Is anyone else having trouble with heat deflectors breaking all the time?
Started the grill for some hot wings and heard the deflector pop while the grill was still warming up. This is like the tenth set I’ve bought over the last five years. (Pic taken after cook)
by greyskull710
27 Comments
senepol
No problems here.
How are you starting the fire? I wonder if it may be heating up very quickly and that stresses the stones?
tiptoptony
5 years of using a ceramic cooker I’ve never had one break. I have gotten a few hairline cracks. My soapstone is still going after 3 years and I always hear how fragile they are. I use mine at least once a week.
Genuine-Risk
Mine is in quarters. I have an extra metal support I use for the middle to keep them together.
I heard it’s moisture that makes it crack. So if they get wet or damp they tend to crack. I just think they are cheaply made
browning_88
Check the seals. Mine did that for years then I figured out there was a small tear in the seal. I thought no way that was contributing. Just a small tear on one side still plenty of contact to keep water out. As soon as that was replaced, no more issues. I probably saw 6 break before that.
CPAtech
I’ve had a few break. KJ will replace them if I’m not mistaken. They definitely don’t stand up to high temp very well in my experience.
FlickerOfBean
Heat shock. Too fast of a shift in temp from cold to hot.
BigDaddyD79
Are they getting any moisture between cooks? If there is any moisture in them then they will split. Or is moisture hitting them when they are cooking causing a drastic temperature change? Other than impact those are about the only reasons they will break during heating.
Kane1124
You can’t add the deflectors after it’s already been running. Add the deflectors when you start the fire so they heat up with the grill. The sudden temp change from adding them after is causing them to break.
dukebent
Get a cast iron place setter
SilverSpringSmoker
Yup, mine just broke Super Bowl weekend. Was about 5 yrs old. Bought a replacement on Amazon.
SugeLite
rtfm or watch a YouTube video or two. You owe it to yourself these are investments
myburneraccount151
I’m not part of this sub, this post was suggested to me. I am however part of some tennis subs and comment on stringing racquets. For a minute, I thought you were posting a photo of you lighting tennis strings on fire and I was wildly confused. My heat deflector has never broken. I think my wife got me one from Ace hardware
SEQbloke
18 months and no problems for me. Gets used a least once a week.
I’m not particularly gentle with them either- sometimes they get soaked in the rain and are still damp when I put them back in. Always let them heat up slowly with the grill though.
187uchiha
I grill about 4-5 times a week.. I’ve had my Kamado Joe for 3 years and I’ve replaced 2 defector plates. Luckily they were both under warranty when they broke and I was able to get them replaced. I also had to get the ring that goes around the firebox replaced because it warped after I made pizza (grill was about 800°) luckily that was also under warranty when it wrapped.
ShadowBlade55
Broke on through misuse. I’m currently using them in winter. Gradually heat them up with the coals, don’t disturb them during cook, always leave them in until grill is fully cooled.
3 years with use through -25 and lower weather no problems.
Possible-Delay
Are they sitting on the deflector support?
NukaDadd
I’m still using the same one’s that came with mine 4 years ago.
Put em on as soon as you light dude.
CougarGold06
5 years. No, never
maniacal_monk
I’ve never had an actual deflector break, but I have had pizza stones that I used as a deflector break
booplesnoot101
I use a BGE deflector in mine and it’s been great.
Blunttack
You’re probably storing them outdoors? Keep them in the grill. Or in a water tight space. Then when you’re doing a high heat cook, start the coals, and put the deflectors on top of the grates, letting them warm up. Get some decent high heat gloves and use them to move the deflectors into place. In a pinch I use two grate removal tools to place them and the ash tool to wiggle into place. Knock on wood, I’m still original set and same with Junior. I have however cracked a firebox and Juniors ring. But still using those, cracked, years later. lol. But to break that many deflectors, something is definitely being done wrong.
silus2123
Never had one break in 20 years of Kamado and except for adding them to already lit fire. Dont do it, only add them before lighting
SuitCool
same happened to me 2 days ago. I was smoking a rib eye at 120C for one hour with both heat deflectors on. Then cranked the grill to 250C. All fine. Then I let the grill run for 30 minutes at 250C for self cleaning, and it broke.
