OK to use desiccant? [AKA A tale of mice and mold (prevention)]


 
M

Mat P

New member
I've always been nervous about mold growing in my WSM, so anytime I store it under cover I leave all the vents open and also leave the side door off. Recently, I discovered what I think (but I'm not 100% sure) are mouse droppings in the water pan after it sat for about a month.

Yikes!

I've been thinking about this situation and wonder about sealing it all up during storage (maybe leaving the top vent open) and hanging a desiccant bag from the top rack to take care of any lingering moisture (and therefore preventing any mold growth). My goal would be that it would hang in mid-air, between the 1st and 2nd grates and not touching any surface.

2 questions:

1) Have you ever had a problem with critters getting into your smoker?
2) Do you think there could be any adverse effects from using desiccant while storing the WSM?

Many thanks in advance!
 
I think it would be fine because it absorbs moisture. Mices on the other hand require more than that, a bait station set up away from the Weby's should work.

Tim
 
Mat P said:
I've always been nervous about mold growing in my WSM, so anytime I store it under cover I leave all the vents open and also leave the side door off. Recently, I discovered what I think (but I'm not 100% sure) are mouse droppings in the water pan after it sat for about a month.

Yikes!

I've been thinking about this situation and wonder about sealing it all up during storage (maybe leaving the top vent open) and hanging a desiccant bag from the top rack to take care of any lingering moisture (and therefore preventing any mold growth). My goal would be that it would hang in mid-air, between the 1st and 2nd grates and not touching any surface.

2 questions:

1) Have you ever had a problem with critters getting into your smoker?
2) Do you think there could be any adverse effects from using desiccant while storing the WSM?

Many thanks in advance!
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1. Never had that as a problem - except for a few spiders.

2. I doubt that hanging desiccant per your description would hurt anything in the smoker. You might have to change/renew it often.

According to you, the problem is mice. How about a trap or bait?



1.
 
Robert-R said:
1. Never had that as a problem - except for a few spiders.

2. I doubt that hanging desiccant per your description would hurt anything in the smoker. You might have to change/renew it often.

According to you, the problem is mice. How about a trap or bait?



1.
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Well, I might try a trap. Bait or DCON makes me nervous with my dog running around. First time dealing with this issue in my smoker, and hopefully the last time.
 
Have you ever had a mold problem? Per your location in IL, I wouldn't expect mold to be a big problem. If you store your WSM for long periods of time, you might try taking the water pan out, dumping a 1/2 chimney of charcoal in and letting it burn hot for a while then shutting it down by closing all vents. Cover it when cool and should be okay. Unburnt charcoal may even absorb some of the humidity.

Mice - I hate mice and I hate dealing with mice. I do (and would do if I were you) the following: I get those very cheap spring loaded traps. I bait them with some type of nut and a little peanut butter (you have to jam it in there so they don't just lick the peanut butter off and walk away). When I catch (kill) them, I have a pair of plyers that I pick up the trap with and throw the entire "mess" away. Repeat until no more mice are found. I hate that job but have found my process to be effective and no need to worry about the effects of poison bait on my dog. You could tuck it away a bit to keep the dog out of the trap, but unless the dog is pretty small it's not likely to be hurt by the trap. A couple times a year, I set a trap near the inside entrance of my garage just to see if there are any takers.
 
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Never had mice but I did have a bird build a nest in my SJP. I got in through the oversized side vent that if goes unchecked opens when you flip the lid bale up. Anyway I digress...

I do as Jerry suggests and leave the ash and spent charcoal in between cooks and have not had any mold problems. For what it is worth though I don't use water in the pan when cooking so I imagine the smoker stays pretty dry. desiccant should work as well.

Have you tried a cat for your mouse problems? ;)
 
Jerry N. said:
Have you ever had a mold problem? Per your location in IL, I wouldn't expect mold to be a big problem. If you store your WSM for long periods of time, you might try taking the water pan out, dumping a 1/2 chimney of charcoal in and letting it burn hot for a while then shutting it down by closing all vents. Cover it when cool and should be okay. Unburnt charcoal may even absorb some of the humidity.
Click to expand...

Heck just dump the water pan after your done smoking.
 
IMHO, the mice are getting in through the door, so leave it on. The vent holes are probably too small for mice, but to be sure, partially close them. If all of the vents are 3/4 open, that should allow plenty of air circulation and keep the mice out. Again, IMHO, adding a desiccant should not be a problem. After all, desiccants are in many medicine bottles so must not be harmful, especially if not touching the grates. However, not sure if chemically similar to the one you would use, but checking the labels would might help. Best way to tell, just try it.
 
Love all these suggestions! Things like this are why I really enjoy being on this board...

While I've never had any mold issues around here with my smoker or grills, I don't want to take the chance. I try to cook about twice a month, but when works gets crazy it might be a month or two between cooks. The idea of planning on cooking after a long layoff and finding mold in my beloved cooker sends shivers down my spine, so that's why I'm so anal about mold prevention. I leave the waterpan dry when I cook (I just foil the top), but after a rain or snow I DO get water in the charcoal bowl (I keep meaning to waterproof the seams of the cover).

I'll be getting some traps next time I'm at the dollar store. I think if I strategically place them my dog won't be affected (he's a 100 lb basset/lab mix). Of course, he's sometimes not real smart, but a trap won't kill him (might not teach him much, either, but he'll be ok). Cats are great mousers, but not interested in getting one as a pet (yay for allergies)... Once it warms up the snakes around here also seem to serve a similar role :-)

I've gone back to leaving the door on and I'll crimp down the lower vents a tad.

I'm planning on another cook in a couple weeks - Let's see what I find then...
 
Mat, rather than trying to waterproof the cover seams, you can buy black plastic heavy duty construction waste bags and put over the WSM and then put the Weber cover over that. Bags that fit the 18 1/2 are relatively easy to find. I got mine at Home Depot, but those were a little too small for the 22 1/2. I finally found some large enough for my 22 1/2 at Sam's. You have to buy a box of the bags, but they come in handy for a lot of things.
 
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