Vacuum the Ash only once a year?

[Bill-N-Carolina]

I was recently scrolling through Recteq's videos on YouTube and came across their grill maintenance video. Recteq recommends only removing the ash from the grill around once a year. They claim the ash helps prevent flare-ups (specifically on the bullseye), provides insulation and surface area to help heat the grill quicker, and helps keep the amount of ash flying around during the cook down. Does anyone only vacuum their ash once a year, or do most clean it more often?

 

[okie]

More often. Although I have no reason to do so.

 

[Plumberguy]

I was recently scrolling through Recteq's videos on YouTube and came across their grill maintenance video. Recteq recommends only removing the ash from the grill around once a year. They claim the ash helps prevent flare-ups (specifically on the bullseye), provides insulation and surface area to help heat the grill quicker, and helps keep the amount of ash flying around during the cook down. Does anyone only vacuum their ash once a year, or do most clean it more often?

I don't have a Bullseye, have a Bull, but I clean mine every 1-2 cooks. I have an unscientific, subjective opinion that doing so improved the flavor profile of my cooks -- less resin/creosote type flavor.

 

[hput2]

It’s getting to be that time of the year I will probably keep some ash in minejust for the insulation

 

[Pacman]

I clean mine fairly regularly. Depending upon the pellets I'm using, I'd prefer not to blow "ash snow" all over my food, let alone my pit. Maybe that's just me.

 

[Waterboy]

I clean the fire pot out every 5 or 6 cooks and vacuum the barrel 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[SmokeOCD]

Approximately monthly…

 

[chadinsc]

i clean the firepot every time i refoil the drip pan and clean the ash when it starts falling back in the burn pot still got an inch to go!

 

[Mozekian]

Once a year. Even then, I don’t vacuum it, disposable cup scoop into a bag.

 

[Gonefishin]

The fire pot gets it roughly every 3rd cook, while I’ve taken it apart enough to do that and already have the vac out, I do the rest. I should probably skip vacuuming the rest for the winter just for the insulation value.

 

[ol' stonebreaker]

I vac out the firepot and change the foil when the hopper is almost empty.

 

[Lager1829]

Only the fire pot every 5 or 6 cook's.

 

[Greg Jones]

I leave the ash in there. This is one tip from recteq that I agree with 100% on all the points they mention.

 

[ol' stonebreaker]

It can vary depending on brand and type of pellets since make more ash than others. When the firepot ash builds up deep enough then igniting pellets becomes a problem.

 

[Mozekian]

I vac out the firepot and change the foil when the hopper is almost empty.

Better man than me, I glove up and scoop out what I can, seems to work well enough. Hate a shop vac that has ash in it.

 

[Steves55]

CS told me most people clean the ash from their smokers too much. He told me his personal smoker hasn't been cleaned in over 6 months. What I've found is the Recteq makes far less ash than my Traeger did. That thing needed vacuuming every cook. Same pellets produce far less ash in the Recteq. Plus, I hated the fact I had ash all over my food in the Traeger, not in the Recteq. I've probably have more than a dozen cooks on mine now. All I do is replace the foil on drip tray & that's it. I love this smoker!

 

[Motodad1776]

I leave the ash in there. This is one tip from recteq that I agree with 100% on all the points they mention.

I vacuum out the ash pot roughly every 4 to 5 cooks, but never "clean" the rest of the grill except for a good grate cleaning or high temp burn off on occasion.

 

[ToeJam]

Reading these responses, I can grasp why some may want to leave the ash in but for 1x or 2x a year. My thing is - although the ash may act as an insulator, it's surely also a wick for moisture. Yes, I know these are stainless smokers, but not all parts are, and why facilitate a condition to wick moisture into them? I vacuum mine out every 3-4 cooks. I don't like the ash flying around and peppering my food. Just my 2 cents worth........

 

[Bill-N-Carolina]

More often. Although I have no reason to do so.

I used to as well, but recently stopped and haven't experienced any issues. Might not matter.

 

[Bill-N-Carolina]

I don't have a Bullseye, have a Bull, but I clean mine every 1-2 cooks. I have an unscientific, subjective opinion that doing so improved the flavor profile of my cooks -- less resin/creosote type flavor.

I haven't noticed any flavor change yet. I'll have to test it next cook.