New WSM 22.5 and a composiite deck--heat issues?


 
A

Art Rod

New member
After a weird transaction on eBay I have my new smoker! I have been reviewing posts and learning a lot. I do have a question, I can't seem to find it posted. I have a composite board deck. I am wondering if I need to build a platform for it. I don't want to melt the decking material.. Is it high enough off the floor/ground? Obliviously heat rises but there will be some radiant and convective heat from underneath. I am betting someone has this same issue; or no issue at all

Thanks,

Art
 
Welcome to the forum Art!
No platform is needed, you may like to put 'something' under the Weber...something like one of those water heater pans...
or one of those grill mats you see every now and then in the grill section of your local hardware store.

The heat generated from the WSM does not cause a concern, but a dropped coal from the chimney to the cooker or drippings transferring food fro...well.......
I do not want to alarm you.
You'll be fine without anything, i'm sure. :o
 
This really surprises me because after my cleaning burn on the used 18.5" I just got, I was really glad it wasn't near my wood deck. This is an older one without the heat shield. Do they make that much difference, or is this just because I let it get as hot as I could to clean it out?

 
Michael Werner said:
This really surprises me because after my cleaning burn on the used 18.5" I just got, I was really glad it wasn't near my wood deck. This is an older one without the heat shield. Do they make that much difference, or is this just because I let it get as hot as I could to clean it out?

Click to expand...

Wow that really surprises me to see that. I have had the old model with out the shield and the new model. Never believed there would be that much heat from the bowl.
 
Looks like the tall grass was probably touching the bottom.
Dried out, then burned/scorched.
I have the old 18.5, car drip pan, wood deck, no problems.
 
If it's a wood composite deck, I don't think you'll have a problem. I've used my 18.5 WSM on a wood deck with out any problems, but wouldn't dream of using it on my vinyl Azek deck.
 
I just happened to have three concrete 12" square pavers in my yard when I got my WSM. Just to be on the safe side, I decided to use them to add a couple of extra inches of space between the heat shield and my wood deck. I'm still extra paranoid about loose hot coals, so I keep a fire extinguisher handy and am extra careful with fuel.

I would think that if you're concerned about heat and the deck material, raising the smoker to add a few more inches of air gap between it and the deck should be good enough. Though you might still want a grill mat or oil pan or something to catch any run away drippings and prevent staining.

Just my $0.02
 
I think you should consider putting your WSM on a drip pan of some sort. As shown, there is a good amount of heat that comes off the bottom of the WSM and while it might not start a fire, it certainly could discolor it or worse - melt it. More likely though is that it will stain your deck without some type of drip pan. I don't know what it is but my guess is that it's condensation that runs down the sides (inside) of the WSM and drips out the vents. Doesn't do it always or even often, but I would hate to have it drip directly on my deck no matter what it's made of.
 
Thanks to all for the insight! I was considering patio blocks or a drip pan of some sort. I would hate to damage my deck.

Art
 
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