Lost Temperature Towards End of Smoking

[cdog412]

I recently upgraded from a charcoal to a propane smoker. I got the Char-Broil 600 vertical gas smoker. Yes I know it's still a cheaper one, but I'm still new to this.

So here's my issue. Today I was smoking a 9 pound pork butt. I'm holding a steady temp of 235. Got my internal temp to 168. I opened the door to add some apple wood chunks and some more water in the water pan. For the next hour, I could not get the grills temperature over 150 degrees. I tried opening and closing my vents at different times. I turned the flow rate on the grill all the way up and the regulator on the propane tank all the way up. I disconnected the gas and reconnected. All of this and still couldn't get the temp back up over 150. Am I missing something here?

I am somewhat new to smoking, so any tips are appreciated. Thanks in advance for them help

 

[bmudd14474]

Was the water you added cold?

 

[cdog412]

No it was hot water. Hot tap water that is. But I added water a few other times and never had much of an issue getting the temp of the smoker back up. I tried for an hour with no success before pulling the meat and finishing the last hour in the oven. While it was in the oven I continued to try to get the temperature of the smoker back up to 225 and still had no luck, it wouldn't budge over 155 degrees

 

[andrewmurray86]

Just curiously I just posted on another thread about fat clogging the gas controllers. Have you run the smoker since? Does it get to temp?

 

[cdog412]

Running it now. First time since. I will check that if I can't get the heat up. Thanks

 

[emuleman]

How much propane is in your tank?  I noticed that as my tank gets close to empty the flow of gas starts getting inconsistent, and it is difficult to maintain a constant temperature as the fuel slowly runs out.

 

[Rings Я Us]

And don't go by the temp gauge on the door. You have one inside near the center of the smoker ? I would just paint a happy face on the door thermometer. ,[emoji]128512[/emoji] or maybe you can test it by comparing one digital probe inside on a rack in the center more.

 

[cdog412]

Full tank. Refilled before this smoke.
No I don't have another thermometer. I know I should, just haven't invested in one yet