Floor drain?

[rathran]

So I have going over the builds on here trying to plan one of my own.  I keep landing on one with the 3-4 course foundation on slab, smoke pipe into the block to an external firebox, and a wood build top.  Wood top would have an open bottom as most seem to.  Now here lies my concern/question.  I realize this creates a "pit" so to speak, even on my best day I am a sloppy person.  How do you clean the bottom of this out?  Does it need to be cleaned at all?  I would think some drippings would find their way down to the slab.  My original idea was to lay a floor drain in the slab, allowing me to warm things up and spray out with a hose and allow to dry with some smoke/heat.  

Thanks for any help in clearing up my concerns.  Really wanna get something built this coming summer, but I would like to be 100% sure before laying a slab.

 

[daveomak]

You could leave gaps in the mortar, in the first course of block, where it sits on the slab, so you could wash stuff outside the smoker..  Scuppers so to speak...  They would also act as air inlets...

If you plumb in a drain, I would use at least 3"....   no trap.... so you could jam a garden hose down it...   the 3" would act as an air inlet also... 

If you had a trap in the line, the liquid left in it could sour and grow bad stuff....

 

[rathran]

Thanks Dave.  I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.  Once I get the Mrs to sign off on the project, I'll try to keep ya posted on my progress.  

 

[brent b]

If I could do it over I'd put a drain in the floor but being concrete I'll just have to live with it.

 

[gr0uch0]

You could leave gaps in the mortar, in the first course of block, where it sits on the slab, so you could wash stuff outside the smoker..  Scuppers so to speak...  They would also act as air inlets...
If you plumb in a drain, I would use at least 3"....   no trap.... so you could jam a garden hose down it...   the 3" would act as an air inlet also... 
If you had a trap in the line, the liquid left in it could sour and grow bad stuff....

Critter magnet with the goo scents all over the ground.

 

[daveomak]

Keep the .22 CB's handy...  more meat for the smoker...

 

[gr0uch0]

Keep the .22 CB's handy...  more meat for the smoker...

Then he'd have to get a permit for operating a Chinese restaurant....

 

[rathran]

LOL.  Floor drain has been added to the plans.  I think I may keep a brick, or paving tile over it to help keep any unwanted guests from trying to find their way in while not in use.  

Got my dad in on this now, he was curious if Redwood would be fine for the interior of the smokehouse?  Guess he's got some aged rough cut stored and might be willing to part with it.