Condo Smoking with DBS

[Renegade]

Today (3/7/08) I purchased the 6 Rack BDS (Pro-Form at my Work for $305 that includes S&H)! I got a Smoking Deal (pardon the Pun) - LOL! I live in a Condo with an outside deck & am a bit concerned about the amount of smoke the BDS will generate with top vent wide open. I certainly do not want the Fire Dept called out. I have been reading the forums here and looking at the different venting techniques and am impressed at the ingenuity! I live in a Condo Complex on the 2nd level & there is a deck above mine on the 3rd level. I want to minimize the smoke the best I can (following all recipe directions for the best outcome) & am unsure how to minimize the smoke. I don't really see any way to re-route the smoke. I don't have a way to vent the smoke outside the deck area, as I have to keep everything physically confined within the deck area only. I am hoping that the BDS doesn't produce a lot of smoke (even with a wide open top vent). If it doesn't produce a lot of smoke then I won't have to worry about it, but if it does, I may have an issue with the person that lives above me (she has called the Cops before when I was grilling on my propane grill because of the smoke). I need all the helpful suggestions I can get from you guys/gals to minimize the smoke so I can enjoy my BDS to it's fullest potential! Thank you very much for your help!!! NOTE: I have yet to receive my DBS & I have already purchased 4 non-stick Jerkey Racks, 120 Hickory Bisquettes, 48 Mesquite Bisquettes & 3 Bubba Pucks (the Racks & Pucks I purchased based on the good advice I found in the Bradley Forums)! P.S. I have been wanting a Bradley Smoker for over 3 years now & am finally getting one - I hope I really get to enjoy it without any Neighbor B.S.!!!

[Consiglieri]

Best defense is a great offense.  Invite the upstairs neighbor(s) to the debut, make sure you have great appetizers and beverages, and use the new machine as an opportunity to make some friends.  Plenty here have posted that once people get the benefit of the wares, they're less inclined to be upset by the aromatic smoke.

If that's not an option, then you need to find a way to vent smoke... I wonder if it's possible to tie into the gutter down spouts without too much risk (HOA or DBS wise).   

[Renegade]

Not an option to invite the upstairs Neighbor as she is a Witch with a Capital B! Good idea with the down spout, but that downspout is outside the confines of my deck, so not allowed by HOA Rules!

[Consiglieri]

Heck, buddy, I'm up late on baby duty, but I do remember the apartment days and I do want to help.  For what it's worth, I do have a nine pound, bone in pork shoulder in the box.  So, I want to help for old times sake, remembering the apartment days, and the criticism from the neighbors (who weren''t eating with us).  I survived righteous San Franciscans who found our rooftop barbeque a hazard, even though we never left it unattended and always had a water hose (and extinguisher) on hand.  Funny part is that the apartment building next door had a kitchen fire while we were on top cooking up a feast.  Firefighters' comments as they climged the ladders in full gear, including masks, were restricted to things like "can I have a sandwich."  Surprisingly, no grief from the men fighting fires.

Anyway, the witch needs a good meal, or someone to stand up and tell here that the condominium set up is a community.  Meaning she is in a densely populated area and has to put up with a few inconveniances, even if she doesn't want to. 

Here's my perspective, and I apologize in advance if my approach seems coarse, or devious.  I prefer to view it as "goal oriented", since your smoke will likely bypass the problem, and others most likely won't notice the downspout tie-in.  Goes like this: much better to tap into the down spout (where most won't know) than it is to upset lady with no life.  But back to original concept: lady with no life may really like the new food.  Maybe a half slab of ribs makes you her new favorite person. On the other hand, If she's a veggie cat person, no hope except to vent as suggested (or as your building design will permit). 

Summary: better to make allies than cause conflict.  If the friendship avenue isn't really an option, you'll need to bypass her deck somehow.  Good luck.  Happy to come for the party and I'm sure the lady upstairs would love my jokes.   :P

Your other post asked "how much smoke." That's all relative.  My mother in law was here watching the boy earier tonight when I started the smoker.  She "smelled smoke" and thought it might hurt the baby, even though the only smoke entered when I opened the slider.  Bear in mind that the baby is indoors and I was in and out of the house, prepping for a smoke (doors mostly closed).  No matter what precautions you take, there will be an aroma.  Some, no matter what precautions you take, will find the smoke smell problematic.  Which is why I recommend sharing the food.  The smell becomes more like Pavlov's bell. 