Do_Question_All
I’ve never had mine break. The only thing I do is ensure they get in early to heat up slowly, and if they happen to get wet, I let them dry out before using them. I do have a ceramic pizza stone that I use in place of these deflectors as a complete heat shield (not half moon) if I need to, as an alternative while the others dry out if I’m careless and leave them out in the rain.
byee888
I’ve had my Kamado for just over 5 years and no cracks or fractures
I always put them in when I start the grill and never gotten them wet
4bur1gh2
No.
packinmn
If you wash them or they otherwise get wet, you cannot use them u til they’re completely dry. They will crack and crumble if heated wet. Ask me how I know.
27 Comments
No problems here.
How are you starting the fire? I wonder if it may be heating up very quickly and that stresses the stones?
5 years of using a ceramic cooker I’ve never had one break. I have gotten a few hairline cracks. My soapstone is still going after 3 years and I always hear how fragile they are. I use mine at least once a week.
Mine is in quarters. I have an extra metal support I use for the middle to keep them together.
I heard it’s moisture that makes it crack. So if they get wet or damp they tend to crack. I just think they are cheaply made
Check the seals. Mine did that for years then I figured out there was a small tear in the seal. I thought no way that was contributing. Just a small tear on one side still plenty of contact to keep water out. As soon as that was replaced, no more issues. I probably saw 6 break before that.
I’ve had a few break. KJ will replace them if I’m not mistaken. They definitely don’t stand up to high temp very well in my experience.
Heat shock. Too fast of a shift in temp from cold to hot.
Are they getting any moisture between cooks? If there is any moisture in them then they will split. Or is moisture hitting them when they are cooking causing a drastic temperature change? Other than impact those are about the only reasons they will break during heating.
You can’t add the deflectors after it’s already been running. Add the deflectors when you start the fire so they heat up with the grill. The sudden temp change from adding them after is causing them to break.
Get a cast iron place setter
Yup, mine just broke Super Bowl weekend. Was about 5 yrs old. Bought a replacement on Amazon.
rtfm or watch a YouTube video or two. You owe it to yourself these are investments
I’m not part of this sub, this post was suggested to me. I am however part of some tennis subs and comment on stringing racquets. For a minute, I thought you were posting a photo of you lighting tennis strings on fire and I was wildly confused. My heat deflector has never broken. I think my wife got me one from Ace hardware
18 months and no problems for me. Gets used a least once a week.
I’m not particularly gentle with them either- sometimes they get soaked in the rain and are still damp when I put them back in. Always let them heat up slowly with the grill though.
I grill about 4-5 times a week.. I’ve had my Kamado Joe for 3 years and I’ve replaced 2 defector plates. Luckily they were both under warranty when they broke and I was able to get them replaced. I also had to get the ring that goes around the firebox replaced because it warped after I made pizza (grill was about 800°) luckily that was also under warranty when it wrapped.
Broke on through misuse. I’m currently using them in winter. Gradually heat them up with the coals, don’t disturb them during cook, always leave them in until grill is fully cooled.
3 years with use through -25 and lower weather no problems.
Are they sitting on the deflector support?
I’m still using the same one’s that came with mine 4 years ago.
Put em on as soon as you light dude.
5 years. No, never
I’ve never had an actual deflector break, but I have had pizza stones that I used as a deflector break
I use a BGE deflector in mine and it’s been great.
You’re probably storing them outdoors? Keep them in the grill. Or in a water tight space. Then when you’re doing a high heat cook, start the coals, and put the deflectors on top of the grates, letting them warm up. Get some decent high heat gloves and use them to move the deflectors into place. In a pinch I use two grate removal tools to place them and the ash tool to wiggle into place. Knock on wood, I’m still original set and same with Junior. I have however cracked a firebox and Juniors ring. But still using those, cracked, years later. lol. But to break that many deflectors, something is definitely being done wrong.
Never had one break in 20 years of Kamado and except for adding them to already lit fire. Dont do it, only add them before lighting
same happened to me 2 days ago. I was smoking a rib eye at 120C for one hour with both heat deflectors on. Then cranked the grill to 250C. All fine. Then I let the grill run for 30 minutes at 250C for self cleaning, and it broke.
I’ve never had mine break. The only thing I do is ensure they get in early to heat up slowly, and if they happen to get wet, I let them dry out before using them. I do have a ceramic pizza stone that I use in place of these deflectors as a complete heat shield (not half moon) if I need to, as an alternative while the others dry out if I’m careless and leave them out in the rain.
I’ve had my Kamado for just over 5 years and no cracks or fractures
I always put them in when I start the grill and never gotten them wet
No.
If you wash them or they otherwise get wet, you cannot use them u til they’re completely dry. They will crack and crumble if heated wet. Ask me how I know.