$109 Pit Boss 5-Series Vertical Pellet Smoker
- Thread starter pjtexas1
- Start date
drunkenmeatfist
is Blowin Smoke!
Buying the POS may have been his first mistake, but using it in a way that the manual explicitly advises against was number two for sure. Seems like plenty of other people are using the POS without issues like this though. I love it for making jerky especially.
Not to add fuel to this debate... but... smh.. Everyone operates their grills the way they choose, but when accidents happens by not following the owners manual instructions... It’s always wise to operate your grill with caution and common sense especially in inclement weather and all pellet grill manufacturers have warnings about operating their devices in rain and water.
1. Direct quote from MAK Grills FAQ page... MY AUGER IS JAMMED WITH PELLETS—WHAT DO I DO?
BBQ wood pellets are nothing more than compressed hardwood sawdust that is extruded*into a pellet shape. If the pellets absorb moisture (either from rain or ambient moisture in*the air) they break back down into sawdust and swell with the moisture.* This creates an*almost cement-like mess, which takes a good bit of work to clear out.* This is why we*recommend that if you are not using your grill for 1-2*weeks or more, especially during rainy*weather, you empty your hopper and burn through whatever pellets are in the auger tube. Should your auger tube get jammed with decomposed pellets: End Quote... So no Pellet Grill is immune from issues caused by inclement weather, rain or water... if it hasn’t happened yet, one day it could.
2. Can You operate your grill in the rain? Yes, but with common sense and caution... Perhaps use a canopy, cover the hopper with a weather proof cover and keep the electrical cords out of water... FFT... Everyone is free to operate their pellet grills as they see fit, just don’t complain when the “Opps” happens during a down pour because your Pellet Grill was not covered or protected... These investments are worth at least cover and a canopy... .02
1. Direct quote from MAK Grills FAQ page... MY AUGER IS JAMMED WITH PELLETS—WHAT DO I DO?
BBQ wood pellets are nothing more than compressed hardwood sawdust that is extruded*into a pellet shape. If the pellets absorb moisture (either from rain or ambient moisture in*the air) they break back down into sawdust and swell with the moisture.* This creates an*almost cement-like mess, which takes a good bit of work to clear out.* This is why we*recommend that if you are not using your grill for 1-2*weeks or more, especially during rainy*weather, you empty your hopper and burn through whatever pellets are in the auger tube. Should your auger tube get jammed with decomposed pellets: End Quote... So no Pellet Grill is immune from issues caused by inclement weather, rain or water... if it hasn’t happened yet, one day it could.
2. Can You operate your grill in the rain? Yes, but with common sense and caution... Perhaps use a canopy, cover the hopper with a weather proof cover and keep the electrical cords out of water... FFT... Everyone is free to operate their pellet grills as they see fit, just don’t complain when the “Opps” happens during a down pour because your Pellet Grill was not covered or protected... These investments are worth at least cover and a canopy... .02
sliding_billy
somebody shut me the fark up.
OK, if anyone paid the real price for the Copperhead please disregard this comment and call Pit Boss with your concerns. Otherwise, if you are on this thread you likely paid $109 for a large cooker that plenty of us are very happy with given the price. I invested another $18 on the off-brand cover, have never had to empty pellets and store it in my back yard covered but with no patio or anything all day all the time. It is not that hard to figure out that a hopper that if lifted opens straight to the rain is going to get water in and that wet pellets will destroy your auger. Besides that, I have found the auger in this thing great at churning through too large pellets etc. The only issue I have had is the display. The numbers pretty much go blank when sunny and when the pit heats up. They sent me a new controller when I emailed them about it, but to be honest I am not that worried about replacing it unless the issue becomes something I can't compensate for with one of the many remote thermometers I have lying around.
I have this image of someone buying a $100 COS and complaining that it doesn't hold temp like a Jambo.
I have this image of someone buying a $100 COS and complaining that it doesn't hold temp like a Jambo.
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Czarbecue
Babbling Farker
Man, this made me laugh. You’re using all the tech on a pellet cooker but can’t download an app or check the weather forecast in advance to check for rain showers? It may be hard to predict down to the minute but rain doesn’t come out of nowhere.
First.... this POS smoker is stored in the garage. It got caught out in the rain during a cook as I already stated same as has my camp chef a dozen times. Camp Chef.... no issues!
This Pit Boss has an issue with water getting into the hopper by design. I thought I’d bring that to anyone’s attention who might want to use it outside where it’s supposed to be used without erecting a protective enclosure to keep this POS dry. If you still want to buy it go right ahead. Enjoy digging the swollen pellets out of the auger and remember this post when you’re doing it.
What idiot never experienced a pop up thundershower? Convection = condensation = rain. Yeah it happens right over you. Happens everyday in good old GA. BTW... I’m an airline pilot with a major in meteorology. I don’t think you want to debate weather with me.
This Pit Boss has an issue with water getting into the hopper by design. I thought I’d bring that to anyone’s attention who might want to use it outside where it’s supposed to be used without erecting a protective enclosure to keep this POS dry. If you still want to buy it go right ahead. Enjoy digging the swollen pellets out of the auger and remember this post when you’re doing it.
What idiot never experienced a pop up thundershower? Convection = condensation = rain. Yeah it happens right over you. Happens everyday in good old GA. BTW... I’m an airline pilot with a major in meteorology. I don’t think you want to debate weather with me.
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Czarbecue
Babbling Farker
That’s what we call an exception and not the rule. Plus I took several classes of meteorology on my way to my geography/computer science degree. I’ll welcome the debate.
dward51
Full Fledged Farker
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2012
- Location
- McDonoug...
Ok, I'll help out anyone near me who is disgusted with the design and potential for rain to get to the pellets in a pop-up shower. I will be more than happy to take your Cooperhead and give it a good home under my covered smoking porch where it never rains (even in GA). I will even buy it from you for the $109 you paid (plus appropriate tax as well). Just PM me.
I might even be interested in one with a dead controller (but not for $109). I have a plan to fix that as well.
I might even be interested in one with a dead controller (but not for $109). I have a plan to fix that as well.
I agree, love mine.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2011
- Location
- Lawrence...
Lol.
sliding_billy
somebody shut me the fark up.
"Do you know who I am?" :blah:
pjtexas1
somebody shut me the fark up.
I just googled meteorology. I'm ready. Let's go Czar! :boxing:
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Kanco Connection
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2017
- Location
- Colorado...
This should be good. I missed the last Brethren meteorology debate. Popcorn ready.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2011
- Location
- Lawrence...
drunkenmeatfist
is Blowin Smoke!
It doesn't matter how you try to slice it, this is 100% operator error. You ignored the directions provided to you and you broke your smoker. Now you blame the manufacturer and call their product a POS even though you did something that was specifically advised against. This is an example of why online reviews can't always be trusted.
drunkenmeatfist
is Blowin Smoke!
Looks like everyone moved on a day ago, but then you bumped this thread back to the top. Seems like another example of operator error.
