To increase heat and air circulation, fully open side air vents. If increased air circulation does not raise temperature sufficiently, more wood and/or charcoal may be needed. Follow instructions in “Adding Charcoal/Wood During Cooking” section of this manual.

To maintain the temperature, more wood and/or charcoal may need to be added during the cooking cycle.

NOTE: Dry wood burns hotter than charcoal, so you may want to increase the ratio of wood to charcoal to increase the cooking temperature. Hardwood such as oak, hickory, mesquite, fruit and nut wood are an excellent fuel because of their burning rate. When using wood as fuel, make sure the wood is seasoned and dry. DO NOT use resinous wood such as pine as it will produce an unpleasant taste.

Additional charcoal and/or wood may be required to maintain or increase cooking temperature.

Step 1

Stand back and carefully open grill lid. Use caution since flames can flare-up when fresh air suddenly comes in contact with fire.

Step 2

Fully close lower side air vents to prevent embers from falling through.

Step 3

Wearing oven mitts/gloves, remove food from cooking grill. Place charcoal tray on bottom of cooking chamber by removing charcoal tray adjusters from cooking grill. Remove cooking grill.

Step 4

Stand back a safe distance and use long cooking tongs to lightly brush aside ashes on hot coals. Use cooking tongs to add charcoal and/or wood to charcoal grate, being careful not to stir-up ashes and sparks. If necessary, use your Charcoal Chimney Starter to light additional charcoal and/or wood and add to existing fire.

WARNING: Never add charcoal lighting fluid to hot or even warm coals as flashback may occur causing severe burns.

Step 5

When charcoal is burning strong again, wear oven mitts/gloves and carefully place cooking grill on top of grill support brackets. Use charcoal tray adjusters to position cooking grill to desired cooking level and replace food.

Step 6

Close the grill lid, open the lower side air vents and allow food to continue cooking.

Regulating Heat

Adding Charcoal/Wood During Cooking

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Vent-a-Hood 812-3440-0 (Mesquite), 812-3450-0 (Hickory) owner manual Regulating Heat