Clean & maintain smoke generator
The smoke generator is undemanding – as long as three paths remain clear: the path of the embers through the dust (coarse, dry grain), the path of the air (clean fan), and the path of the smoke (tar-free shaft and pipe). The routine for this: empty the ashes after every run, deep-clean the shaft every 5–10 runs, check the fan before the season. If you fill it correctly, you'll need to maintain it less – half the maintenance is knowing how to fill it.
Last updated: 23 July 2026 · Author: Michael Vering, Beelonia GmbH · All prices: as of July 2026
Reading tip: What the generator can do and how it differs from a cold smoke maze is explained in Retrofitting cold smoke.
The maintenance routine
| Interval | Task | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| After every run | empty cooled ashes | hand brush, container |
| Every 5–10 runs | shaft: dissolve tar/resin, brush out | professional cleaner, brush |
| With the shaft | check flex pipe & nozzle | round brush |
| Start/end of season | dust off fan, check operation | paintbrush, cloth |
Knowing how to fill saves maintenance: The three rules from the Beelonia video – coarse grain (from 750/2000; fine dust compacts and suffocates), dry dust (damp dust clumps and creates tar), and a three-quarter fill with a clean ember nest start. The double-wall insulated generator structurally prevents what plagues simple sheet metal generators: condensation in the shaft, which glues the dust and walls together.
The tar treatment: Just like in the smoker – smoke resin dissolves chemically, not mechanically. Spray the cooled shaft with professional cleaner (€20.83), let it work, brush it out, and dry it. Only use wire brushes for the grate, not for the surfaces. After that, do a short empty run, and you're ready for the next ham marathon.
Frequently asked questions about generator maintenance
Can I wash the generator out with water?
Washing is fine – but everything must be bone dry before the next run. Residual moisture in the shaft is the fastest way to clumped dust and misfires.
The fan is running, but there's little smoke – what's the reason?
Usually a tarred outlet or a blocked flex pipe – the air path is clear, but the smoke path isn't. Brush the pipe and nozzle; the draught diagnosis on the smoker complements Smoke isn't drawing.
How do I store the generator over the summer?
Cleaned, dry, indoors – and store the smoking dust separately in a dry place. At the start of the season in autumn, a fan check is all you need.
Reading tip: The grain question in detail – why coarse belongs in the generator – is explained in Smoking dust grain.
Ready for the cold smoke season
Smoke generator, professional cleaner, and coarse RÄUCHERGOLD® – the low-maintenance trio from Beelonia GmbH. Since 1880.
Sources and technical basis: Beelonia smoke generator video (double wall against condensation, coarse grain, ash separation); tar treatment from the cleaning dossier. Prices: as of July 2026.
