Kamado Joe care & maintenance. TOP 5 FIXES for common issues SOLVED! Smoking Dad BBQ

If you own a Kamado Joe, or are thinking of getting one you need to watch this. I share my top 5 fixes for common problems you might encounter while owning a Kamado Joe ceramic grill.

Periodic cleaning and maintenance on your Kamado Joe grill should be done every spring and fall depending on how often you use your Kamado.

Top five issues / problems covered in this video:
(1) My grill won’t come up to temperature any more
(2) Airlift hinge adjustment
(3) Mold inside the dome
(4) Kontrol tower vent cap sticking / hard to use
(5) Temperature gauge isn’t accurate
Bonus: how to check and tighten hinge band assembly

#kamadojoetips #kamadojoemaintenance #kamadojoecare

If I haven’t covered your question / issue / problem with these top 5 fixes, let me know in the comments and I will add it to an upcoming video.

(1) My grill won’t come up to temperature
Kamado Joe Classic and Big Joe Grills are equipped with easy ash removal systems. Before each cook on your Kamado Joe you should use the included ash tool to stir up the remaining charcoal in the firebox to remove all the loose ash. The loose ash will fall through the fire grate into the ash collection pan. Remove the ash collection pan and dispose of the loose ash. Place the ash collection pan back in the base of the grill and you are ready to cook again.

Once or twice a year, you should do a more thorough cleaning of the inside of the grill. You should remove the fire ring and the firebox and remove any residual ash and debris that has collected between the grill lower body and the internal ceramic components. You should use a plastic bristle brush to clean the inside surface and then you can scoop or vacuum the debris from the bottom of the grill before replacing the ceramic components.

For newer Kamado Joes, I show you a tip and trick on how to reinstall the multi-piece firebox without having a bunch of people to help.

(2) Dome hinge won’t stay in place
Over time, the hinge on your BigJoe may need to have the tension adjusted. This will ensure that the least amount of effort is required to fully raise the dome and that it remains stationary when fully open.

Use a wrench to adjust the nut in the air lift hinge system until the dome no longer falls on its own.

(3) Mold or mildew
If your Kamado Joe Grill is not used for an extended period of time, moisture can be trapped inside the grill and you may see areas of mold or mildew on the cooking grate or internal ceramics. This can easily be eliminated because Kamado Joe Grills are self-cleaning. Do NOT use bleach or other cleaning products. It adds an unpleasant taste to food.

(4) Kontrol tower top vent cap is sticking / not functioning properly
If your Kontrol tower top has become sticky due to accumulated grease you can clean it using an oven cleaner. If the finish on your Kontrol tower top has faded, I use olive oil and season it similarly to cast iron by baking it at 500f for 1hr and letting it cool off in the oven.

(5) Calibrate the Kamado Joe thermometer gauge
Use boiling water and adjust the set screw on the back until the gauge reads 100c

Bonus - Tighten your dome bands
Check the position and tightness of the bands once or twice a year. Use an Allen wrench and a 10mm wrench to make sure the nut is tight. You should not be able to turn the Allen wrench easily while holding the nut in place with the 10mm wrench. If this nut is loose, tighten it firmly. If a band is not centered on the gasket material, loosen the band enough to push it back in place. You can also place a block of wood on top of the band and lightly tap the wood with a hammer until the band is in position. Tighten the band connector with a 10mm wrench and Allen wrench.


About Me
Master your backyard BBQ. My name is James, fire cooking story teller at Smoking Dad BBQ where I provide reviews on the grills, accessories and share fire cooked recipes that are sure to elevate your grill game to pitmaster status.

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Recommended videos:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XuZaG5-ag

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