Strong burning plastic or electrical smell during operation; may occur even without visible smoke from food.

Safety first: If you smell strong burning plastic or see smoke from the control area, unplug the smoker immediately and allow it to cool. Do not continue using until inspected.

Steps:

• New unit burn-in: For a new East Oak smoker, run an empty burn-in cycle at medium temperature for 1–2 hours to burn off manufacturing oils. Some odor is normal initially.
• Inspect heating area: Once cool, check for plastic packaging, zip ties, or wiring too close to the heating element. Remove any foreign material and reposition wiring away from heat.
• Check fan and control board: Remove the rear panel and sniff near the fan motor and control board. Look for discoloration or melted components.

Repair: Replace any overheated components such as the convection fan motor, wiring harness, or main control board. Do not operate the smoker until the source of the smell is identified and corrected.