Green Mountain during high outside temperatures

[SueA]

We have a Peak Prime and don't usually have any issues. during the last few smoke it's been really hot out (90s) and smoking times are taking a lot longer. Example, we smoke baby back ribs using 2-1-1 method at 225. Always works. this time, it needed an hour longer and the smoker is not using many pellets.
a couple of weeks ago smoked a 14 lb turkey, just over 5 hours (275) and still not done. it seemed to stall, and again didn't use many pellets. it seems like the hot temperature might be keeping the smoker at temp and not pumping more pellets. Does that seem like a thing? just never had this happen before.
cooking burgers or pork chops at 400 not a problem.

any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fueling Around]

First off welcome to Smoking Meat Forum.

Don't have a Green Mountain and I haven't used my pellet pooper this year. I plan to use the pooper this weekend and we are having very warm temps. Maybe I'll see a change?

Is the taste less smoky? Maybe nudge the temp to burn more pellets?

 

[Brokenhandle]

Hi Sue, and welcome from another Iowan! I have the same smoker and haven't had an issue with mine. The plan is to use it tomorrow so I'll see. My first thought was pellets hanging up from the humidity but mine has a sensor that goes off. I'd call customer service and see what they say. Maybe a temp sensor or probe off and not reading correctly? Do you have another therm to double check the temp at grate level?

Stop over in Roll call and introduce yourself... we love getting new members!

Ryan

 

[DougE]

I don't have a Green Mountain, but my Camp Chef pretty much maintains the same temps no matter what the ambient temp is. It obviously burns more fuel at winter temps to maintain my set temp. but ambient temps don't affect anything much other than that.

 

[mneeley490]

Maybe try moving it out of direct sunlight and see if that helps?

 

[civilsmoker]

It's a function of the fan is running less because it doesn't need much fire to keep it low. IE you have less convection effect this way. Shield it from the sun (the probe side) or bump up the temp 25 - 50 degrees to have more convection effect......Convection vs non-convection is about a 25 degree temp effect on cook time......

 

[SueA]

thanks everyone. i'll try moving it our of direct sun. maybe we just didn't smoke in high heat before. i appreciate all the feedback.

 

[oregonrider]

I’ve used my GMG twice in the last week. I noticed the same thing. Mine is under a patio cover but still gets a lot of ambient heat. I did a couple of shoulders & had them probed so I just trusted the ThermoWorks Smoke. For the ribs I did yesterday, I checked them at the 5hr & 6hr mark No bend. Finally at the 7.5 hr mark they were fine (GMG at 225°). I’ve never had ribs take that long.

 

[SueA]

Thanks Oregonrider, atleast I know it's not just me.

 

[joecruzjr]

So unfortunately, I have had the same problem. I just purchased a trek prime 2.0. My first couple cooks things seemed fine. I live in SoCal and temps were over 100 my last two cooks. I did notice significantly better performance when I removed the grill from direct sunlight. However I get huge variance from the controller temp to what my oven thermometers and food probe ambient temp sensors. I tried adjusting the climate setting, but it didn’t really help. Anything more than 90 degrees ambient and things go haywire. I’m gonna message GMG on fb. Will let you know what I find out.

 

[SueA]

So unfortunately, I have had the same problem. I just purchased a trek prime 2.0. My first couple cooks things seemed fine. I live in SoCal and temps were over 100 my last two cooks. I did notice significantly better performance when I removed the grill from direct sunlight. However I get huge variance from the controller temp to what my oven thermometers and food probe ambient temp sensors. I tried adjusting the climate setting, but it didn’t really help. Anything more than 90 degrees ambient and things go haywire. I’m gonna message GMG on fb. Will let you know what I find out.

Hi Joecruzjr, did GMG respond to your question?