Hey Steve I have one and I put three bricks (actually one patio paver broke in to three pieces.) I put them in between the coils then pile the lava rocks on to the element on each side a couple inches above the element then a split or chunk on that each side. This works well for me the bricks really have helped that heat difference.I have a new smoker and wanted to know if i need to add lava rocks to bottom and add chips to bottom also when smoking