and I run mine with the top vent wide open when I smoke.

 

[SmokinAl]

I don't have the MES manual anymore or the MES for that matter, but I do know you will get creosote build up on the meat if you shut the top vent. It will give you a bitter taste. I suppose you could shut the top vent if you were not putting any wood chips in and there was no smoke, but then you might as well just use the oven.

 

[eman]

The manual does say to run the unit w/ vent closed.

 but we have all figured out that the MES  works alot better w/ the vent wide open.

 I close my vent when preheating and for storage . that's it.

 If im not mistaken the legs on the front of the unit are adjustable. Put a level on the top and adjust till you get a slight tilt to the rear. Opening the top vent will probably help w/ the build up of moisture.

 

[Bearcarver]

What gotarace, Al, Fife, and Eman said.

I almost always keep my vent wide open.

If all I'm using is my AMNS, with either no heat or very little heat, I might close my vent halfway, but other than that--Wide open.

I think the manual also says to soak your chips, but most of us have found it better if you don't.

Bear

 

[smoker21]

Thanks all for your replies.  I'll give it all a try.

JD

 

[venture]

It is pretty clear the consensus is for the vent to be open.  This applies to other smokers as well.

Not to hijack the thread, but Bear brings up an interesting point about the AMNS and cold smoking.  I have found that cold smoking with the AMNS can be done with vents closed much more than normal.  The smoke just seems to be that gentle.

Good luck and good smoking!