Firebox Question?

[Joesuits4]

I have a 15 year old Oklahoma Joe's 16" offset smoker. I noticed that the firebox door where the intake device is located, there is a 1/16" gap on the lower half of the door. I went to the local Horizon dealer and looked at the 16" and 20" Backyard smokers and they have the same gap. I keep reading that the firebox should be air tight. Does this gap serve a purpose or is it a design flaw carried over for 15 years?

Thank You!

[Arlin_MacRae]

Most of those bad boys leak like a sieve when you buy them. Rust/gunk can prevent the hinges from closing all the way, too. You can always glue some high temp gasket to the lid to close it off. My New Braunfels pits were the same way but that inefficiency let me play with fire just a little longer so I left 'em alone. ;)

Arlin