Grease tray to protect electric heating element

[chuck2u]

Just purchased a Smoke Hollow electric smoker and after seasoning it cooked our first meal on the thing.  For the maiden event I choose two chickens and potatoes with hickory chips.  To my question:

Can/should I use a grease tray? 

I did not like the grease falling to the heating element.  The manual says not to spill liquids on the thing, but clearly allows for grease to fall onto it.  I cranked it up to "high" to put some crisp on the chicken skin, but I could hear a grease fire igniting and then going out over and over.  From the start I put an aluminum tray on the bottow shelf, but felt that it was preventing a good air-flow through the unit so I took it out.

Thanks for any advice you can send my way.

Chuck

 

[meateater]

I would to keep your smoker clean and last longer. Besides I personally don't like sour smoke from fat while smoking.