How do you keep your WSM Warm during Frigid Months?

[duff645]

Wanted to throw a bone out there:  going to use my 22” WSM to do some beef briskets and short ribs. During that timeframe of 5-7 hrs, how are you guys keeping your wsm stabilized at 250F during the winter months?  Blankets?  Canopy tents with wind breakers?  Special contraptions like an enclosed shed?  Wife’s argyle poncho?

[Kneab]

I use a WSM 18 completely stock.
I've never had problems with maintaining temps for a sustained period of time in the cold.
My experience may be different from others. I have not ever used water in mine. Instead I run my water pan half full with pumice stones, with foil wrapped over the top of the bowl and a depression in the middle for the drippings to collect. Makes for easy cleanup too.
I have only used Stubb's or weber briquettes with oak or hickory chunks. I have had several cooks that my coals have lasted up to 16hrs.
However I do not remember the wind conditions from those cooks. Maybe the wind was calm.
I have thought about cutting a 55 gallon drum for a windshield though. I think that the wind affects it more than the outside temperature does.

What fuel do you plan on using?

This is a pretty typical run from a fully packed ring of Stubb's and oak.

[iCARRY]

Never had an issue keeping temps up in my 22 WSM. If it’s really windy I might block the lower half with some leftover pieces of plywood.


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[tmartin]

No real problems keeping my 14.5 WSM going in the cold.  If there is a big ambient temp swing such I've had to open the dampers up to increase the fire a bit which has a small impact on fuel supply.  An annoyance during overnight cooks but not a big deal.   Bought a PartyQ in the fall so I wouldn't have to worry about it so much this winter.

[blksabbath]

I’ll jump on “no problem” bandwagon.  I don’t put anything in the bowl, just foil to catch drippings.  The main thing is to make sure you are preheated and have enough fuel.


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[bigssa]

I just live in the south so I don’t have to deal with all this cold weather nonsense.

[Paul Isa]

No problems up here.

[Jan M.]

I use sometimes a blanket also on very windy days in order to save save fuel too.

[TennesseeRebel]

I've found that wind is the biggest factor not so much the cold. If it's really cold, 27*F, the other night then I have noticed that fuel doesn't last quite as long. So far if I know it's going to be cold I will usually just light a little more charcoal in the chimney starter when using minion method. It starts out a little bit hotter at first but again it's easily controlled with the vents and I've maintained 225* - 250* very easily!

But hey, take advantage of the cold. Smoke some cheese!!!