Good luck to you. I'd risk it, and did risk it, actually.  Looking forward to a report.  Sorry for the long winded rant.

[Habanero Smoker]

If there are no regulations against having a grill, or smoker I would be as courteous as possible with the woman upstairs, and let her know when you plan on smoking. I would take Consiglieri idea one step further. I would invite the woman upstairs plus all your neighbors and hers to party that features some of the foods you can make with the smoker. You may not win her over, but you may succeed in getting a lot of the neighbors to support you.

I've never had the problem of trying to vent the the smoke and aroma, but there are several on this forum that have done some venting and my provide some help. I don't know what your price range is, but I have seen ductless (ventless) range hoods that are as small as 21"x17". Maybe you can build a cabinet to house the smoker and install the range hood. Though you may have to use a rheostat to control the speed of the fan. If the fan is running at full speed it will drop the temperature of the smoker, and remove most of the smoke.

[Ontrack]

Welcome to the forum. I can relate to your problem. We lived iin a condo for a year while we were building our house, and in an apartment while we were building the house before this one. It is now illegal in Virginia to have a grill, smoker, etc. on a wooden deck in a multi-family housing complex. They let me know this very quickly. I didn't have the Bradley at the time, but had an upright water smoker. So, not to be defeated, I smoked in the driveway, and made several friends doing so. But, the bottom line is-it is a smoker, and it's going to put out a LOT of smoke. It isn't an option to close the smoke vent completely, because of moisture issues, so I really don't have the answer you're looking for. Other than what Habs and Consig have already told you, I'm afraid I can't be of much help.

[winemakers]

could a strategically placed box fan accelerate the smoke away from the blg?  It certainly is not a cure, but my help to reduce the problem.  Perhaps set the dbs on the floor/deck and set the box fan with the suck side toward dbs, blow side outside, and try to mix and match the smoke away from the blg.  No bloody good with any wind, but with wind you wont need it anyway.

mld

[bullsi1911]

I'd just use the fan to disperse the smoke.

[Kane]

lets see... well, if the management of your condo doesnt have any rules against smokers or grills on your outside patio area. Id just do it and not worry about anything. I know you would hate to have someone call the fire dept. but hey, your not doing anything wrong.

as far as the mean neighbor lady. just tell her to have a rib and a smile and shut the heck up. nods

[Renegade]

All good suggestions & I thank all of you for the tips reference my situation! I would like everyone to know that because of what I have read her on the Forums, I have purchased 3 "Bubba Pucks" & 4 non-stick Jerky Racks. Man you guys like spending my money - LOL!

[MileHighSmoker]

Well I can relate to you. I used to run a 100% wood burning offset smoker that I truly loved. Upon moving to a new house in a neighborhood with a stronger homeowners association I sold my smoker and purchased a bradley. Despite allowing for smokers in my community I still find it less troublesome to do most of my smoking at night. You can pull a brisket all-nighter while that cranky neighbor is asleep and she may wake up none the wiser. Works pretty well for me.

[Renegade]

MileHighSmoker - LOL that is SWEET Advice!!!

[gDub]

Hi,
I have a question about the original topic of this thread, If I plan on using a DigiQ/Raptor combo, does it matter if you buy a DBS or OBS? wouldn't it be bypassing the digital controls on the DBS?(which I heard did not hold temp very well)Looking to replace my BPS with something more user friendly. ;)

[Kane]

Hey gDub,

I cant comment about the operation of a DigiQ on a OBS but I run one with my DBS.    DigiQ will basically run the heating element in your cabinet and the puck burner runs seperate. once my set temp is achieved it holds that temp within +/-2. the digital functions of the DBS that control the heating element are useless when  the controller is added.   if I could do it all over again I wouldve bought the OBS with a DigiQ

[gDub]

Sorry meant to post this on a different thread about pid's sorry all! ???