Don't try filling the chip tray to often, small handful every 2.5 hours. Don't open it unless you need to, always preheat, season it with bacon and cheap fatty meat 2 times before you smoke good food, everyone tends to mod these, but not really necessary, it has a very hard time running in very cold temps (sub freezing temps- if you plan to use it on a cold day bring it inside the nite before then it should work fine), don't use an extension cord to plug it in- it needs a real outlet, always cover it, if it's an MES Digital like mine many people have issues with the electronics so protect them, I almost always run mine with the vent half open, get a maverick et-732. It can make some pretty good que once you get used to it.