Excessive smoke leaking from door and around cabinet seams

Safety first: Be cautious of hot surfaces and escaping hot smoke when inspecting leaks.

Steps:

• Inspect gasket: With the smoker cool, examine the door gasket for flat spots, cracks, or missing sections. Replace if it no longer compresses evenly.
• Check door alignment: Close the door and look for uneven gaps. Adjust hinges or latch (if adjustable) to pull the door evenly against the gasket.
• Dollar-bill test: Place a strip of paper between the door and gasket and close the door. You should feel resistance when pulling the paper out all around the perimeter. Areas with no resistance indicate poor sealing.
• Cabinet warping: If the cabinet is visibly warped, minor bending of the door or latch bracket may improve sealing, but severe warping may require professional evaluation.