Keeping Raine water out

[Thomassen]

What to folks do to keep rain water out of their PBC. The obvious answer is to get one of their custom covers, which I have. I used the cover last Winter (I live in CA where our winters are wet) and developed a mold problem. (I was also not able to use my PBC last winter as I was recovering from shoulder surgery). I decided to not use the cover this winter for better ventilation. We've had a couple of rainy days recently. I was working in my yard and went to clean out my PBC ( I used it a couple of weeks a go and dint clean out the ash) and found a nice puddle of water on the bottom.

I'm leaving the top off so it can dry out. What do others do to keep water out? Or do you not see this as a problem. Rust is the enemy.

[xaugievike]

Honestly I don't do anything....I don't cover most of my cookers for due to the mold reason and they're really none the worse for wear - when I clean em up they all shine like new. Now, for the PBC I do keep the rebar out when not in use so that the protruding bars don't wick water in. Wind driven rain can and has gotten in it, but a sunny day or 2, even in winter, has proven enough to dry up what water does get in there.

Thats just my experience.

[Spinaker]

I store mine outside too. With no covers. The most important thing you can do is to get the ash out of the PBC as soon as it cools. That ash is corrosive to the metal and will eat holes right through the steel. Not to mention that is retains moisture.

I think the best thing you can do is store it in a garage with the lid off, although that is not always possible.

I keep my lid on tight and keep the bottom damper wide open, rebar out. This is seems to work most of the time. I have never had a mold problem in my PBC. I have in my other cookers, but not the PBC.

[DWCowles]

I always put the cover on my PBC when it’s not in used and haven’t had any mold issues.

[MadChemist]

+1

[Dadof3Illinois]

I don’t own a PBC so this might be a stupid suggestion but if your not going to use it for a couple weeks what about just turning it upside down to keep the water out?

[Spinaker]

Not a bad idea. I wonder if it would sit on the old stand. It has a flat flange, unlike the new, rolled edge. (the old stands were so much cooler.)

[Dadof3Illinois]

I would put down a couple bricks and turn it upside down on those so you get a little air flow.

[JeffJ]

I keep mine covered and even in wet and snowy Michigan I've yet to have a mold problem, although I got it last April so I may have spoken too soon.

If it's raining during a cook I've been told the lid from a Weber 22 kettle makes for a nice umbrella for the PBC.

[Polarbear777]

Seems like that may be the answer even when not cooking? Assuming you have a spare lid.

[tjguidry]

Mine sleeps in the bed next to me.

[PappyBBQ]

I roll mine out of the garage to use, and into the garage when finished. If it ain't cookin' it's in the garage. Not a speck of rust or mold after years of use. I can even stuff a car in there! lol

[texastweeter]

i don't own a PBC, but I had an old UDS that I just turned on its side when not using.