How to Seal Your Smoker Door from Leaking

Backyard smokers are wood-burning barbecues, and their seal creates compression. The compression forces smoke from the burning wood to enter the barbecued food, such as meat, giving it a smoked flavor. A tightly sealed smoker has a fast and effective smoking process. Because backyard smokers often are constructed from old barrels, fuel tanks and other scrap metal, their doors don't always fit perfectly. Sealing a smoker's door requires a few specialized items and just a bit of do-it-yourself skill.

Self-adhesive, high-heat rubber gasket
Scissors
High-heat silicone sealer
Wax paper
Razor blade

Instructions

- 1
  Open the smoker's door widely enough to access the inside panel and the smoker compartment's outside edge, which abuts the door.
- 2
  Apply a self-adhesive, high-heat rubber gasket to the inside edge of the door where it presses against the smoker's shell. Such gaskets are available in a range of temperature ratings; use a gasket that matches your smoker's heat requirements. If the gasket doesn't fit the space, cut it to fit before you peel off its backing.
- 3
  Apply a high-heat silicone sealer for a custom fit. Place a bead of the silicone sealer on the edge of the door where it closes against the smoke chamber. Cut a strip of wax paper that will fit atop the silicone bead. Lay the wax paper on the silicone, and close the door so the seal spreads to the proper shape.
- 4
  Open the smoker's door, and allow the silicone to dry according to its manufacturer's instructions.
- 5
  Remove the wax paper by lifting it away from the silicone. Use a razor blade to cut the silicone bead to the correct shape.

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