Well I have been using my UDS a few weeks now and I really like it but I am still learning little tricks on how to run it and keep a steady temp. I am finally learning how to start a small fire so I dont' have a smoker that is way to hot and have to sit there and wait for it to cool down. One thing I ran into today that is really frustrating is that I couldn't open my 1" intake valves. My ball valve was fine but the three capped ones were frozen so I couldn't get them off. There is so much moisture in the smoker that it gets in the threads and since it is around 4 degrees here I couldn't not get them off. Since mine aren't welded to the barrel I just used conduit washers if I torqued on them it would loosen the washers and they would fall off. Finally I got one off so I could get my fire going but what do you other guys do in cold weather? My thought was to unscrew them every time I am done smoking so I can get them off and on again for the next smoke.