Controlling heat question

[kevine]

I've been struggling with this for a while. In order to increase the temperature, which of the following is correct:

1. Open the intake damper and close the chimney exhaust

2. Close the intake damper and open the chimney exhaust

:confused:

Thanks in advance

[jestridge]

Open/close intake never close exhaust

[PatioDaddio]

Open/close intake never close exhaust

Amen, and roger that!

John

[gtr]

Always keep exhaust open. An open intake will give you higher temps. I've found that maple lump burns really hot & is good for bringing temp up quickly - this will buy you time to get your other fuel going. I always make sure I have some of that stuff around for this purpose - it's great for a whole cook, too - it's just too expensive for me to get here to be burning up too much of it.

[kevine]

THANK YOU! You guys are awesome!

[bigabyte]

^^^What they said. Honestly, you should also consider leaving your intake fully open and controlling the temperature with the amount of fuel that is burning. Too much fuel in the firebox and tamping the heat down by suffocating it will result in thicker smoke, which is bad. The real key on an offset (your signature shows offset) is controlling the temps with the fire, not so much the intakes. Always let the gases escape out the exhaust, leave the exhaust wide open.