Let's Talk BBQ

Welcome Center => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: Wellfooled on November 07, 2017, 09:30:35 PM

Title: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Wellfooled on November 07, 2017, 09:30:35 PM
Live in Issaquah, WA, just east of Seattle, and really appreciate finding this forum. Just about this far (1/2" or so) from buying a GMG Jim Bowie, but before I do, I would like your help with a couple of concerns. We live in a town house, sharing a common wall with one other person, and across a small street from a several story tall condo. Our patio isn't exceptionally large, but more than enough room for the smoker. But, here are the concerns I'm hoping you folks can help me with (particularly anyone with a GMG grill).  They are:

1. Amount of noise from fan/auger, etc. - Some of the videos I've watched for smoker grills makes me wonder how loud the things are. I certainly plan to run my smoker at night, probably all night, and I don't want to get letters from irritated neighbors.
2. Amount of smoke - same issues.

Don't misunderstand. We don't have sensitive neighbors, but too much would be too much. And yes, I can always invite them to enjoy the fruits of my labors, but OMG, not every time!

Thanks for any help
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: teesquare on November 07, 2017, 10:19:33 PM
Welcome!
Perhaps some...."city folks" can help you...I am enough of a curmudgeon that I am not allowed to live THAT close to other humans..... :D :D :D

Seriously - if you have an air conditioner - the fan noise form the loudest pellet grill does not compare to a condenser fan on an A.C. unit

And...most folks comment that they wish their pellet grills produced MORE smoke...not less. SO - you do have an interesting dilemma..... :)
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: tomcrete1 on November 08, 2017, 05:21:50 AM
Welcome from Wisconsin!
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: HighOnSmoke on November 08, 2017, 06:34:44 AM
Welcome from SE Georgia!
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: sliding_billy on November 08, 2017, 06:48:03 AM
Greetings from North Texas.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Roget on November 08, 2017, 07:30:41 AM
Welcome from Indiana.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: smokeasaurus on November 08, 2017, 08:08:52 AM
Welcome from Central Texas.

Don't worry about the fan noise. Your main blast of smoke will be during start up. After that you will be fine.

Now if you are only cooking for 2-4 the GMG DAniel Boone has plenty of room and if you add the second rack you will have plenty of real estate. The Bowie is on big boy........just sayin...........

Oh, whatever GMG you get, please get a downdraft hood for them. I have had them installed on both and they really stabilize your temps across the cooking grate and they also help the heat and smoke travel along your food before it exits the pit.

http://dongodkesdowndraft.com/
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Hub on November 08, 2017, 08:17:15 AM
As to noise, pellet cookers are noisiest when they are in the portion of the cycle they do after the controller dumps a new batch of pellets and they are all catching fire before being allowed to smolder a little later (producing smoke).  My loudest cooker make a muted roaring noise at this time and my quietest one can hardly be heard unless you bend down and listen closely.  The J.B. is "average" in the noise category.  I can't see it keeping anyone awake, however.

As to smoke production, that's cyclical too.  Most smoke gets produced in the cycle just after the one I described above.  So, smoke comes and goes.  Some cookers also produce a LOT of smoke when first started up and getting a "bed" of working burning pellets going.  It will be noticeable by neighbors but will not be constant.  The best news is it always smells good! 

Observation:  As a society we are all offended by everything, all the time.  Touchy rules the day.  Tolerance is wheels up in the ditch.  If you have touchy, easy to offend neighbors, you're screwed even with a K-Mart gasser on low. 

Suggestion:  Very early in the game, cook up a rack of ribs and give them to the neighbor before the neighbor has a chance to become offended or maybe even notice that you've developed an obnoxious hobby.  Unless your neighbor is a vegan you'll have the problem solved  ;D

I have a neighbor about ten feet away from my outdoor kitchen and he's never complained.  He and his wife sure do like a chunk of brisket every now the then, though.

Happy Cookin' . . .

Hub
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: TMB on November 08, 2017, 12:19:19 PM
Welcome from Alabama!
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: N. Ontario Smoker on November 08, 2017, 03:44:29 PM
Welcome from N. Ontario Canada.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Smokerjunky on November 08, 2017, 07:31:53 PM
Welcome from the PNW.  I don't think noise from the fan will be an issue for you. I also live in the Seattle area and know that AC units are few and far between but that they are WAY louder than the fan on a pellet grill.  My pellet pooper is on my deck not far from our bedroom window and I can hardly hear it run - certainly not enough to keep me awake.

The issue might be the smoke.  I have some close neighbors but the only complaint I get is that I don't ALWAYS share. As you and others have stated - feed the "beasts" and all just might be right and just in the world.  Looking forward to seeing your cooks.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Jaxon on November 08, 2017, 08:51:49 PM
Welcome from all of here in middle Georgia...

Looking forward to seeing what you do with that smoker.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Wellfooled on November 09, 2017, 01:40:30 AM
Thank you all, both for the welcomes and for the advice. I think the "feed the beasts" idea is really a very good one, and will absolutely employ it.

Will give more thought to the size of the grill, and try and ignore my tendency to "go big". And will certainly install a downdraft.

More to follow for sure.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Wellfooled on November 09, 2017, 01:41:59 AM
Welcome from Central Texas.

Don't worry about the fan noise. Your main blast of smoke will be during start up. After that you will be fine.

Now if you are only cooking for 2-4 the GMG DAniel Boone has plenty of room and if you add the second rack you will have plenty of real estate. The Bowie is on big boy........just sayin...........

Oh, whatever GMG you get, please get a downdraft hood for them. I have had them installed on both and they really stabilize your temps across the cooking grate and they also help the heat and smoke travel along your food before it exits the pit.

http://dongodkesdowndraft.com/

Will definitely do this, thank you.
Title: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Pappymn on November 09, 2017, 08:36:52 PM
Welcome from Minnesota


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: TentHunteR on November 10, 2017, 09:47:50 AM
With neighbors on both sides of us, the noise has never been the issue.  The issue has always been the great smell of the smoke and food driving all the neighbors nuts! 

In fact I had a neighbor complain about a month ago because I'd been busy doing a lot of boating & fishing this Summer and he wondered why he hadn't smelled our pellet smoker running lately!  :D

The neighbors do enjoy samples every now and then.

Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: Big Dawg on November 10, 2017, 06:59:49 PM
Another NC Welcome ! ! !


Oh, whatever GMG you get, please get a downdraft hood for them. I have had them installed on both and they really stabilize your temps across the cooking grate and they also help the heat and smoke travel along your food before it exits the pit.

http://dongodkesdowndraft.com/

And, thanks, Smoke.  My S-i-L now will something under the tree this year ! ! !





BD
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: IR2dum on November 11, 2017, 12:47:40 AM
Welcome from Houston.
Title: Re: Another hello for the PNW! And a couple of questions.
Post by: old sarge on November 24, 2017, 10:42:03 PM
Welcome from SE Arizona.